The eighth round of the FIM MX1 World Championship follows hard upon the British Grand Prix last Sunday at Mallory Park. The Grand Prix of France, set to take place at the hillside Ernee circuit for the first time since 2006, occurs this weekend and sees Teka Suzuki World MX1 travel with Ken De Dycker to the north-east of the country hunting their first podium since Portugal four weeks ago.
The Belgian has had a few more days to recover from his shoulder and wrist injuries that plagued his efforts on English soil. The 24 year old went riding on Wednesday and although is still not yet 100% fit, hopes for more fortune with his results in France as the team's campaign enters its second phase.
"I just went for a gentle ride today and things went OK. It was slightly easier to get around but it was still tough to hold on and feel comfortable," commented the rider who has made three rostrum appearances this year with his RMZ-450 and is currently fifth in the championship standings.
Ernee, site of the 2005 Motocross of Nations, utilises it valley setting to create a natural amphitheatre for the spectators who can enjoy almost 100% views of the track. The course's location on one side of the gully means that the jumps and turns send the riders weaving across the incline. For the 2009 visit of the paddock Ernee has undergone a facelift with alterations to leaps and a new first turn.
"We haven't been to Ernee for a few years but I have seen some of the changes in the magazine and they look interesting," says De Dycker. "It is an old-fashioned kind of track with up and down-hills and 180 degree turns so it is always difficult to make new lines at a place like that. I just hope for some luck at the weekend and also hope that the landings do not affect me too much from some of those big jumps."
After two Grand Prix of fine weather and sunshine the forecast for the weekend in the region around Ernee predicts overcast skies and high chance of rainfall.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 7 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 255 points; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 221; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 215; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 209; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Teka Suzuki WMX1), 208 p; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 204 p; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 198 p; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 190 p; 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 106 p; 10. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), 101 p; 11. Steve Ramon (BEL, Teka Suzuki WMX1), 100 p.
