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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127745
decided about three laps from the end to
do it. He had been fair with me and never
tried a desperation pass in which we
could both have gone down. lowed him
that," said Smets. "1 didn't want to give
up the lead before that because 1 knew [
was riding to the tiUe and 1 didn't want to
risk losing concentration by riding slow-
(Left) Dirk Geukens
(14) won the second
moto and was third
overall. Trampas
Parker (99) was 10th
overall.
(Below) Mervyn
Anstle was eighth In
moto one. (Bottom)
Former World
Champion Jacky
Martens went 4-13
for sixth overall.
er."
Johansson came home third among
the jubilation for Smets, while his rival for
the bronze medal, King, could only manage sixth, so the gap was down to 10.
The individual crown was not the only
one at stake. After 11 GPs, Husaberg led
KTM by just two points with the might of
Husqvama too far back to cause concern
and Honda, champions for 15 of the last
16 years, not even in with a mathematical
hope. After the opener the gap was eight,
but the KIM riders were determined to
salvage something for the marque, while
Husaberg wanted the double.
There was trouble even before the first
turn this time.
"The gate doesn't drop properly
here," explained Lacher, one of 10 riders
to get trapped behind the gate. "Some
gates start to fall, then stop momentarily
before continuing."
Martens and Hehmann confumed the
story, but it was no false start.
Jury member Andre Vantomme said,
"My watch shows that we released the
gate at 6.17 seconds. That is the correct
time and some riders simply went too
early and paid the penalty."
At least that meant there were less riders trying to funnel through the first turn
together, particularly as several others
shut off the gas leaving the gate expecting
to be recalled.
The cross ruts which had formed during racing and not been flattened by a
bulldozer caused plenty of hairy thrills in
the turn. As a midpack Smets leaned over
the tum he was thrown upright again
and Parker smashed into him, while the
scene leaving the tum was horrendous as
one racer flew over the bars and bikes
were headed in all directions trying to
avoid him ancleach other.
·BriefIV.~·.
The race for the final win of the year
was on, however, with van Leeuwen
leading from Geukens, van Doom and
Walkner after Johansson's departure to
the back of the field following a collision
with van Leeuwen. '1 had to carry on just
in case 1 could get back into the points.
and King dropped out," he said.
Smets and Parker were also hot in pursuit, but the American was out' early.
"He's in the medical tent getting his ribs
checked out after a crash," explained a
member of the Farioli team.
Smets was rampant and after 12 minutes was leading. Van Leeuwen was out:
"Smets just slammed me. There was no
need for that. He used to be my friend !"
Walkner was riding like a demon as
he tried to salvage the situation for KTM,
but Geukens had also passed Van Doom
to make it a Husaberg 1-2, while eventually King also displaced the Austrian as
he chased third on the day.
Lacher had also stormed through
magnificen~y to rea,ch sixth and ensure
second in the GP.
"1 was wrecked physically in those last
six laps though. That was a long, hard
ride," he said.
SODcc clasS war~ Husaberg, 374;. KTM;'3S9;
. Hus'qvarna, 334;, Honda, 327; Kawasaki,.
. 286; and Vertemilti,.8S.
The."KT-Berg· is on its way. AlthQugh no one
at KTM.was, prepared. to confirm it; it is now
certain that. a four-stroke KTM with a motor
baS&d largely on the .Husaberg power plant
will be raced·in the 1996 GPs. When KTM
Holding. AG, the Mettighofen parenl company, acquired'a controlling interest in Rusatierg at ltle' beginning ofMay:lhey bought a·
ieadY-madl\ win(lirrg enginE! Without. the' (lead
fOf expe.nsive and lime-'co:nsuming R&D
'work. Ttle' new [ttM engine will 'incorporate
alterations, to the' Husab.ergorigir1al a(ld 'the,'
'racl! program is expecll!d to be run 'by the.
,Fanoli team·in.ltaly, Witho\1t.namjng a mar-'
.que, 'Trampas Parker indicated last' week. th'at
, there"was', a strong, possioil1ty of .bim riding
four-stroke next seasOfl, and be is expected
to l&ad 'the new effort white ex-enduro. world'
cbampio,; Mario, Rina~i, wlJo ageln .quaiified
in ReUtli[lgen, .will eontest all elll~en. SODcc'
GPs which ·do not clash with enduro world
.rooo.ds in. 1996, The 360cc 'will ciQntinue to lle
utilizB