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MOTOCROSS . ~~ 12Sc!C IIoIDcross Series Round 9: San Marino GP The Brit was satisfied with his ride using wider Dunlop tires normally intended for 250s. "My normal tires were worn out after four laps in free training yesterday, and I qualified well with these. It is so slick here and I can put more rubber on the ground. They didn't wear out so qwck either. Chiodi passed me the same place as Tortelli the first time - sweeping round the outside after the big tabletop. It is difficult to block there safely because they are catapulting out of the turn so fast, but if you go wide they can sneak inside and block pass you." Chiodi had to wait for his chance to pass Malin the second time, aware of the risks attached to the pass, but once in front he needed only a couple of laps to catch and pass Federici for second. Federici was furious over the nature of the pass and swore revenge in race two if he got the chance. Button had sneaked past the South African early in the race, but fell soon after and had to be content with 12th. That was still one better than Puzar who was one place further back already with 15 minutes to go, but could not close on the American. Indeed he had to repulse a fresh chal- By Alex Hodgkinson BORGO MAGGIORE, SAN MARINO, JULY 2 he battle for the 125cc World Motocross Championship was reopened over the weekend as Alessio Chiodi took his third GP win of the year, while pacesetter Alessandro Puzar struggled to a meager 14-point haul at the slick Baldasserona raceway in San Marino. The two Italians are now separated by just 27 points with three GPs remaining. Italian and French riders were rampant as Chiodi shared the moto wins and top points with Sebastien Tortelli. Jimmy Button dropped to fifth in the standings after scoring just four points, but in truth he should never have been racing after a big get-off at a French supercross. seven days earlier. Puzar knew already on Saturday that this was not going to be his best GP. "This track is not for me," admitted Puzar. "My riding style is aggressive and I like to be able to attack the corners and roost out of the berms. But there aren't any here. The ground is just too hard." A seventh place in the weakest qualification group confirmed his fears. "My only chance is to get a good start and pick up some lines," he added. But his problems were compounded in the first moto as he gated slowly and was closed down in the first turn. He was not the only one. "I gated badly too, and if you are not near the front it is so dusty that you can't see the groove," said Dave Strijbos. "There's only one good one for most of the track anyway. Nobody could move up many places. Puzar fell off once and managed to pass me again so he was going much better than me and he only got 13th. When I fell after 20 minutes I pulled out." The Dutchman admitted that he is not riding well at the moment: '1 know my fuel was OK in England, but everyone is pointing their finger at me. It is affecting me mentally." The youngsters at the front put on a good battle for half the race. First to lead was Erik Camerlengo, but he was ousted on the second lap by Malin. Another lap and Federici was out T 18 in front, but Tortelli was in his tire tracks the whole time, and on lap five the French teenager, still two weeks short of his 17th birthday, moved into the lead and the second GP moto win of his career was never in doubt. Chiodi might have proved a threat, but a single mistake after 20 minutes made the difference. The championship runner-up had passed Malin for third within seconds of Tortelli taking the lead and was confident enough not to make a push too early in the near l00-degree heat, but then he spun out and had to repass Malin. '1 might still have won but it took me too long to repass Malin," he declared at the post-race press conference. (left) Sixteen-yesr-old Sebatlen Tortelll (25) won the opening 125cc moto at the Sen Merino GP. lenge from Philippe Dupasqwer in the closing laps. Puzar got the start he needed in race two, second to Camerlengo, but Chiodi was unstoppable and had passed both of them as well as Mauro Dal'Lago before the end of the lap to run away with the moto and cJjnch the overall. After completing the first lap in 19th place, Federici had to shelve his plans for revenge. Tortelli had also started poorly and was 12th on lap one, but was soon advancing rapidly. "He made a fantastic outside pass in the turn after the tabletop on me and Puzar," said Fanton. "He has real talent." The Italian veteran was clever enough. to slip in behind the French kid and follow him up the leaderboard past the carnage. Tortelli's last pass on his way to sec· ond was on Mkkael Maschio, a wicked block pass at the bottom of the longest downhill which left the Honda rider and his bike in the fence and no longer together. It was not Tortelli's only dubious move as, in the absence of berms, he bounced his way off the other riders in the turns. "Yes, we touched when I went down," confirmed Malin. "I wasn't the only one, I believe." The Brit had himself been on the move from an initial nin.th, but was going backwards after getting back up off the ground, '1 got a cramp in my left (Right) AJeulo Chlodl (2) traded moto wins with TDrteIll but scored the overall win vie his second-moto win. (Below) A.....ndro puzar sew his once comfortllble series points IeecI cut Marty In lifter posting 13-5 mota finishes. he" thigh," he said later. Puzar had slipped back to seventh at one stage, but was aided back to all eventual fifth by Tortelli's close enc~ ters. His championship lead was down to 27. '11's still a lot of points," commented team captain Michele Rinaldi, "but at last Chicco has a chance again now." Button had gone out on the first lap after demolishing the front wheel in a first-eomer collision. (N 58n Marino GP 8eIcIuMrona, 58n Marino Results: July 2, 11195 MOTO 1: 1. Sebastien TorteJli (Kaw); 2. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 3. Claudio Federici (Yam); 4, Paul Malin (Yam); 5. Michele Fanton (Kaw); 6. Erik Camerlengo (Yam): 7. Massimo Bartolini (TM); 8. Frederic Via!Se (!Caw); 9. Collin Dugmore (Suz); 10. Mikael Maschio (Hon); 11. Mauro Dal'Lago (Hon); 12. Jimmy Button (Hon); 13. Alessandro Puur (Hon); 14. Philippe Dupasquier (Yam); 15. Fabio Balducci (Han). MOTO 2: 1. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 2. Sebastien Tortelli (](aw): 3. Michele Fanton (Kaw); 4. Massimo Bartolini (TM); 5. Alessandro PUUlr (Hon); 6. Erik