New Zealander Ben Townley will miss this weekend the opening round of the 2011 FIM Motocross Championship, but is actively working for his comeback after his winter injuries.

After a prosperous off-season that has included victories in France and the UK, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 are now ready to 'remove the gloves' for the first round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship in Bulgaria this weekend.

The Honda World Motocross are in action once more this weekend as the team contest their last competitive meeting before the MX1 World Championship begins in Sevlievo, Bulgaria on the 9-10 April.

Third place in 2009 and runner-up in 2010, Clement Desalle is hoping that his career trajectory continues rising for 2011 when the young Belgian faces his sixth season in the FIM MX1 World Championship and just his second as a works Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 rider.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1's Steve Ramon, twice FIM World Champion and seven-times Belgian number one, is now the senior statesman of the premier MX1 class at Grand Prix level.

The acquisition of Steven Frossard boosts the Monster Energy Yamaha team’s presence in the premier MX1-GP class to three riders. For 2011 Frossard joins David Philippaerts on the works YZ450FMs for what will be his maiden campaign after five seasons in MX2-GP. He will also be the second Frenchman in the Rinaldi-led crew with Gautier Paulin set for his second term on the official YZ250FM in MX2-GP.

With a little over two months until the start of the World Motocross Championship season in Sevlievo, Bulgaria, the training schedule of the Honda World Motocross team has stepped up a gear as they prepare for an assault on the 2011 MX1 title.

Coming off an inspiring 1-1 win at the final national of the year, Dean Wilson, the newly crowned AMA Motocross Championship’s Rookie of the Year, took his place in the MX2 class for Great Britain as the Motocross of Nations hit American soil at Thunder Valley MX in Lakewood, Colo. His 8-6 finishes helped his country finish fourth and earn him second overall in the MX2 class. We chatted with him to see how his sophomore appearance at the event compared to his rookie trip to Italy last year.

Earlier this week the riders met for the first time during a teambuilding event. As usual the Belgian top riders enjoyed a relaxing day out with waterski, cycling and a barbecue to finish off.

Markus Bau is the CEO of Teka and the owner of the Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 team as well as a major partner in the Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 crew.