TEAM SUZUKI 2ND AND 3RD ON MX1 GATE
17 June 2006 - Suzuki Racing

Team Suzuki has returned to be a protagonist in the FIM MX1 World Championship as Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos set the second and third quickest qualification times at a sweltering Matterley Basin

The new circuit on England’s south coast is experiencing typical teething problems and the fast layout is hard and slippery in places with the fine top soil struggling to form any solid berms.

The two RM-Z450 riders placed inside the top three during a dusty first free practice session and remained among the fastest select during the afternoon. Strijbos was holding provisional pole position during the first half of the 30 minute afternoon Chrono but was displaced by World Champion Stefan Everts. Ramon, who had earlier adjusted his front suspension, blasted in a late effort in the final minute to secure second entry into the gate for Sunday. Both are less than three-tenths-of-a-second away from Everts.

With similar weather conditions predicted for tomorrow – as well as the event as a whole coming at the end of a three-week consecutive spell - the two Grand Prix motos could be physically among the toughest of the season to-date.

Steve Ramon:

“I was making mistakes early on and I struggled to get a good lap. I knew I could go faster. At the end it came together and I knew that the last lap would be good. The track is getting better now with more watering; there is less dust and more bumps are coming up. I am enjoying it though. It is fast but there are some nice jumps and a little bit of everything.”

Kevin Strijbos:

“Today was not so good. There was too much dust in the first practice and then they watered the dirt for the second and it was too slippery. Overall it has been a difficult day and I had trouble to find a good feeling on the track. I changed the tyres and qualifying was ok. I am content with third as we are still very close to Everts and that’s good because qualifying was never my strongest point.”

MX1 Timed Practice: 1 Stefan Everts, BEL (Yamaha):59.663, 2 Steve Ramon, BEL (Suzuki) 1:59.888, 3 Kevin Strijbos, BEL (Suzuki) 1:59.919, 4 Ken de Dycker, BEL (Honda) 2:00.148, 5 Joshua Coppins, NZL (Honda) 2:00.700, 6 Tanel Leok, EST (Kawasaki) 2:00.772, 7 Julien Bill, Julien, SUI (Yamaha) 2:01.243, 8 Cedric Melotte, BEL (Yamaha) 2:01.382, 9 Gordon Crockard, IRL (Honda) 2:01.397, 10 James Noble, GBR (Honda) 2:01.835.

www.suzuki-racing.com

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