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Strijbos grabs seventh overall at tough Mexico


14 May 2012
 
HM Plant KTM UK’s Kevin Strijbos came through a difficult and demanding Grand Prix of Mexico at Guadalajara with a decent seventh position overall and holds the same ranking in the standings of the ultra-competitive premier MX1 class.

25,000 spectators flocked to the first ever Mexican round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The high altitude (over 5000ft) and temperatures (30 degrees) created tough conditions and the tricky racing surface was hard to judge and even verged on being perilous. On Saturday the 20 Grand Prix regulars in the series who had made the trip to South America decided to abstain from the qualification heat race on the grounds that the vast volume of dust presented visibility problems. After watering and preparation on Saturday evening the dust issue was mostly resolved but the loose and sandy dirt was rough and bumpy with varying levels of grip. The wild-card native entrants were also vastly off the pace and caused a great deal of track ‘traffic’.

In this theatre of adversity Strijbos found his way to an excellent fifth position in the first moto to equal his best finish yet on the 350SX-F. A slightly worse getaway and less confidence on the churning Mexican soil meant a regression to tenth place in the second race but the British Championship leader continues to be consistent.

HM Plant KTM UK have cleaned and crated the bike, spares and equipment for travel south through the continent and Beto Carrero for the Grand Prix of Brazil next weekend.

Kevin Strijbos: “It was a little difficult this weekend for me. The first race was ok. I made a good start and I rode in sixth position for most of the moto but Pourcel made a mistake somewhere and finally I finished fifth. I really felt ok; I didn't have arm pump, so I was happy with this result. In the second race, I felt strange, not tired but it was too hot and I tried to push and I couldn't. My start wasn't too good like the first one and I tried to find my lines and do my best. Finally I was tenth and I am not happy with that but the positive thing is that I was fifth in the first race and I hope that I make a better job next week in Brazil.â€

Roger Magee, Team Principal: “Yet another good weekend for HM Plant KTM UK as Kevin Strijbos again proved that he is one of the main contenders in the 2012 MX1 World Championship with another two top-ten finishes in the inaugural Mexican GP and is now 7th overall in the standings. He’s really proved to be competitive on his 350SX-F machine especially in the first moto despite his lowly qualification position due to the ‘problems’ encountered yesterday. We now look forward to next weekend's GP in Brazil where Kevin can hopefully even improve on his consistent results."