The Grand Prix of Latvia held at the Kegums circuit turned out to be a successful one for AXO, as Steve Ramon took the third step of the podium in the ninth round of the Motocross World Championship.

Steve Ramon felt an improvement in the arm infection that hampered his efforts seven days previously in Germany. The experienced Belgian was holding second place in the first moto until Desalle ploughed through and thereafter rode a solid race to finish third. A similar strong performance in the second sealed the former World Champion's second piece of silverware this season after his podium finish at round three in Holland.

Steve Ramon: “It gives me a great feeling to be on the podium because I have been struggling with some injuries since Portugal and have been hardly riding during the week since then. The first moto was OK. The start was really good and Clement and Bobryshev were too fast to follow. My start was not great in the second race but I passed many riders and was feeling quicker and more comfortable. I came closer to Clement but then started to get a bit of pain in my hand and had to back off because I didn't want to take any risks."

At Assen, in the 125 class, Bradley Smith came once again very close to a podium finish, but had to be content with fourth spot of the Gran prix of Holland behind a relentless Spanish trio. 2009 125 World Champion Julian Simon was sixth at the end of the Moto2 race: he had a tough start,  but was able to make up the lost ground to take some valuable points.

At the Misano circuit, tough week end for the AXO riders Max Neukirchner and Chris Vermeulen, who clinched 14-14 and 16-15 respectively at the end of a hot and sunny day dominated by home rider Max Biaggi.