Also joining the Flat Track foray is Ducati, basing their machine on the successful Desmo450 MX platform that made such a spectacular entry into MXGP. British team, VRX Management, is best known for their speedway team and will run a two-rider team. That team consists of 30-year-old Tim Neave, the current British champion, and former BSB road racer and former podium placed rider in FIM World Flat Track. Next to Neave in the pit is Ashton Boughen. At just eighteen, Boughen is a rising star of the sport and, while making waves in speedway, has decided to dedicate the season to Flat Track. Being the new kid did not sway the young British star at all. In fact, he put the established top riders on notice by taking the opening round. With different riders looking like they had the goods in the heats, it was always going to be a battle of nerves, line choice and bike setup. Teammate Neave also scored a heat win, and making British fans happy was another British rider, Gary Birtwhistle( Royal Enfield), who finished that heat in second.