STRIJBOS & SUZUKI STRONG AT GLEN HELEN MXGP

2016-09-11 08:07
An encouraging start to the final fixture of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship at Glen Helen for the Grand Prix of USA saw Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos race to fourth position in qualification.

Hot sunshine lashed the San Bernardino circuit in southern California for the 18th round of the MXGP series and the second in the United States this week.

Strijbos found a promising pace from the first practice session and around the steep hills and fast American layout; forged from hard-pack dirt and some loose, almost-sandy sections. The Belgian tweaked the engine settings on the RM-Z450 for Timed Practice and notched the sixth fastest lap.

The Belgian Grand Prix winner made a good start and used the full grunt of the Suzuki along the long start straight to slot into fourth position around the opening turns. He then established enough speed through the second phase of the 20 minute and two-lap sprint to pass Arnaud Tonus and capture fourth.

Arminas Jasikonis was trying to race one week after twisting his right ankle at the Grand Prix of the Americas. The tall Lithuanian, who was also competing on U.S. soil for the first time, struggled with the heat but still managed to circulate to 18th place and is now hoping to absorb and achieve as much from his maiden America experience as possible on Sunday.

Bright sunshine and high temperatures are predicted for the last Grand Prix motos of the season.

Kevin Strijbos:

“Not too bad today and I felt good from the first practice. We changed some engine settings for Timed Practice and it was better. I fixed my gate well but another rider took it so I had to fix another one quickly, anyway my start still wasn't bad and I was lucky when [Tim] Gajser crashed in front of me because I almost hit his bike. I was riding pretty good but from the halfway point I was faster and could pass Tonus for fourth, which was alright. I’m looking forward to the races now and it will be hot and tough; the qualification heat today was short but I already felt it. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Arminas Jasikonis:

“The heat is really killing me and I haven’t been able to ride since Charlotte. The track is fast and tough for me. I’m fighting myself…but I’m not worrying about a result here. This GP is just about learning and getting stronger.”

MXGP Qualification race: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 25:48.790; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:05.724; 3. Dean Wilson (GBR, KTM), +0:21.581; 4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:25.727; 5. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.962; 6. Eli Tomac (USA, Kawasaki), +0:29.375; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.751; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:35.638; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:38.043; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:38.768. 18. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +1:33.213.

Source: Team Suzuki Press Office

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