Ramon, Coppins and co set for Hawkstone International
January 31, 2008
Sunday 2nd March will see the Hawkstone International come of age, as Salop Motor Club delivers what will be the tenth edition of their now well-established season opening event. The birthday bash looks sets to be one of the best ever with 2007 MX1 World champion Steve Ramon – Suzuki confirming his entry alongside arch rivals Josh Coppins – Yamaha and his new team mate Ken De Dycker.
Whilst these three riders, plus 2007 MX1 British Champion Billy MacKenzie - Honda and David Phillipaerts – Yamaha will be high amongst the bookmakers’ favourites, they will have severe opposition in the form of Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem – Kawaski, plus the Honda pairing of Marc De Reuver and Julien Bill to mention just a few other top names who will be on hand.
With Coppins losing out to Ramon in last year’s title race, when the likable Kiwi crashed and injured himself whilst holding a healthy lead in the championship standings, both riders will have a point to prove as they clash for the first time on UK soil in 2008. Ex MX1 British champion Ken De Dycker will revisit his second home, wanting to show that his winter move to the Suzuki squad has been the right one for the tall and lean Belgium rider, and will look to use his sand experience to take an early season win.
KTM’s rising star Max Nagl returns to the steep and unforgiving Shropshire circuit for only the second time after having made a very impressive debut here twelve months ago. A fourth and fifth place in the two MX1 motos gave him fifth spot overall, on a wet and energy sapping track, just behind the much more experienced Marc De Reuver. Other KTM runners in the form of Sven Breugelmans and Yentel Martens mean that the Orange brigade will be well represented when the international circus rolls into the famous venue just North of Shrewsbury in little over a month’s time.
Local rider Ray Rowson – Honda will be counting on plenty of home support, as he is joined by his PAR team mates Jordan Rose in the MX1 class ad Ashley Greedy plus Shane Carless in the smaller MX2 division. Other runners in the MX2 category worthy of a mention, in addition to the strong pack of British contenders, are Joel Roelants – KTM who was World Junior champion back in 2006 and Dennis Verbruggen – Yamaha who picked up the same title a year earlier.
Behind the scenes Salop Motor Club’s loyal band of workers are grafting hard to ensure that all other elements of the meeting match up to the star studded cast that will be descending upon their World renowned track in a few weeks time. Revisions and reworking of the circuit over the winter months mean that the riders will face a familiar challenge, but with some new twists, to keep the racing as close as possible.
Already you can tell It’s going to be another Hawkstone Park day to be remembered, and one to add to the many chapters that have been written previously about this fantastic venue, which very much remains the true home of British moto-x.
Please call 0161 705 2280 or visit http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk for ticket prices, race times and other general information.
Limited trade space and sponsorship opportunities remain available. Interested parties should call 0161 763 6660 immediately to be part of this massive occasion.
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