Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

MOTOCROSS : World'Champiimship~ ~ Series By Alex Hodgkinson ST. JEAN D' ANGELY, FRANCE, JUNE 18 he spoils were shared at the seventh round of the World 500cc MX Championship in France, as Joel Smets and Trampas Parker each took a win and a fourth to remain separated by a slender six points in the standings. The Husaberg star, Smets, won his fourth GP of the season via the second moto tie-breaker. It hadn't rained at Saint Jean d'Angely for two months - until Saturday evening. Sunday, however, saw only an intermittent drizzle and a crowd well in . excess of 10,000 gathered to watch the first mud race of the series. It was, once again, Gerald Delepine who led up the first climb but he had not taken the holeshot. "1 was first away but I left my braking too late at the first'tum and Delepine got under me," said Swede Peter Johansson. "Parker passed me on the first lap but it went well after that. It was no trouble to repass Delepine, but Parker was just too fast." Riders were soon being lapped in the sticky conditions and those backmarkers were the American's biggest problem. '1t was easy to pass early in the race and I was soon in front," said Parker. '1 kept pulling out a lead and then Johansson would close again as I came to lappers. What was wrong with Smets? He was nearly on my rear wheel at one point." "I had come quickly to fourth and I thought I could wait," admitted the frustrated Belgian. "Once a dry groove developed it was much faster to stay on it. I tried so many times to pass Delepine, but I had no chance." Delepine had once again shot out of the gate on the quickest Honda in the pack and Simply held on for what he could, and his increased confidence after two successive GP wins helped too. Gert Jan Van Doom was fifth. "Those first four got well away in the early laps and I couldn't see them anymore," said Van Doom. "Riding alone I had difficulty concentrating until (Yannig) Kervella got close in the last few laps." The Kawasaki veteran, Kervella, was in his element in his final GP. The King brothers registered solid scores without ever looking like they would pose their usual threat, while the factory Husqvama team was again in tatters. Jacky Martens, once again, went off the track on the first lap after a collision, and crashed alone 15 minutes later dropping to around 20th. Johan Boonen had just passed Kervella for sixth at the same time when he was eliminated. "I couldn't see to race," said Boonen. "It wasn't the mud. My gas cap flew off and my eyes and nose got filled with gas." The drying track looked wider for race two, but it was not the most exciting race of the year. T 26 Round 7: French GP (Right) Joel Smets returned to winning .fonn 81 the French SOOCc MX GP. The Husaberg rider went 41 for the overa" win, thus malntelnlng his series pointe leed. (Below) Trampas Parker kept pace with Smets by metchlng the Belgian's moto finishes. Parker won the first moto and finished fourth In the .final. He 8111I trails Smets In points by six. French GP Sl Jean d'Angely, France Resuha:June18,1995 MOTO 1: 1. Trampas Parker (KTM); 2. Peter Johansson (Hus); 3. Gerald Delepine (Hon); 4. joel Sme" (Hbg); 5. Gert Jan Van Doom (Hon); 6. Yannig Kervella O; 9. james Marsh (Han); 10. Peter Johansson (Hus); 11. johan Boonen (Hus); 12. Peter Hehmann (Kaw); 13. Rupert Walkner (KTM); 14. Dirk Geukens (Hbg); 15. jonas Engdahl (Hon). O/A: I. Joel Sme.. (Hbg); 2. Trampas Parker (KTM); 3. Gerald Delepjne (Han); 4. Shayne King (KTM); 5. Peter Johansson (Hus); 6. Gert Jan Van Doom (Hon); 7. Darryl] King (Kaw); 8. Peter Dir](x (Hon); 9. Yannig K'ervell. O

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