PODIUM FOR RM-Z450 SUZUKI RIDERS
26 September 2006 - Suzuki Racing

RM-Z450 Suzuki riders Ivan Tedesco, Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos climbed the podium at the 60th Motocross of Nations held at a sunny Matterley Basin circuit near Winchester in England.

RM-Z SUZUKIS ON ‘NATIONS PODIUM

Tedesco defended his status as World Champion as part of Team USA while Ramon and Strijbos assisted Belgium to the position of runners-up.

The circuit, inaugurated with the British Grand Prix back in June, was teeming with 85,000 noisy fans that created a raucous and exhilarating atmosphere. The layout had some big jumps and heavily rutted sections courtesy of rain on Friday and intense downpours Sunday morning.

The opening race saw the MX1 and MX2 classes going against each other. Strijbos finished just outside a hectic top-10 in 11th position with an exciting dice won by MX1 World Champion Stefan Everts.

Less than one hour later, MX2 took to the gate again but this time forming up with the MX Open category. Steve Ramon, steering his RM-Z450, had a decent moto. The Belgian started slowly outside the top five but in the last ten minutes pushed through to seal fourth place, setting the fastest lap in the process. Strijbos was hovering in seventh and circulating with his team-mate for most of the 30 minutes and two laps but lost control due to some taping getting caught in his front wheel and crashed with two laps to go. The 21 year old trudged away tired, tearful and disappointed but his result fulfilled the ‘strike’ from the six results for Belgium. In the same sprint Tedesco led for nine of the 16 laps but was caught by winner Antonio Cairoli and dropped to sixth position after a late fall.

The final outing was between MX1 and MX Open with Ramon and Tedesco the main Suzuki riders. Ramon again took time to build up his speed for a decent fifth which made him the overall winner of the Open category. Tedesco hit the deck once more – he has missed most of the outdoor American season through injury - but his sixth place helped towards USA’s record seventeenth triumph in the competition.

Stefan Everts claimed two of the races and Antonio Cairoli Moto2. With the five best results from each team (and riders scoring points in reverse with 1st taking 1, 2nd with 2, 3rd with 3 and so on down to 20th) the nation with the lowest total was USA followed by Belgium, New Zealand, Italy and France filling the top five.

Kevin Strijbos:

“The first race was not that good, I was just too slow so I decided to go for it in the second one and pushed really hard. On the last lap I made a mistake on the jump and crashed. I was running with Steve for quite a while but then it got to a point where he was quicker than me so I let him past so that he could move on further. It was a team race today and we all tried our hardest but I am disappointed that I could not have done better.”

Steve Ramon:

“I am happy with my individual performance and winning the Open class. My riding was pretty good today even if my starts were not great and I was struggling a little bit in the early laps; I could not get my rhythm. Towards the end things were getting better and I could find my lines. In the second moto I was right behind Philippaerts for third when I made a mistake and crashed. From then on I brought the bike home. Stefan did really well and as a team we all did our best. Kevin was unlucky in the first moto but we all tried and personally I am satisfied with second place.”

Ivan Tedesco:

“I got a good start like I wanted in that first moto and I tried to do as many good laps as I could. I had a good rhythm going but got a bit tired and tight towards the end. I have not had much bike time and missed the whole outdoor season so I did the best I could. I ended up falling on that last lap and that cost me a couple of spots but it was good enough to win the trophy. It was a good weekend and I did what I had to do. This is the biggest race of the year and it is a great honour to come. I want to thank Ricky for giving me this opportunity. It sucks that he got hurt but the team believed in me and that we could come over here and win so I am glad to be a part of it.”

Overall Result: 1. United States (15); 2. Belgium (22); 3. New Zealand (35); 4. Italy (37); 5. France (48); 6. Great Britain (55); 7. South Africa (59); 8. Spain (67); 9. Estonia (69); 10. Finland (78).

Moto 1 (MX1/ MX2): 1. Stefan Everts (Yamaha); 2. James Stewart (Kawasaki); 3. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki); 4. Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki); 5. Ben Townley (Kawasaki); 6. Josh Coppins (Honda); 7. David Philipparts (KTM); 8. Max Nagl (KTM); 9. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 10. Antonio Cairoli (Yamaha); 11. Kevin Strijbos (Suzuki).

Moto 2 (MX2/ MX3): 1. Antonio Cairoli (Yamaha); 2. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki); 3. Ben Townley (Kawasaki); 4. Steve Ramon (Suzuki); 5. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 6. Ivan Tedesco (Suzuki); 7. Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki); 8. Jussi Vehvilainen (Suzuki); 9. Tommy Searle (Kawasaki); 10. Carlos Campano (KTM).

Moto 3 (MX1/ MX3): 1. Stefan Everts (Yamaha); 2. James Stewart (Kawasaki); 3. David Philippaerts (KTM); 4. Tanel Leok (Kawasaki); 5. Steve Ramon (Suzuki); 6. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 7. Sebastien Pourcel (Kawasaki); 8. Josh Coppins (Honda); 9. Ivan Tedesco (Suzuki); 10. Billy MacKenzie (Yamaha).

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