The in-form CAS Monster Honda rider Evgeny Bobryshev has been keeping his eye in and tightened his grip on the British crown with a dominant victory at Round 5 of the championship at the Foxhill track in Swindon. Bobryshev won two of the three motos and finished second in the other to take the overall win in fine style. However, His team-mate Gareth Swanepoel did not fare so well, a freak crash in the first moto caused an injury to his wrist and prevented him from taking part in any further racing that weekend. Swanepoel is expected to recover in time to compete in Lommel but it still remains to be seen how the injury may affect his performance. His confident Russian team mate, Bobryshev, will be looking to continue where he left off and push for the podium position he has been so close to in the last two Grand Prix.

The Honda Racing MX Martin team have turned to a new recruit to inject life into their return to the world stage. Japanese star Yu Hirata has been drafted in alongside resident rider Jimmy Albertson for the next two Grand Prix in Lommel and Loket. The 25 year-old from Aichi, Japan, who currently rides for the Dream Honda RT squad in the All Japan National MX Championship, will line up alongside his American team mate for the next two rounds in MX1. Familiar to the Honda CRF450R, he will be looking to push Albertson and challenge his number 1 status within the team. Albertson has already reacted to the challenge, stepping up his training regime during the break. He is aiming to come back focused and determined to prove that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level of competition, against the best in the world. MX2 rider Alessandro Battig will also return to competition this weekend after missing the last three rounds due to injury.

LS Motors Honda riders Davide Guarneri and Tanel Leok have also not been resting on their laurels. Before the break there was one last bit of business to take care of, in the form of the third round of the MX Pro Series in Tongeren-Berg. In sweltering conditions, the duo came away with solid results – a 3rd for Leok overall and a 4th for Guarneri – against many World Championship protagonists, including Suzuki’s Clement Desalle and Steve Ramon. Both LS riders have been training hard in the break and will be looking to realise the potential of the pace they have shown in recent Grand Prix and leave behind the small mistakes that have been costly for both in recent outings. It is the home Grand Prix for the Belgian LS Motors Honda team and they will be looking to their riders for strong results in front of a passionate home crowd.

The punishing sand of Lommel will not be an easy return for any of the World Championship regulars but it should suit the riding style of many of those aboard the Honda. Podium positions are a real possibility and race wins are certainly within reach.

Jimmy Albertson, Honda Racing MX Martin
“The break has been quite nice! I have been able to get some good riding and testing in but I am 100% ready to be back at the races! I'm excited to finish out the rest of the season on a high note. More exciting news for me is that I am working with a different physical training coach. John van den Berk is still my riding coach and is a great help to my program, so with my new physical trainer and also with John’s input, I hope to be able to reach my goals by the end of the season!”

Tanel Leok, LS Motors Honda
“I think Lommel will be a difficult, hard race, but on the other hand it is a track that I enjoy and one that I’m looking forward to ride. I have been training hard on sand tracks the last couple of weeks and I feel good. Admittedly I haven’t had great luck in Lommel so far but it is a track that suits me. My uncle Avo won there and I feel that it’s the kind of place where I can win as well.”

Davide Guarneri, LS Motors Honda
“Lommel is Lommel you know. It’s different to anything else on the calendar. For sure no one thinks about entering this race unprepared. So I have been riding a lot, which was not easy the last couple of weeks given the heat-wave in Belgium! The last few days (before the race) I’m getting some rest to be fully fit for the weekend. I talked a lot about line choice in the sand with Marnicq Bervoets and I will use his advice to maintain my speed every lap. That is really the key because there is not one good line, it’s rough and bumpy everywhere!”