De Dycker 7th in Czech MX1 GP
By TMX Archives on 9th Aug 09
Teka Suzuki World MX1's Ken De Dycker was not able to follow his excellent home victory last week in Lommel with more success at the13th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.
The Belgian could only manage seventh place overall after suffering stomach pain at Loket for the Grand Prix of Czech Republic.
The fast and relatively-simple course became rougher throughout the day but the close lap-times of the pack meant a decent getaway from the gate was essential for podium contention. Sunshine and warm temperatures created a sweaty pair of motos and the fine dirt, while rough in a few areas, was largely difficult in terms of traction and providing valid overtaking spots.
Both riders placed among the top-five of both practice sessions on Saturday but were limited by average starts; this set the tone for an unlucky series of events on Sunday. Watched by 21,000 spectators De Dycker held second place in the formative stages of the first moto until he started to struggle to find his pace; had problems physically and, after a problem with his goggles, dropped back to eighth by the flag. He also had reason to lament the second race as he again found himself drawing closer to the leaders before losing two places in the final laps and was again eighth.
Steve Ramon was on the fringes of the top six in the first moto before he experienced a rare engine problem and was forced to stop. The 2007 World Champion made his way from ninth to sixth in the second outing to classify 13th overall.
In the World Championship standings, De Dycker is now fifth and 17 points from the top four. Ramon picked up 15 points in Loket and rests 12th in the table.
The Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 team had cause to celebrate once more - for the fourth time this season - as Xavier Boog embarked on a fine first Grand Prix since recovering from his appendix removal and recent shoulder complaint by taking third place overall; the second podium of his career and of the year so far. The Frenchman enjoyed decent starts on his RM-Z250 to finish fifth and second for his silverware. Ken Roczen was just behind, in fourth and rode brilliantly to win the first moto for the second chequered flag of his fledging career. The 15 year old was denied a rostrum slot after a frantic first corner and retaliation from a lowly placing to ninth spot in the second sprint.
Teka Suzuki WMX1 now motor back to Lommel and have a three-week break leading up to the penultimate meeting on the calendar - another event relatively close to their base - at Lierop for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands.
Ken De Dycker:
"Things did not go well all day. Physically I did not feel good, already from the morning, and I found myself pushing so hard on the track but nothing was working out. In the first moto, as I came through the step-down, a stone hit my goggles and the lens popped out so I quickly had to pit for another pair and lost positions for that. The track was OK for me but it was a tough day overall."
Steve Ramon:
"It was a hard day. In the first moto the bike stopped running while I was coming up the hill and the race was over. The second one was tough: The track was the same for everybody but I found it difficult to make ground. My start was not good but the speed was not so bad however if you made any small mistake then you had to push really hard again to get anywhere. Making a clean pass was tricky!"
Xavier Boog:
"It is a good feeling to be on the podium. I worked a lot in the last ten days to be fit for this GP and this result is very welcome! My start was very good in the second moto and for sure it is easier when you are at the front in the beginning. I tried to push a lot and stay close to Gautier but he was a little bit too fast for me. Overall though I can have no complaints from this GP."
Ken Roczen:
"The first race was great. I started well and came from fourth to first and had a relatively comfortable lead. The GP was ruined a bit at the beginning of the second moto because I got out of the gate OK but someone hit me in the first corner and I was lucky not to crash. I was outside of the top 20 and felt far away from the front; it was difficult to get into a rhythm quickly because there was so much going on. I made it back to ninth and I felt quite down after the race but seeing that I have risen to fourth in the championship with a little gap over fifth is some consolation. The GP win was close today but we still have two more to go so I will keep my head up and concentrate on the job ahead."
MX1 Moto1: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 39:02.888; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:10.188; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:21.531; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:22.734; 5. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:23.854; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:25.147; 7. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +0:32.151; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:47.271; 9. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:51.509; 10. Manuel Priem (BEL, Aprilia), +0:55.829.
MX1 Moto2: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 39:40.072; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:16.564; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:24.609; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:29.833; 5. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:33.593; 6. Steve Ramon (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:40.831; 7. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:52.202; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), +1:03.342; 9. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:11.859; 10. Loic Leonce (FRA, Aprilia), +1:19.504.
MX1 overall result: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 47 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 43 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 37 p.; 5. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 34 p.; 6. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 30 p.; 7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 26 p.; 8. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), 24 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 20 p.; 10. Carlos Campano (ESP, Yamaha), 19 p.; 11. Manuel Priem (BEL, Aprilia), 19 p.; 12. Tom Church (GBR, CCM), 16 p.; 13. Steve Ramon (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 15 p.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 13 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 503 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 458 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 428 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 426 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 409 p.; 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 409 p.; 7. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 347 p.; 8. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 218 p.; 9. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 215 p.; 10. Manuel Priem (BEL, Aprilia), 178 p.; 12. Steve Ramon (BEL, Teka Suzuki World MX1), 153 p.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 43 points; 2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Xavier Boog (FRA, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 38 p.; 4. Ken Roczen (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 37 p.; 5. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), 33 p.