One week after their home event, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 this weekend face the Grand Prix of Czech Republic and their last round of the FIM World Championship this month in Europe.
The 12th meeting from 15 in the 2010 campaign will take place at the normal venue of Loket for the trip across the German border and near the resort town of Karlovy Vary.
Clement Desalle will take his RM-Z450WS to the hilly and hard-pack track with a knowing glint in his eye that the 2009 incarnation of the GP delivered his first career victory. The 21 year old has been immensely impressive in his first year with the Belgian team and last Sunday notched his ninth podium result of the season from 11 races; the same total as World Champion and current MX1 standings leader Tony Cairoli. Desalle is chasing the Sicilian but trails by 79 points with just 200 left to grab.
"For sure Loket will be different to last weekend, maybe a different strategy and the start will be important," the Belgian said. "I like the track though! The ground is different from all the other circuits; it is hard but slippery on top. You are either going down or up the hill and the speed is pretty high."
Steve Ramon saw a valid podium opportunity slip away in the Lommel sand last weekend and although Loket is not one of his preferred circuits - he has never finished higher than fifth since making his debut in the class in 2004 - he will be trying to ignore the discomfort from the bang to his legs - courtesy of his second moto tumble on Sunday - and try to gain seven points over Max Nagl to move into fourth in the championship table. "Not my favourite!" he said. "If I had to pick one track to lose from the calendar then it would be Loket. I am not totally sure why, but I always seem to struggle there and I live in hope that I will arrive one year and it will have changed a bit. You have to ride the entire lap on the gas and that's not something I really like."
After their second grand prix in a row, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1 will have a week break before starting the long trip to Campo Grande for the Grand Prix of Brazil. Desalle will fly to the USA the weekend prior to contest the ninth round of the Lucas Oils AMA Nationals at Unadilla in New York.
Loket was constructed in 1973 and the layout, a rush of weaving turns up and down the hillside, is one of the more natural courses on the calendar. The track was homologated by the FIM in 1992 and held its first world championship event in 1995. Since the start of the century Loket has been ever-present on the schedule, and thanks to its relatively late slot in the campaign and traditional fixture near the beginning of August, has seen several title celebrations over the years.
The weather forecast for the weekend predicts clouds and a chance of showers.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 11 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 484 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 405 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 364 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 348 p.; 5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 341 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 299 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 276 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 249 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 244 p.; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), 213 p.
