One point is the difference between championship leader Steve Ramon and his team mate Ken De Dycker. Everyone who doubted the sand riding qualities of Ken De Dycker probably doesn’t after his podium at the Belgian GP in Lommel.

But don’t forget that Steve Ramon has already been on the top step of the podium in Balen (2003 and 2004) which could be an advantage on the gruelling track. Another win on the Keiheuvel would had Ramon the Sylvain Geboers Challenge Cup, that one receives after three wins.

So far only Jacky Martens and Stefan Everts have won the tropy named after the legendary KMC Mol club rider.

Anyway the Teka-Suzuki works duo will have their work cut out. In the knowledge that they will miss Orp-le-Grand due to sponsorship commitments in Germany, they have to make as much as headway as possible on Manuel Priem.

With contract negotiations for 2009 in full swing, Manuel Priem needs to put himself in the spotlight. The Kawasaki Racing team rider never rode on his true level during the Lommel GP and now he gets a chance to make it up to his fans and sponsors.

With a strong performance in Loket ‘Diesel’ will be keen the momentum going. The same story goes for GPKR-Kawasaki rider Kevin Strijbos, who is fifth in point standings despite missing the Kester round.

The rider from Wuustwezel had a dismal comeback in the GP’s. Repeating is performance of last year, when he won at the Keiheuvel, could be very difficult indeed. As always there will be a couple of strong foreign riders.

They could well interfere the fight for the title. Jonathan Barragan and Marc De Reuver proved their sand riding skills already this year. And let’s not forget that De Reuver won the first heat of last year’s race.

Although he may be foreign, Joshua Coppins will still be viewed as a « local » at Balen. The Kiwi rider has been living in nearby Hulsen for almost 15 years now. A podium or even a top step could boost his morale with two sandy GP’s coming up!

Last but not least Estonia’s Aigar Leok was drafted in after Tyla Rattray pulled out of the race due to an ankle injury. Former Belgian 125 champ Leok certainly has the skills and the experience to be fast in the sand.