Suzuki Europe MX2's Valentin Teillet won a moto and finished second overall for an impressive first competitive meeting with his new team and on-board the RM-Z250 at the International Winter Motocross event at Frankenbach in Germany.
The Frenchman reeled off 21 rapid laps after a bright start in the first moto and beat numerous 450cc machines to win by more than eight seconds. A first corner fall at the start of the second sprint left the 20 year old with a lot of work to do but he rode well across the fast circuit and in good racing conditions - cloudy but mild - to rise to fifth place and confirm second on the final podium.
Teillet's speed and form was an encouraging sight for the team after the former European Champion had needed time to recover from injury over the winter.
"To see Valentin come through the pack like that in the second moto was great, especially as he is still building up his race pace and track time," said Team Manager Thomas Ramsbacher. "He closed the gap to the riders going for second position but just ran out of time. The first race was excellent, with a positive start out of the gate, and when he got out in front he just pulled away."
"We are using our new race models which have some small modifications to the motorcycle which was winning Grands Prix at the end of 2010," he added. "We are really happy with the RM-Z250 and, of course, Suzuki International Europe and GRP's support to continue placing the bike at the front."
Suzuki Europe MX2 will reconvene in Belgium this week for further training and tests before a stint in the UK where they will contest the International meeting in the sand of Hawkstone Park next weekend and the second round of the Maxxis British Championship at Canada Heights, south-east of London, a week later.
[Press Release and Photo Courtesy of Suzuki Racing]
