Rockstar Energy Suzuki set for Valence
Friday 17 February: The new-look Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe team roars into action this weekend as the European motocross scene comes to life with the first major international meeting of 2012.
Using fettled 2012 RM-Z250 technology, freshly-recruited FIM MX2
Motocross World Championship riders Harri Kullas and Petar Petrov will
make their public debuts in 'yellow' at the Valence circuit, south of
Lyon, where the Finn and the Bulgarian will encounter a host of Grand
Prix peers.
For Team Manager Thomas Ramsbacher the alliance with
Rockstar Energy Drink and the reaffirmation of Suzuki International
Europe has allowed the team to become an important pyramid and filter of
talent with the MX2 Grand Prix roster - now back to two riders after
Valentin Teillet's sole plight in 2011 - at the peak.
"Our goal
from the beginning was to identify the best talent within our reach in
Europe and then provide those racers with the chance, tools and
opportunity to scale the heights," the German said. "We arrived to an
excellent point with Ken Roczen where Suzuki helped him win the 85cc
Junior World Championship and supported him right through the European
series into Grands Prix and to the stage where we were able to fight for
the MX2 FIM World Championship together.
"Ken was an extreme
example because it happened so quickly but we have also had impact on
the careers of Xavier Boog, the current French MX1 Champion, current
British MX2 Champion Arnaud Tonus; and even Clement Desalle when the
team was in the early phases of its FIM World Championship
participation.
"Now we stand on the edge of something very
exciting," he continued. "With Harri and Petar we again have two young
lions ready to prove themselves. They are starting only their third
season in GPs and we're excited to see how they can progress. Away from
the FIM Motocross World Championship we have been lucky enough to snare
15-year-old Jorge Zaragoza who will be on an RM125 in the European 125cc
two-stroke series that runs at select Grand Prix events, and Brian Hsu
(13) who will represent the team in 85cc competition. These two kids
have to be seen to be believed with regards to what they can do on a
bike."
Kullas (20 years old from Helsinki with a best GP finish
of 5th) and Petrov (17 years old from Sevlievo with a highest GP ranking
of 12th) will turn the first wheels for the team in 2012 in France but
the meeting will be the start of a long one with sixteen FIM Motocross
World Championship fixtures this season, eight ADAC German MX Masters
rounds and a likely Motocross of Nations appearance for both.
"I'm
really happy to be able to join Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe as the
close links the team have with the MX1 guys and the fact that I am based
in Belgium for training means it is an exciting and easy move for me,"
commented Kullas. "I hope to be able to make the next step with my
career in 2012 and I know with the backing I have behind me it will be
possible."
"I learnt a lot during 2011 and was regularly scoring
points and now with the RM-Z250 and the great team here I believe I can
push for the top 10 and maybe even better in 2012; who knows?!" said an
excited Petrov.
Once again Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe
will count on the first-class technical expertise of Geboers Racing
Promotions and careful eye of Chief Technician Jens Johansson who has
helped sculpt the RM-Z250 over half a decade into a Grand Prix-winning
motorcycle. The MX2 riders will enjoy the 2012 version of the machine
with further small steps made in electronics and performance.