Belgian Waffle GP Gallery 3

The Belgian GP at Lommel was always going to be a tough race as the deep sand of the legendary circuit that’s situated in the town’s industrial area roughs and ruts up making it a real test of man and machine. The circuit has been known to throw up some surprises – like Team America dominating the world’s best at the 1981 Trophee des Nations – and the 2008 GP was no different with young Estonian Gert Krestinov taking a surprise win in MX2 and unlikely Spanish sand-master Jon Barragan taking overall victory in MX1…

Top Portugeezer Rui Goncalves finished second overall on his works KTM in Belgium and also announced he’ll be staying with the Austrian factory team for 2009.

Kiwi world tea tray racing champion Scotty Columb is one of the nicest guys in motocross and when it’s possible to find his truck in the pits it’s always worth popping by to chat some ***t and to blag a fizzy lemon drink. Scotty didn’t score any points in Belgium and I couldn’t find his truck either so I had to go thirsty – it was a bad weekend all round.

Confirming he’ll be pitting from the Factory KTM truck in 2009 was a great way to start his weekend and Shaun Simpson continued to impress on the track too with a pair of solid rides on the KTM UK machine.

Crashes in both motos couldn’t stop Team Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Steve Ramon from taking the lead in the MX1 world championship. Expect to see a big fat ret number plate on the front of the factory Suzuki in Loket this weekend.

Tanel Leok’s full-throttle gas-guzzling way of attacking the track may have been quick but he was only rider to run dry and lost big points in moto one as he pushed the bike home with an empty fuel tank.

Tyla Rattray was by far the quickest rider in MX1 but a couple of crashes in race two kept the South African off the podium on the day. Tyla also confirmed he’ll be leading KTM’s MX1 effort in 2009 alongside Max Nagl and a rider who is yet to be confirmed.