Just a week after the muddy Grand Prix of Wallonie, the Motocross World championship teams are moving from their Belgian bases to Eastern Europe, where the thirteenth round of the 2005 series will take place.
The Loket circuit will be holding its ninth Grand Prix of Czech Republic within ten years but, unlike in previous season, none of the current participants can expect to be crowned this weekend.
Loket has always been one of the most popular venues of the series and most of the riders enjoy the layout of the circuit. The track has undergone only minor adjustments through the years and always provides close racing. It’s also suited to world champions – with all the previous winners having won at least one world title in their career!
In the MX1 class the duel between Stefan Everts and Josh Coppins will once more hold the world’s attention, as the New Zealander - who has inched ever slightly closer to the championship leader in recent rounds - looks to move within striking distance.
Everts has accumulated an incredible set of titles since 2001 (500cc crowns in 2001 and 2002, MXGP in 2003 and MX1 in 2004) and could equal Joel Robert if he clinches his fifth title in a row (the legendary Belgian star won the 250 Championship from 1968 to 1972).
The factory Yamaha rider now leads Coppins by thirty-eight points, but since France he has conceded points to his rival every weekend.
They have both stood on the podium in the last three GPs, but have had to watch Ben Townley (France) and Mickael Pichon (Wallonie) take the overall in two of those events.
Suffering from an ankle injury, BT has been below par in the last two events, while Pichon made a strong comeback to GP action with victory last week. Meanwhile, four times title winner - and crowned World Champion in 2003 at Loket – Suzuki’s Joel Smets would be delighted if he could renew the sort of success; he won his last GP there (2003) and a victory would surely help him find a top team for next season, with Suzuki looking set to release the Flemish Lion.
If factory-backed Smets surprised some observers earlier this season when he won two heats in Flanders and Spain, it’s now time for a privateer to be successful.
