TEAM SUZUKI HEAD EAST TO LOKET
03 August 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Team Suzuki and the other participants of the 2005 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship are currently jaunting east across Europe to the small town of Loket for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic this weekend; the 13th round of 17.

The series now enters a hurried final stretch with the last five races taking place in seven weeks. Suzuki riders Joel Smets and Kevin Strijbos are looking at the points standings to see where they might be able to secure positions at the season approaches its final hurdles.

It hasn''t been an easy term for the Belgian duo. Strijbos has missed at least half of the rounds due to injury problems and Smets, with five podiums and two moto victories, is still hoping to end the campaign with his first overall victory since the GP of Czech Republic in 2003. Smets can obtain third position in the Championship as he lies just 13 points behind KTM''s Ben Townley as Josh Coppins and Stefan Everts are currently slug it out for the title.

Strijbos on the other hand will have to be satisfied with a top 20 slot. MTM Suzuki Racing''s Danny Theybers is four points away from breaking into the first 10 and will be pushing for a maximum score on Sunday and Motovision Suzuki Racing''s Yoshitaka Atsuta is also within reach of the leaderboard.

Loket holds fond memories for Smets as the venue where he made his first ''foreign'' competitive visit to a Grand Prix event and then fourteen years later secured the fifth of his five World Championships when he celebrated success in the old 650 category. The 36 year old missed the 2004 Czech round due to injury and Kevin Strijbos claimed seventh and fourth positions to finish fourth overall.

The Grand Prix of Czech Republic has been a staple part of the World Championship for more than four decades with Loket forming part of the recent history of the event, hosting the race on a regular basis since 2002. The grippy and occasionally stony course is draped out over the steep hillside just down the road from the scenic touristy town of Karlovy Vary.

The weather forecast for the weekend predicts bright but cloudy conditions.

Joel Smets:

''I did my first ever foreign race in 1989 in Loket. Since then that place has always felt a little different for me compared to all the other GPs. Travelling to Loket now is like going ''next door'' but back then it was like the other side of the world, especially as the Iron Curtain had just fallen about six months before. I always look forward to the Grand Prix. The layout of the track is good and they don''t have to work on it so much. There have been some changes in the past but it is enjoyable to race.''

Kevin Strijbos:

''It was good to be back racing in Belgium and I have the feeling that things can only get better. I know I have the speed and I can follow the others, but I just need some good starts! Loket is a good circuit but the track can be difficult because the small stones make it pretty bumpy. I have made some good results there in the past. I have been practicing again this week because I know I can improve much more than my current level. I feel like I have almost lost a season and want some decent points before the end of the year.''

MX1 World Championship Points (After 12 rounds): 1 Everts 496. 2 Coppins 458. 3 Townley 390. 4 Smets 377. 5 Pichon 346. 6 Ramon 332. 7 Leuret 243. 8 Noble 218, 9 de Dijcker 214. 10 Jorgensen 206. 11 Theybers 202. 14 Atsuta 171. 22 Strijbos 71.

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