Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126770
~ ~ II: W ~ (J) a:> w ~ ..J W z > a:> • ~ 0 I "o:::l'" CL 00 ~ ........ ~ 0 c<"') >- C\l ~ Andre Malherbe (2) jumps back into the points race after winning the 500cc GP in Spain. Georges JOM (7) still leads by two points over Dave Thorpe. World ChampiolJship 500cc IfX Series: """." 3 Malherbe sweeps Spanish GP By Neil Webster MADRID, SPAIN, MAY 5 Honda's Andre Malherbe shot back into the running for the 500cc MX World Championship crown with two easy wins 14 0 in the Spanish GP which was run near Madrid. Only his teammate and fellow Belgian countryman Erik Geboers put him under any pressure as they battled for the lead during the first balf of moto one. But even then Malherbe wouldn't admit to any diC£icully. "It was very easy for me LOday; I could have gone much faster," said the former World Champion. "I controlled both race as I wanted to. In the first moLO I could feel Erik was excited so 1 thought 'go ahead.' I knew I could always pull him back in the last 10 minutes." Malherbe didn't wait that long, however, drawing out a safe lead at the halfway mark and never looking back. MOLO two was even easier once Malherbe hit the front after a handful of laps. Britain's Dave Tborpe, also a works Honda rider, closed up to one second by the checkered flag, but Malherbe claimed he knew how far Thorpe was behind him and always had enough in reserve to pull away over the last few yards if he needed LO. For Thorpe it was another day of consistent points scoring. His 4-2 result means he hasn't finished out of the LOp four in the six motos run so far and he's now only two points behind series leader Georges Jobe. And it could even have been a one point lead for Thorpe had he not stalled while closing on Hakan Carlqvist's tbird place in the opening moLO. For Kawasaki'sJobe it was a day LO forget as the winner of the opening two rounds of the series hit his first problems of the year. "On the first lap of race one I was hit by Andre Vromans and my brake rod was bent," explained Jobe. "I did a slow lap and then pulled in for it to be bent back, but I still had too much pedal travel for the full race. Then in the second leg my tire wore too q u ickl y and lost most of its knobs, making it hard LO find grip." Carlqvist again proved he's made of iron, scoring a 3-5 despite terrific pain from a broken thumb. Still riding with a plate in the injured digit, Carlqvist said, "The second race was terrible. I had pain right from the start and could hardly hold on to the bike at the end." American Danny LaPorte had LO recover from poor starts in both moLO for his sixth overall, the best highest placed production machine rider of the day. Although provided with a works motor by Yamaha, the former 250cc MX World Champion decided LO use a standard engine in Spain. "My works motor doesn't have a power valve like Carlqvist's," said LaPorte, "which means the power comes on really sharply. On a bumpy track like thi it would bave been too much of a handful." But with the works machines leaving him from tbe gate both times, LaPorte had his work cut outLO pull back places and never managed LO mount a serious challenge on the· leaders. With the cold, wet Spanish round marking the third race of the season, a pallern is now emerging, with Kawasaki's Jobe narrowly leading the Honda trio of Thorpe, Malherbe and Geboers. Only II points separate the top four, and while Carlqvi t is still in touch, he knows he has a tough fight ahead to overcome his injury a.nd points deficit. Results OVERALt: 1. Andre Malherbe (Han) I· I; 2. Erik Geboers (Han) 2-3: 3. Dave Thorpe (Han) 4·2; 4. Haka" Cartqvist (Yam) 3·5; 5. Georges Jobe (Kaw) 5-4; 6. Danny laPorte (YamI6-7; 7. Jukka Sintonen (Hon) 7-8; 8. Andre Vromans (Han) 10-6; 9. Kun Nicoll (KTM) 8-9; 10. teil Persson (Hus) 11·11. POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jobe (961; 2. Thorpe (94); 3. Malherbe (89); 4. Geboers (87); 5. Cerlqvist (69); 6. Vromans (54); 7. laurence Spence (47); 8. Lapone (38); 9. (TIE) Sintonen/D. Watson (29). WorIfI Champiolrship 250ee MX Series: """." 3 Manens (KTM); 4. Jeremv Whatley (Suz); 5. Jo Martens (Hus): 8. Gert-Jan van Doorn (Suzl: 8. P. Fura (Hus); 9. A. Dreschsel (KTM); 10. J.C.Laquave (Han). 2nd MOTa: 1. Jo Manens; 2. S. 8erggren (Suz); 3. Whatley; 4. van Doorn; 5. A. Baroni (Yam); 6. taquave; 7. Nilsson; 8. M. Schauble (KTM): 9. A. Viiri (KTM); 10. Garv Semics (Han). POINT STANDINGS: 1. Van Doorn (761; 2. Kinigadner (70); 3. Velken_s (67); 4. _atlev (65); 5. Vimond (57); 6. Jo Manens (46); 7. Dreschsel (36); 8. Fura (33); 9. Wallinger (301; 10. (TIE) Jackv Martens/Dolce. World Championship J2Scc MX Series: "oumI4 Martens wins in Yugoslavia Austrian GP to Andreani MARIBOR, YUGOSLAVIA, MA Y 6 The up-and-down 250cc MX GP series has till failed to produce a front runner after three rounds_ MarcVelkeneer , Heinz Kinigadner and Jacky Vimond pulled the first three place in the first open moLO of the Yugoslavian GP, but blew it wide open again when they all crasbed out 'of the second moLO in separate incidents. Only uzuki's Briti h 250cc MX champ Jeremy Whatley howed any consistency out of the LOp runners, logging 5-3 finishes after also crashing in the dusty second moLO while leading easily with five minutes LO go. Husqvarna's Jo Manen won tbe second moLO after ixth in the opener to take overall victory honors home LO Belgium. But Manens' disappointing results in the opening two rounds mean he's only sixth in the point standings. As in the 500cc MX G P series, on Iy II points now separate the top four riders, and with form so erratic it's anyone's champion hip. American Gary Semics rode his Honda LO 10th in the second moLO LO pick up six GP points. Results lst MOTa: 1. Mark Velken_s (Gil); 2. Heinz Kinigadner (KTM); 3. JockV Vimond (Yom); 4. Jackv LAUNSDORF, AUSTRIA, MAY 6 Italian Guiseppi Andreani rode his Aprilia to the overall win in the Austrian 125cc MX. GP, Andreani finished second to KTM's Kees van der Ven in theopening moLO and then won the second moLO. Van der Ven maintained his points lead despite having LO change a wheel during the econd moLO. The Dutchman lost two minute with the wheel sLOp which took pIa e after just two lap, but salvaged a couple of points in 14th spot. Van der Ven's strongest challenger in the point tandings, 16-year-old fellow countryman Davey Strijbos saw his challenge on van der Ven's points lead falter with two bad stans pUlling him down the pack in both legs. The Honda rider still holds second in the standings, but is now 20 points behind. • Results , 5t MOTO: 1. Kees yan der Ven (KTM); 2. Guiseppi Andreani IApr): 3. Alain Lejeune (Suz); 4. M. Fanton (Apr); 5. Patrick Van Poelvoorde (Suz); 6. K. Sulzer (KTM); 7. Corrado Maddii (Cag): 8. T. Godfroid (Kawl; 9. M. Contini (Kaw); 10. M. Staud (Kawl. 2nd MOTO: 1. Andreani; 2. Maddii; 3. Pekka Vehkane" (Cag); 4. Lejeune; 5. Sulzer; 6. P. Kovar (Kawl; 7. D.Lacher; 8. P. Hunt (Cag); 9. Staud; 10. H. Frauwallner (KTM). POINT STANDINGS: 1. Van der Ven (1221; 2. Str~,!<,~ (,19~); 3. Vehkonen (871. _ .•...