Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

you can't make up time on a track like this . Look at Chiodi - he rode great, hit all his lines and never messed up. There's not much you can do about a guy like Kurt Nicoll was ripped off his bike and hoisted Into the air shortly after he raced across the finis h line In the final moto. Nlcoll was Great Britain's 500cc class rider. that," " It was d ifficu lt to p ut Kiedrow ski behind me but I wanted badly to beat him," s ai d Ch iod i with the help of a in terpreter. "It was important for me to beat such a rider." With Kied row s ki so 'fa r back, it beca me ap parent tha t Britain could only lose if N icoll los t two positions in the 500cc class. But with so many contenders falling off at the start, laRocco had no allies to work wi th. And before anyone could even consider such a drastic move as taking the Brit ou t, Nicoll wen t in to a s ud den sl ow -d own and allowed th ree 250s - Belley, Bervoets and Albertyn - to get between he and LaRocco. "Three laps before the end, they told me it was oka y to get into second," said Nicoll. "The next SOD rider was 45 seconds behind, so I just started touring." "He let me by earlier, because I could have stuffed him when I caught him and he knew it," sa id laRocco. "He just let me go af ter that. I gu ess he jus t didn't choose to fight" At thai point, it was ob vious that America was about to be dethroned as the long-running champion of the MXdN. Hundreds of British fans moved towards the finish line to greet Nicoll and carry him to the podium. LaRocco took the checkered fl a g fi rs t and s lowly weaved through the crowd. And when Nicoll came across 25 seconds later, the longest winning streak in motocross history was over. "I didn't know that we had won until they swept me off my bike at the finish line," said Herring, who was the sixth 250. "I knew Kurt was up there and no on was s ig n a li n g me t o go a fte r Kiedrowski, so I just waited until the checkered flag to see what hap pened." While the British celebrated on th e podium, Team USA manager Bevo Forti h and ed LaRocco's number-one p late ov er to Malin, who gracio usly held it above the crowd. The en tire trophy p resentation had to be held up for mo re than 10 minutes as the announcer plea ded for the third-place French team to show up. Demaria finally eme rged from his tent hanging onto the shoulders of two supporters, w alking gingerly on his ankle. But he climbed the full flight of stairs to the podium on his own. "Bloody drama queen!" whispered one British journalist. The victory seemed like it would be sweet revenge for the British manager Dave Thorpe, who once took a bea ting in the world press when he was beaten in this event by American Johnny O'Mara, who was riding a 125 against Th orp e's works 500cc Honda. "Revenge? No, there is no rev enge," sa id Thorpe. ·We won because we had th e best riders, the best mechanics and the best organization. I' m p leased for everyone concerned , because we were no t expected to d o well. No, I ha ve no grudges against th e Americans, n ot today." "We had a great team, but it wasn't our day," said Kiedrowski. "I came over here with two guys who were capable of winning. Otherwise, I would not have come. I'm sure they feel the same way. They wouldn't come with somebody that they felt wasn't going to hold up. We all rode our butts off, and none of us should have any regrets. This is the best team we could ha ve picked ." "We di dn' t lose, we just di dn't win," said For ti. "Hey, I'll take second place every 14 years behi n d someo n e like Great Britain. Just be glad it wasn't Belgiwn." a MX des Nations Roggenburg, Switzerland Results: September 11, 1994 0I1c 1. Great Bri..in (9); 2. USA (I I); 3. France (13); 4. Belgi um (18); 5. Germany (28); 6. Holland (29); 7. Sweden (32); 8. South Africa (45); 9. Austria (47); 10. De nmark (50) ; II. Spain (50); 12. Norway (60) ; 13. lreIand (62); 14. Finland (65); 15. Czech Republic (67); 16. New Zealand (69); 17. Australia (70); 18. Slovenia (60/4 scores); 19. Sw itzerland (33/3 scores); 20. Ita ly (9 /2 scores). MOTO 1: 1. Yves Demaria (France/SOO Hon); 2. Mike LaRocco (USA/500 Kaw); 3. Kurt Nicoli (Grear Brita in/5OO Hon); 4. Jacky Martens (BeIgium/500 Hus); 5. o;etmar Lacher (Germany/500 Ho n); 6. Pa ul Malin (GB/125 Yam); 7. Jeff Emig (USA/ l2S Yam~ 8. Pit Beirer , (Germany / l 25 Suz) ; 9. Rupe rt Walkner (Austria/500 KTM) ; 10. Frederic ViaUe(France/I25 Kaw~ 11. Christian Chanlon (Switzerland/SOO Yam); 12. Peter Johansson (5weden/125 Yam); 13. Mikkel Ca prani (l)enma:k/500 Kaw); 14. Dave Strijbos (HoUand/I 25 Suz ); 15. Colin Dugmore (South Africa/125 Suz); 16. Marcus Hansson (Sweden/500 Hon); 17. Werner DeWit (Belgi um/l25 Suz); 18. David Aviles (Spai.n/SOO Kaw ); ]9 . Brian Jorgenson (De n ma rk/125 H on ); 20. A m ost Zemen (Czech/5OO Hon ); 21. Phillip Neill (lreIand/ 5OO Kaw); 22Shayne Ki ng (New Zeala nd/ SOD Hon) ; 23 . Denis Hewartson (SA/500 Yam); 24. Oscar Lanza (Spain/125 Ho n); 25. Roy Snellingen (Norway/I25 Suz); 26. Werner Muller (Ausbia/125 Suz);27. Jane:zJubant (SIovenia / 5OO Ho n); 28..Mark'o Kovalainen (Finl an d/SOO Kaw ); 29. Phillipe Du pasq u ier (5witzerlan d/I25 Yam); 30. Petr .·. .... '.BrIe'f II\y" Kovar (Czech/12S Han); 31. Brian Steele (Ire land/l25 Hon); 32. Gem-Jan Van Doom (Ho Uand/500 Hon); 33. Juha ·Peka Kontinen (Finland /l2S Han); 34. Steven Andrew -(Au s t rali a / 12S Kaw); 35 . Sta le Blordal (Norway/5OO Hon);36. Lee Hogan (Australia/5OO Hon). ONF: Darryl Atkins (N Z/ t 2S Ho n); Franco Rossi (ltl!y/5OO Hon); Mauro Dal'Lagc (ltl!y/I25 Hon ); Sa><> KrageJj (SIovenia/l2S Kaw). MOTO 2: 1. Mamicq Bervoets (Belgium /250 Suz); 2. Rob Herri ng (GB/ 250 Kaw); 3. Fre deric Be lley (Franre/250 Yam); 4. Mike Kiedrowski (llSA/250 Kaw); 5. Paul Malin (GB/125 Yam); 6. Ales6ioOliodi (Italy /250 Hon ); 7. Pedro Tragter (HoUand / 25OSuz ); 8. Jeff Emig (llSA/l2S Yam); 9. nave Strijbos (HoIIand/I25 Suz); 10. Frederic Via lie (France/12S Kaw); 11. Pit Be ir er (Gennany/ l25 Suz); 12. 1lemd Edcenbach (Gennany/25O Hon); 13. PeterJohansoon (Sweden/ l2S Yam); 14. Colin Dug more (SA/12S Su z); 15. Kim Ashk ennazi (AustraJia/25O Yam); 16. Miska Aaltonen (Fin1and/250 Hon); 17. Joseph Alonso (Spain/25O Hon ); 18. Werner Dewit (Belgium /l2S Suz): 19. Brian Jo rgensen (l)enma:k/I25 Hon); 20. Oscar Lanza (Spain/I25 Hon); 21. Ante Huseby (No rway/251J Yam) ; 22. Christoph Laeknen (Aus tria/ 250 Kaw); 23. Claus Nielsen (Denmark/25O Yam); 24.Roy Sne llingen (No rway/l25 Suz); 25. Werner Mu ller (A ustria /l2S Suz); 26. Pa ul Chambers (1reland / 250 Ho n) ; 27 . Ja nez Sitar (Slovenia /250 Kaw); 28 . Philippe D upasquier (Switzerland/l25 Yam); 29. Breian Steele (lrel and/125 Hon) ; 30. Juha -Pekka Konltinen (FmIand/l25 Hon); 31. Darrly Atkins (NZ /l25 Hon): 32. Steven And rew (Australia/125 Kaw ); 33. Ca meron Negus (NZ/2S0 Kaw); 34. Miroolav Kudn:k (Czech/250 Kaw). DNF: Joakim Karlsson (Sweden /250 Kaw ): Greg Albertyn (SA/250 Suz); Petr Kova r (Czech); Jer ome DuPont (Switzwerland/2S0 Ho n); Mau ro Oat La go (Italy /125 Hon); Saso Kragelj (5Iovenia/125 Kaw ), MOTO 3: 1. Mike la Rocco (USA / SOD Kaw ); 2. Frederic BoU (France / 250 Yam); 3. Mamicq Bervoets ey (Belgium / 25O Suz); 4. Greg AIbertyn (SA/25O Suz ); 5. Kurt NicDU(GB/5OO Hon); 6. A1c:;sio Chiodi (I ta ly /250 ); 7. Mike Kiedrowski (USA/250 Kaw); 8. Jacky Martens (Belgium/500 H us); 9. Ma rcus Hansson (5weden/500 lion); 10. Rob Herring (GB/250 Kaw); 11. Pedro Tragter (Ho Uand/25O Suz); 12. Rupert Walkner (Austria /500 KTM); 13. Joakim KarIsoon (Sweden /250 Kaw); 14. Miska Aaltonen (Finlan d /250 Hon); 15. Paul Chambers (\re1and/250 lion); 16. An te Huseby (Norway/250Yam); 17. Shayne King (NZ /5OOHon) ; 18. Gert-Jan Van Doom (Ho Uand/5OO); 21. Lee Hogan (AustraJia /5OO Hon ~ 22Be rnd Eck enbach (Ge r many /250 H on ); 23. Joseph Alonso (Spain/250 Hon ); 24. David Avil.. (Spa in/5OO Kaw) ; 25. Janez Sitar (Slovenia/25O Kaw) ; U . Mikkel Ca pran i (De nmark/SOO Kaw); 27. Clau!l Nielsen (l)enma:k/ 250 Yam); 211. Phillp Neill (\re1and/5OO!ssi (Italy / 500 lion); Yv.. Demaria (France/5OO Hon ); Jerome DuPon t (Switzerland/250 lion). CO NSOLATION RACE: 1. Croatia (3); 2. Estoni a (4); 3. Hunga ry (5); 4. Slovakia (6); 5. La tv ia (6); 6. Portuga l (9); 7. Russia (10); 8. Ukraine (10); 9. Llthuarda (16); 10.l.uxembourg(I7); 11. Belorussia (19). Speaking of Fra~ce, the re ,was talk In the ' Great Britain. The USA' plckednurnber 11;'a Camel press tent about wtiat might havebeen 'c'. good draw for the, first man to the line, but · . I a .Freoch ,"Drea m.Te am" of Pichon (125) , ' . problematic for the 31stposltioc~ 'Each nation ,, ' "!'" . . Demaria (250) and French' motocross legend' . had a choice as to which rider to sendto the British team manager Dave .Thorpe; a former turned-road-race r Jean'-Michel Bayle. J MBgate first. All three times the USA placed the thr e e -time 500cc' World Cha mpion , .ha s ','has been out of motocross since October of smaller bike in thef ttn gate, as did Great become the patron saint of motocross in the '92, but still rides a HondaCR500every week Britain: ~We waite d to see what the other' United Kingdom;. Whenh e retiredatterth e " as a p ail of his tarmac training. tn fact,it was teams-put out," s a id team manager Be vo 1992 se ason , Thorpe said t hat he would put Bayle's bike that Demaria used to' ride in the . Forti. "Seven 125s went out before the guy in 'as much back into the sport of motocross as . . 'Open .divis ion at Roggeriburg., According to , the first mota, so we' had to put Jeff (Emig),on 'he could..J usttwoyears 'later, he is the.MX .one French joiJmalist, Bayle also conducted a . our inside gate. Another theory is that a bigger ·des Natlons' team manager, the special advi- . few MX schools in France this summer that bike woUld have a much' easier time going . sor of Paul Malin and Rob Herring; a columnist wereVery popular willi FrenCh riders,'inC\uding . thlum ro.~.gh should something happen in the first . and test ride r .to r 'a British ma gazine, 'a . several GP-Ievel competitors who showed up . ." , . ", ' 'motocros s schoo l tea cher and a spec ial .,'for some tec hnica l pointers. The ve rsa tile ,' events'promoter,'He alSo,reCently opened his' Bayle has. no plans to ever return to profes- . How ,fast was .the Roggenburg track? Je ffs . . ... , ' sional MX, but has mentioned that he will set bike has never had a 48-tooth rear sprOcket on ,own.motocross track t.o public riding and. rac- . his sightS on yet another. fOrm of competition ' . it: but we llave to try.It today," s aid Bob Ing. once he accomplishes a Road Racing Worid Oliver. Who along with Jon Rosenthiel did the . . ' Chalnpionsliip:,wortd-Class trials riding. . " wreriching on Emlg's VZ125. Oliver.outfitted rds I ·Thorpe took l.ots of heat in' England for his dec ision toseleet Paul Malin over James . . . '. . the bike with numerous rock gua and a so , . A special "Legends of Motocross" exhibition '. doubltl-lubed the tires after Emig picked up a ' Dobb in the 125cc .class : and 10 place Kurt took place ' between 'practlce ' a nd the 'first ' read lat in Saturday's free training sess ion. Nicoli .in the: 5OOcc' cl~ ra!her than Mervy,n, motos.in Roggenburg, and included some of '. Emig had the option of using theChestf;lrlield :Ans tle. One British publication wrote t~at h)S the most highly regarded'champlorisin the his: Yamaha of newly.crowned 125cc World relu;;aJ.to pick Anstie ~. the e.ghth-rated rider If' fory of MX: Roger DeCoster, Harry Everts , Champion Bob Moore; but decided to use his \he ~ WO~d Champlonshlps- stemmed from ,',' Graham Noyce, Gerrlt Wolslnk, BillNilsson ; own eCluipment' inSIE~ad. Great Brililin's Paul ~stie ~, taking him out back in 1987 'a! a ,race ,Nell Hudson and Bob Wright joined several Malin ended up using the Championship-win- ' ',In Farielgh Castle. , ' . others on vintage .motocross bikes for.a few.· ningmotor instead. . . ' . . . ' . laps around the race ·tracl( ' Decoster, riding a : . . " ,W he n French heroes :vv~s.Dllmaria and' ,'late-7 0s Suzuki factory bike, 'suffered the . The,U:S. MX deS Nations'winning streak start. Ml ckae~, Plchon 'engaged ma ~ltter war of . indignity of looping out,orithe first lap. ~I, Wlis , .. ed In Lammel, Belgium, in 1981.. One member ' . words m ,the French press thiS, summer, . leavingthe pits and Ionlyt1ad one,hand on the . of the Cinderella team that starte,d It)e whole ,oemariabecame so .angry with the younge( .... handlebarwhen ,l pulled the throttle on," said ' thjng'was Dariny laPorte. who was on hand ' l.2~ .ride.r that he ga~ethe French Federa- . 'DeCoster. ~Th e throttle,stuck. and would nc;>t . to watch the eqUally shocking conc,luslon of t.on an ultimatum: If PIChon were selected to sh ut off. and I looped out.~ DeCoster was . Team USA's winning streak. laPorte spe nds the Motocross d.es Naliol1s team , .Demaria . okay, but the once-pristine bike suffered a ' much of his 'time in France with his wile Geor.would not participate'. 'Under the gun,to keep · . snapped c10tchlever and bent handleb

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