20/05/2010
Team Suzuki Press Office - May 20.
Bo Rasmussen is Steve Ramon's mechanic and is enjoying his first year with the Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 team. The experienced Dane had previously worked with Ramon for another squad and in 2009 was part of the Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 crew, spannering for Xavier Boog.
"We have just arrived back in Belgium to the team workshop in Lommel after a very busy period of nearly two weeks with two Grands Prix. Both in Portugal and Spain the conditions were quite different with rain and mud on the Saturday for practice and qualification and then sunshine and manly dry weather for the race days. When a weekend is inconsistent like that then it does create more work as we need to get the bike clean, think about our tyre choice and also concentrate on any small modifications to the set-up. It is difficult for the riders when a track can change so much in the space of 24 hours but also challenges us as we have to protect the bike from the elements as much as possible.
"Steve was unlucky in the qualification race in Portugal when he had a heavy crash. It was a real shame because he had rode well at Valkenswaard two weeks before to make the podium and then also won the first round of the Belgian Championship at Beervelde before Agueda. There is not much you can do for your rider when an accident happens. You just have to hope they are OK and then try to support and motivate them as much as possible.
On Sunday after the race at Agueda we washed everything and stripped the RM-Z450 (which we do after each GP). On Monday we rebuilt the bike. We swapped the engine, changed grips, greased everything up and make it all look like new. By the evening we had packed up, washed the floor and put away the awning and drove to a parking facility in Agueda. We had an easy day on Tuesday but unfortunately it was raining, so not much to do. We drove all day on Wednesday and finally stopped for the night about an hour away from Bellpuig in Catalunya. We hosed the truck and set up again on Thursday, and normally for me Fridays are a quiet time as the rest of the paddock and the Grand Prix itself starts to come to life. I sticker the bike and get the wheels prepped with the Pirelli guys and then complete the technical control. The riders usually turn-up at some point in the morning or afternoon.
"This is my first season working with the fuel injected RM-Z450. We have some good people that look after the electronic side and it is interesting to learn the effects of the changing technology. I worked on the RM-Z250 in 2009 and of course motocross pushes the performance of both bikes. Racing means different types of stress on the machinery. You push for power on the 250, whereas you already have that on the 450 but the stress comes in different areas and the set-up needs refinement because things like the sprocket and the tyres and other parts face wear.
"Steve is a very sensible rider and a good guy to work with. He analyses his situation with the bike and if there are changes to be made then they are normally small things or a tweak to the suspension. We have a good understanding. Obviously during a race we can only communicate by the pit-board. Sometimes in the evenings we talk in his camper about strategy, messages and the information I can give. We try not to write the same things but Steve is a very experienced rider anyway. Recently he asked me to write things like 'Do it!' to prompt him to be more aggressive. Mostly it is informative though; the position and time left in the moto. If he is closing on a rider then I will also put that person's lap-time on the board as well as Steve's own so he can see any gain.
"After Spain there was the packing 'list' to follow. The USA is our first non-European race so the spare bike has bbeen sent and we have a detailed list of parts and other materials that needs to be packed and sent to California. We try to be as well prepared as possible; for example we already worked with Pirelli in Spain to get the wheels set for transportation. We have to be organised because right after the US race we get back and go to France. I am looking forward to Glen Helen. The truth is that another European race would have meant less stress but Glen Helen is a special track and I have never been there. I hope we can get back on the box again!"