Steve Ramon is still recovering from his crash during the qualifying round last weekend at Lommel and will not race at Loket. Ramon is on the road to recovery, but he will not be racing again this season. Kevon Strijbos is scheduled to race for Ramon for the remaining four rounds of the MX1 World Championship.
"Steve suffered a contusion of the spine and when the muscles began to ease he could regain feeling and move his legs. He can now sit-up and has begun the first steps of a 10-15-point plan," said Dr Sam Vermeire.
Ramon was put into intensive care after his crash, but has since moved to a new facility closer to his home.
"There is a long way to go and we hope soon he will be able to take his first steps," Dr Vermeire said. "When he can start to make 'transfers' such as moving from the bed, getting up to walk across the room, sitting down and-so-on; then he will be able to leave the hospital and go home to begin his rehab and physio from there.
"In four-to-six weeks we will know a lot more about his recovery and options for his career in the future. It could be three-to-five months before there is a full recovery and perhaps some painful rehab ahead because of the nerve damage, but, like I said; the first positive steps have been made so we will see how we progress from here."
Strijbos will be filling in for Ramon on the Rockstar Energy Suzuki team for the time being. Strijbos starts his work this weekend at Loket, where he took victory in 2005.
"This is a great opportunity for me," he said. "I've had a few bad weekends this season and also some other problems and this is a fantastic chance to show that I can still produce the goods, so I want to thank the team for picking me.
"I went to the workshop in Lommel yesterday and everything was exactly like it was before. Nothing had changed and it was like coming home. I hope I can repay some of the faith this weekend."
