2011 FIM MX2 News
After a ground-breaking season in which all three of their riders graced podiums of FIM World Championship Grand Prix events, the Suzuki Europe MX2 team will count on the speed and expertise of young Frenchman Valentin Teillet on the RM-Z250 for 2011.
The German-Belgian crew placed two of their representatives within the top 10 of the final standings of the 2010 FIM MX2 World Championship and secured the runner-up slot overall; by far the most productive campaign yet in the brief history of the RM-Z250 and casting the team as one of the major forces in the series.
With a re-structuring and realignment of goals for 2011 Suzuki Europe MX2 will now hope to reach the same level with 20-year-old Teillet.
A lively and stylish Mx2 rider, the Frenchman was European Champion in 2008 and will enter only his third term at World Championship level in ’11 after suffering some misfortune with injury in the last two years.
Teillet who boasts a best grand prix finish of fifth (third in the first moto of the 2009 Brazilian round), has scored 12th and 17th MX2 positions in ’09 and ’10 and is currently recovering from a shoulder ailment.
Valentin Teillet says: “I’m really happy to be given this chance because it is almost like a factory team for me and everything seems really professional. The guys are really dedicated but they are also nice people. I am injured at the moment but it seems like every two days I get a call or message asking how I am doing.”
“I have tested the stock Suzuki and I was impressed with how good it felt, then they let me try Roczen’s race bike will all his settings and it is similar to how I like my bike to be.”
“It was so good to get time on that motorcycle; it felt so light but was powerful and responsive. I have a great feeling for next season and I hope in about five weeks I will be ready to start riding and get a lot of track time ready for the GPs.”
The 2010 MX2 season saw the RM-Z250 gain its maiden pole positions and fight for the MX2 World Championship for the first time in the hands of Ken Roczen.
The motorcycle was hoisted onto the podium a total of 11 times, three as winner, with Arnaud Tonus grabbing his first trophy at the final round of the year and Larissa Papenmeier finishing third in the seven-race FIM Women’s World Championship.
The team will prolong evolution on the RM-Z250 after the fruit of their work throughout 2010 was easy to see, particularly in the second half of the year in which Roczen captured his three victories from the last six events.
Thomas Ramsbacher (MX2 Suzuki Racing Team Manager) says: “We had an incredible time in 2010 with a lot of success with the riders and also importantly with the development of the RM-Z250 that clearly became a very competitive machine in a tough racing category.”
“It was our first year with the fuel injection and everybody at GRP and behind the scenes worked very hard so that when our guys went to the gate they knew they were able to win with the equipment they had.”
“We will continue on this promising base for 2011 and even if we have had to reorganize the team, the support will be at a factory level for Valentin who we believe has a lot of potential and is an exciting acquisition for us and Suzuki.”
“With Xavier Boog, Ken Roczen and Arnaud Tonus we have assisted the progression of some excellent riders in the last two years and we believe that will carry on with Valentin. We are looking forward to the challenge and for maintaining Suzuki’s high profile in the MX2 class.”
