Grand Prix of Loket NEWS preview

July 27, 2007

Well rested KTM Red Bull Racing Teams goes to Loket with podiums in mind

The four factory riders of the KTM Red Bull Racing team go to Loket in the Czech Republic refreshed, with good memories of the circuit from last year and with podiums in mind for this weekend's Grand Prix racing.

As the long and tiring season goes into the final third of the race program, Jonathan Barragan and David Philippaerts of MX1 and Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle of MX2 all took some restorative time out in between the last strenuous Grand Prix in Faenza, Italy and this weekend's race. Now with batteries charged they go to the Czech Republic with renewed fighting spirit and "Ready to Race" in true KTM style.

Barragan returned to his home in Spain after Faenza for well-earned rest and light training, and this week has been in Belgium honing his skills with KTM team boss Stefan Everts. Jonathan will not be fazed if the hot weather in central Europe extends to the races on Sunday because he is accustomed to riding in such conditions in Spain. "I was overall third in Loket last year and it will be good for me if the weather is hot," he said.

MX1 factory team partner David Philippaerts is still struggling with the remnants of a shoulder injury that was further inflamed at the races in Faenza, a track that he rode on as a young boy. He has been continuing medical treatment to reduce the inflammation and was only able to ride again on Wednesday. Still experiencing discomfort from the injury, Philippaerets will follow up with more treatment in Belgium after the Czech event, where he will spend time training with Everts in preparation for the next Grand Prix. "Even though I haven't been able to ride and still have some pain when riding downhill, I have been running and doing other fitness training to keep my muscles in shape," he said. Philippaerts is currently fourth in the season's standings and Barragan is fifth.

KTM's MX2 riders, the tough and wiry South African Tyla Rattray and the ambitious and talented British teenager Tommy Searle also both took time off to recharge batteries after the strenuous Faenza races. Tyla took time out for fun and Formula 1 action by visiting the Grand Prix at the Neuburgring in Germany where he attended a Red Bull event. He also trained with Stefan Everts and is fit and ready for the races in the Czech Republic. "I am happy to be going to Loket. It is a good track and I won the first race here last year. I probably could have made the podium but I crashed in the second race but this year I will be going for it," the Durban-born rider said.

Searle, bristling with confidence and now a recognized threat to even the most experienced of riders, has been home in the UK and training hard whenever the extreme wet weather conditions allowed. "I hope to put in a good race this weekend. I had a good race in Loket last year and I will definitely be going for a podium this weekend. Both Rattray and Searle have confirmed that they will be staying on in MX2 with the KTM Red Bull Racing Team for the 2008 season. Tyla is third currently third in the championship standings and Tommy is in fourth place.

With a hot weekend predicted for the Czech races, the riders will face a hard and fast track with gravel stretches that offer little grip but plenty of thrills for the expected large crowd of spectators.

SUZUKI MX1 READY FOR LOKET

The 11th round of 15 in the 2007 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship will see Team Suzuki travelling to the Loket circuit for the Grand Prix of Czech Republic this weekend. The meeting is the first of five to occur within six weeks as the current campaign reaches a conclusion on September 2nd in Holland.

Both Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon enjoyed a break from international and national commitments last weekend but the two Belgians competed in the Westerlo International meeting yesterday evening against a host of Grand Prix peers. Strijbos won both motos to claim overall victory on the RM-Z450 while Ramon was able to secure third overall.

Ramon is second in the World Championship as Loket prepares itself for the 2007 edition of the Czech event and the 27 year old missed the podium for the first time in four Grand Prix two weeks ago in Italy.

"The track was really bumpy yesterday, something we have not been so used to recently in the GPs, and Kevin and Ken de Dycker were riding well but I was thinking more about Loket," said the former world champion, who put some hours on the 2008 stock machine during last week. "The track in the Czech Republic is not one of my favourites. I don't mind racing there but for some reason I have never managed a good result. It is a place where getting a good start is vital because there are never that many ruts or bumps. My main aim is to get back on the podium and if I can get the start I know a win will be possible."

For Strijbos, Loket will always carry good memories. The circuit was the site of his maiden Grand Prix victory and that of the RM-Z450 back in 2005. The Belgian recovered from injury problems that had wrecked his 2005 campaign to post the win and is hoping now that history might be able to repeat itself after this season has tailed off in the wake of his left knee problems.

"It was a good race and nice to get back on a good level with the bike after the problems we had in Italy," said the 21 year old after Westerlo and who finished fourth at Loket 12 months ago as well as being runner-up in the second moto. "I've ridden quite well at Loket for the last couple of seasons and we were unlucky to have a bit of a clutch problem last year that stopped us getting on the podium. I know my speed will be good and we'll see what happens."

Loket could be deemed an old fashioned motocross track in the sense of the natural layout, high speed and use of the indentations of the land to provide several jumps. The course is more spectacular through the numerous drops and climbs within the valley setting rather than for the aerial or technical challenges it presents to the riders. The location itself is only a few kilometres from the Spa town and former capital Karlovy Vary that is still a popular tourist attraction and was recently used to film exteriors of the last James Bond film 'Casino Royale'. Pleasant weather conditions are predicted for the weekend with temperatures in the mid-20s and bright skies.

MX1 World Championship Standings (after 10 of 15 rounds): 1. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 445 points; 2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 338 p.; 3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 285 p.; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, KTM), 278 p.; 5. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 272 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 256 p.; 7. Mike Brown (USA, Honda), 255 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 250 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 240 p.; 10. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Kawasaki), 218 p.

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