Scoop: Steve Ramon rides Le Touquet!
Compared to last year, the Le Touquet Enduropale, the most famous beach race in the world, takes place one month earlier. Due to this new date on January 30, the race now fits better into the preparation of GP riders. The perfect opportunity for two-time world champion Steve Ramon (30) to get acquainted with this super heavy classic. We called The Bomb during his physical internship in Portugal.
It has been a while since there has been a motocross rider of your level at the start in Le Touquet.
Steve Ramon: “That's right because in the past it was simply not feasible for a GP driver in view of the other preparation races and the World Championship. Le Touquet has been on my list for some time, it is a race that I have always wanted to run. In recent years I have always watched TV. I'm glad it's happening now.”
Hundreds of thousands of people along the side, 1000 participants, suffering like animals for three hours, often wind and rain. Do you have an idea of what to expect?
Steve Ramon: “I obviously have experience in smaller beach races. This autumn I won in Berck-Sur-Mer and in Dunkirk. Of course I like driving in the sand, but the duration in particular makes a big difference. The Ronde des Sables takes 2h30 and in Le Touquet it is half an hour longer! It is a very specific competition that you cannot simply attend. You have to compete against specialists with loads of experience. Moreover, there is also some organization involved in advance, preparing the engine for this type of work and so on.”
You will immediately debut as a favorite?
Steve Ramon: “That's understandable, but I don't let that fool me. We will prepare the Enduropal well with the team and I am of course aiming for a strong result. I will therefore train regularly in Dunkirk in January. That's basically it... since it's not a main goal in itself for me. Those real beach cross specialists have a lot more pressure, they have been working towards this for months. It's the first time for me and I want to have fun with it.”
How are you preparing for the new GP season?
Steve Ramon: “Good, the train has left again! My two-week internship in Portugal is almost over and I was able to train well here. In terms of motorcycle training, I had a break so that the batteries were properly charged again. After the MX of Nations I only rode two races, the two French beach crosses. To be honest, after such a break I notice that I have to work again. (smiles) So many years of service You can't put that away."
What can we technically expect from the 2011 factory RM-Z 2011 in 450?
Steve Ramon: “Small evolutions because the engine is not evolving drastically. We already had test work planned in the south of France a few weeks ago, but because of the snow we didn't get much of it!”
Thanks for your time Steve, and happy holidays!
Steve Ramon: “No problem, my best wishes also to the editors and visitors of MXM.”
Photos credit: CDS, MXphotos/ Eric Sandra
Note: Except Ramon would too Stefan Everts consider participating in Le Touquet! Ton Van Grinsven is also present again. They compete against strong Frenchmen such as Mickael Pichon, Daniel Prévot, Adrien Van Beveren, Jean-Claude Moussé, Yves Deudon, Arnaud Demeester, Sergei and Milko Potisek. More information about Le Touquet can be found here: http://www.enduropaledutouquet.fr/
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