DE DYCKER 2ND IN BALEN MOTOCROSS ROUND
Teka Suzuki World MX1 rider Ken De Dycker finished second overall in the fourth round of the United Telecom Belgian Championship at Keiheuvel, Balen Sunday
The Belgian maintained his 2009 100% podium-record with the RM-Z450 at the event that took place under blue skies, but could not add to his total of two victories notched on the domestic scene so far.
The 25 year old scored 2nd, 2nd and 5th across the three motos on the sandy terrain against no less than a dozen World Championship peers, the majority of which are grand prix winners. It was the most competitive field seen yet in the Belgian campaign as many protagonists of the FIM series took advantage of a three-week break in the calendar before the final two GPs.
"It wasn't a bad day but hard work. I had to push a lot to come back and the pace was quick," said the GP Limburg Grand Prix of Belgium winner who has only finished off the podium twice in the 12 motos held so far.
"My physical condition was OK and the points for the championship were important; even if I did have a crash in the last race on the first lap while trying to recover some positions," added De Dycker who is second in the championship and trails Clement Desalle by only six points.
Team-mate Steve Ramon was 10th after a mechanical problem gave him a DNF in the first moto. He rode to fourth in the second outing and then was vying for the win in the third race until a mistake close to the end of the affair dropped him outside of the top ten.
The former World Champion was buoyed however to learn that - in spite of his lengthy spell on the sidelines this season - he will be part of the three-man team to represent his country at Franciacorta, Italy for the 63rd Motocross of Nations on the first weekend of October.
Both riders are slated to turn out for the popular 'Everts and Friends' charity race next weekend in Genk, Belgium, seven days before the penultimate round of the FIM World Championship at Lierop in Holland for the Grand Prix of The Netherlands.
