Team Suzuki has enlisted former 125cc world number one Steve Ramon for its 2006 MX1 World Championship push. The 25-year-old Belgian signed a two year deal with Suzuki to ride the RM-Z450 alongside Kevin Strijbos. Ramon scored second position in the Grand Prix of Germany last Sunday and finished fourth in the world last seasonhis first effort in the premier MX1 class after claiming the 125 (now MX2) crown in 2003.
Steve said: "Of course I am really happy to join Suzuki, I needed some new motivation and it is really practical for me that the team is based in Belgium."
"Kevin [Strijbos] is a good rider," Ramon continued, "I feel that we can learn a lot from each other through practicing together and working with the RM-Z. We will be a young team, but a strong one."
"Bringing Steve on board is a good move for the future of the team," said Team Manager Jens Johansson. "For 2006 we have two talented young riders who are more than capable of scoring excellent results in the premier class. We will see some of the older stars at the peak of the sport walk away from the World Championship in the next two years and Team Suzuki will be ideally placed with two major names of the next generation. Signing Steve alongside Kevin, means that we have a talented, dedicated and promising pair of riders who are crucial to the continuing development of the RM-Z450."