Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

th e m a n in fron t, rea d y to pounce as soo n as he made a m ista ke," Lacjer said. "It was the on ly way on a big bike." T he KTM ri ders, revell in g in the numerous jum ps a nd able to tak e tighter lines, coped bet ter. Rupe r t Wa lk ne r, us in g th e no-lin k suspens ion, was fifth despi te losing ou t late in th e race to Dar ryll King, the w inner's big bro the r h av in g put in a h u stling rid e from a first -lap 24th while fellow first- tu rn faller M ike H eal ey was also o n a mi ssion fo r a brief fe w la p s early on un til h is b ike seized. Fac to ry engineer Sep p Hollbacher h ad already decided on the a n tid ote . , "M ike's on ly using first and se cond gear a n d re v ving th e h ell o ut o f it," Hollbacher sai d. " Th e b ike h a s five gea rs a nd I'm taking ou t botto m, so he at least has to use th ird!" The' pace of the p ack w as ,evidenced as th e firs t 17 finishers cr ossed the line within 45 seconds o f orie a no ther a t the end of the 46-m in ute race. Th e big bikes w ere ou t for revenge in race tw o , b ut King g ave th e m li tt le chance again . Second to Delep ine after th e i ni t ial so r t- o u t, the Kiwi s wep t insi de th e Belg ian at th e last sharp corner of th e first lap and d isappeared in to the di st an ce again. Smets had ga ted better th is time and soon push ed Delepine, . later to retire with a flat rear tire, aside in a move w h ich dropped th e Honda to a temp o rar y s ix th . Bu t Sm et s hi m self threw away the cha nce of the w in. " I buried th e front wheel in a so ft berm and sta lled," Smets sai d . Such w as th e adva n tage which th e fro nt two h ad b u ilt up so early in th e ra ce th a t the ch am pio n could remount thi rd behi nd the flyin g Da nny Theyber s, who h ad com e throu gh from a first- lap 10th with a se ries of physic al p asses . Sm ets grad ually wore Theybers d o w n agai n , h ow e v er, a n d re took second before a d ramatic m ome n t which p ut tw o of th e Sarho lz H onda team ou t. "Smets made a mi stake soon after he passed m e, a nd 1 had a fast line to go ar ound h im ," They bers said . "B u t h e saw m e co mi ng a n d w ent to bl o ck . 1 cra s h ed o ver the b a r s and Dietma r (Lacher) de m olished my bike ." "I had an ave rage start and too k too lon g to pas s De lepine," Lach er s aid. "Th e ye llo w flag was out, but on the wrong side of the tra ck!" He es caped with a bruised thigh. It was almost a com ple te wipe-out for the team, but Gert Jan Van Doom, in Lacher's wheel tracks, ju st m anaged to avoid the carnage. Things w ent qu iet for a few laps, but then th e Pro Grip KTM team livened th ings up. H ea ley came storm ing thro u gh the pack from a first-lap 14th to put a th ird KTM in the first four while " H ead case" H ed m a n departed fr om 10th pl ace in sty le. " I m issed m y shi ft coming out of the corner to the table top before th e fini sh and landed on the fro nt w heel," sa id the Crazy Swede with orange hair, w ho w as ba dly winded. I~ Italian GP Asti, Ita ly . Results : March 31, 1996 (Round 1 of 12) M OT O 1: 1. Shayne King (KTM); 2. Pete r Johansso n (Hus); 3. Dietmar Lacher (Han); 4. Dar ryl! King (Hon); 5. Ru p ert Walkner (kiM); 6. Ia ckv Martens (Hus); 7. Dann y Theybers (Hon); 8. Ge rald' Delepine (Hon); 9. Joe l Smets (Hbg); 10. Gert Jan Van Doom (Hon); 11. Pete r Dirkx (KTM); 12. Jante Eng dahl (Hon); 13. Ronny Weus tenraed (Hon); 14. Millel Caprani (Hus); 15. Dirk Geu kens (Hbg), MOTO 2: 1. Shayne King (KTM); 2. Joel Smets (Hbg); 3. Fran co Rossi (KIM); 4. Mike Healey (KTM); 5. Tacky Mart ens (H us); 6. Gert Jan Van Doo m (Han); 7. Darryl1 King (Han); 8. Rupert Walkner (KTM); 9. Ronny Weu stenraed (H un); 10. Peter Johan'ison (H us); 11. Dirk Ge u ke ns (Hbg); 12. Jont e En gd ahl (H on); 13. Ja m es M.arsh (KTM); 14. Bri a n Whee ler (KTM); 15. An ders Svens son (Hon). Ol k I. Sha),ne King (KTM); 2. Joel Sm e" (Hbg); 3, Peter Johansson (HtL 4. DarryU King (H un); 5. Jacky ..); Martens (H us); 6. Rup ert Wa lkn er (KTM); 7. Gert Jan Van Doom (Ho n); 8. Fran co Rossi (KTM) ; 9 Die tmar Lacher (Han); 10. Mik e Healev (KTM). WORLD C H A M P IONS H IP 500cc ' MX SE RIES POI NT S ST AN DI N C S (A ft e r 1 of 12 r o u n ds ): 1. Sh ay ne King (40/1 w in); 2. Joe l Smets (24); 3. Pet e r Joha nsso n (23 ); 4. Darryll King (22); 5. Jacky Ma rtens (21); 6. Rupert Walkner (19); 7. Oert Jan Van Doom (16); 8. (TIE) Franca Rossi / Die tm ar Lacher (15); 10. Mike He aley (13); 11. Ronn y Weu ste nr aed (10); 12. Da nny Theybers (9); 13. Ge rald Delepi ne (8); l4. Jonte Eng dahl (8); IS. Dirk Ceu kens (6); 16. Pete r Dirkx (5); 17. James Marsh (3); 18. (TIE) Brian Wheele r /Mikkel Caprani (2); 2(1 Anders Svensson (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Schwanenstadt, Austria. April 21 Round 3 - Plomlon, France. May 5 World Championship 250Cc MX Series Round 2: Dutch GP misreR map:imum By Alex Hodgkinson VALKENSWAARD HOLLAND, MAR 31 , t e fa n Everts m a in t a in e d h is u nbeaten reco rd in th e w orld 250cc MX championship with two narrow but d ecisive victories over .Ma rnicq Ber voet s at a co ld Valkenswaar d Euiocir cuit in so u thern Holland on Sunday. Althou gh Berv oet s never gave up the chase, m an y onlookers felt th a t Everts co u ld have in creased hi s p ace a t will a nd w as si m p ly co n te nt to adopt th e classic a ttitu de of victory w ith the least effort necessa ry. Tallon Vohland sho w ed th e benefit o f the sand practice he d eri ves from contesting the Dut ch championship to twice finish thi rd , just 15 seco nds d own in the o pener, b ut nearly a mi nu te beh ind Everts in race two. W e rner D ewit sc o red hi gh ly as S Reigning champ ion Joel· Smets thu nde red to second place overall aboard the facto ry Husaberg. A crash In the second moto ruined the Belgian's shot at the overall win. e xpected at this ra ce , but " Sa n d ma n" ha d two ra ce-l on g battles with German rider Pit Beirer, who confirmed h is ran king as cha m pio nship ch a llen g e r b y shari ng the 4-5 p lacings. Th o u gh p ip p ed b y ]ocke Karlsson in race two, Pe dro Tragter was the n e xt - fa s test m an, a lth o u gh he fini sh ed so me ways beh in d , to ra is e h o m e cou n t ry s p iri ts a lit t le ; four m o re of h is co m p a triots filled ou t the lower po ints p lacings. The race was aga in a 'm ajor disappointment for Yamaha, Yves Demaria registering th e team's best individual m oto sco re w ith a seve n th . The French m an already trail s Everts b y 68 points after a second -race DNF. ex Scevenels (Han); 12. Osca r vromans (Ka w ); 13. Frederic Bolley (Kaw ); 14. Joakim Eliassen (Yam); 15. Willie Van Wessel (Suz ). O/A : 1. Ste fan Everts (Hon ); 2. Mam icq Bervoets (Suz ); 3. Tallon Vohl and (Kaw); 4. Werne r Dewit (Suz ); 5. P it Bei rer (Hun); 6. Pedro Tra g te r (Su z ); 7. Ic cke Ka rlsso n (Han); 8. Chicco Ch iodi (Yam); 9. Peter Iven (Kaw); 10. Frederic Bolley (Ka w ). WO RL D C H AM P I O N S H IP 250" MX SE R I ES PO INTS STAN D INGS (Aft er 2 of 14 rou nd s): 1. Stefan Everts (80/2 wins); 2. Tallon Vohland (58); 3. Mamicq Berv oets (57); 4. Pit Beiter (45); 5. Werner Dewit (43); 6. Iock e Karlsson (36) ; 7. Fred e ri c Bolley (34 ); 8. Pe dro Tr agt er (33); 9. Andrea Bartolini (27); 10. Peter lven (19); l1:Sandro Puzar (18); 12. Chicco Chiodi (18); 13, Rem )' Van Rees (13); 14. Yves Demaria (12 ); 15. Rob Herring (8); 16. Iaimy Scevenels (7); 17. Osc ar Vromans (5); 18, (TIE) 1.... on Giesbers /Thierry Beth )', (3); 20 (TIE) Kurt Nico ll/ Joaki m Eliassen (3). Dutch GP Valkenswaard, Holland Results: March 31, 1996 (Round 2 of 14) M O T O 1: 1. Stefan Evert s (Han); 2 . Mamicq Bervoets (Suz); 3. Tallon Vohland (Kaw ). 4. Pit Beirer (Hon); S. Werner Dewit (Suz); 6. Pedro Tragter (Suz); 7. Yves Demaria (Yam); 8. Fred e ric Belley (Kaw); 9. Iocke Ka rlsso n (Hu n); 10. Chtcco Chiodi (Ya m); 11. Remy Van Rees (K a w ); 12. Peter lv en (Kaw): 13. Leo n Gies be rs (KTM) ; 14. Jai my Scevenels (Han); 15. Oscar Vro mans (Kaw). MO TO 2: 1. Ste fa n Everts (Hun); 2. Marnicq Bervoets (Suz); 3. Tallon Vohla nd (Kaw): 4. We rn e r Dewit (Suz) ; 5. Pit Betrer (Hun); 6. Iocke Karlsson (Hon); 7. Pedro Tragte r (Suz); 8. Peter Iven (Kaw); 9. Chicco Chiodi (Yam); 10. Andrea Bar tolin i (Yarn); 11. Jaimy Maddii provided a CRSOO in Asti feir Ai Heshan from China. The 33, year-old from Beijing is the national MK coac h. and is in Europe to' observe the sport here, Ai. the first Chinese MXer ever toraceat a GP and the first to race in Europe since,the 1980 Coupe des ' Nations. failed to qu~l ily by 14 seco nds.' ," ., , ' ', '. , ~ .' MSSX MKTM motor. but only New Zealander Ki ng has,the KTC (similar . to Honda' s ATAC>exhaust-valve system, The system. which increases , low-ranqe power. has also been offered to Healey. but the American has declined it. 'Trn riding' it like a 250 and rewing the, shit out of it every- . where." Healey said. "I'm only using first and seco nd, gear." Pro Grip . team boss Graham Kent said already on Saturday that fifth gear will be ' taken out of Healey's bike before the next GP in Austria. and after he ' seized the K in the, first moto. bottom gea r,was removed at thesuq- : TM gestion of factory engineer Sepp Hollbacher. who said. • At least Mike 'will have to -use second and third then." The other supported rider to have something different is Rupert Walkner. •Rnk on the 125 and me on the 368 now have the-same PDS no-link suspension as Nicoll." Walkner said.' " Trampas Parker may return to GP action at 'the French GP on May 5, Team boss Corrado Maddii dismis sed any possibility of a return at Schwanenstadt two weeks earlier: "He is able to 'stand up again, and there is .a small chance that he can make Itjo Plomion.',, Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 · Teutschanthal, Germ9ny. April 14 Round 4 • Gdynia. Pola nd. April 21 , " The 'co ntra sting 'ty pe's of 'bike were kept a part by the ballot on Sat·: urday. Healey headed King ina KTM,'-2·3-4 in Group B. while the Sarholz e Husky' factory.rider J o han B';onen also failed to .qualify lor the 500cc . Hondas of.Lacher and Theybe rs headed the four-strokes in GroupA Th " , GI? opene.r. "I don't know what is wrong, I feel OK on the bike. but when I German took pole by O,1 7' se~s : look at the lap times I am too 's low." said Boonen, The 27-year-old world ' . , . Returning 1994 world champion Marcus Hansso~ ' made a ' wi~~ing number seven missed out by 0.63 sees. comeback to racinq.in a small Swedish race last week on a Honda'. and. , Despite four·strOke s W inning two ofthe last ttiree'worldtitles , the num-' after testing last week. has agreed to ride a Yamaha for the Magic Bike ber of four-stroke entries in Italy was' scarce , Only-six rlders- the Hus- team alonqside Bob Moore and Ted Ceropbell in the Italian 125cc GP. , aberq factory duo ofS rnets and Geukens plus four Huskys . made it-to therace on "thumpers." ' The;e are now t hree King !.rothers racing the 500 GP~. Tw~nty-~eai,, old, Damian King has now bought a CR500 and qualified 14th to Join , ,The "360 revolut ion" h9S made a tremendous impact on 'the 500cc big brothers Darryll and Shayne at the gate" This is the ftrsttime three GP class . however. and a reworked version of the Ohlins Yamaha kit brothers have all raced in the same GP. In the race Damian finished 29Joined 11 KTMs at the start. Tradtttonel big:bore two-strokes still made up IS· ' , " ' .. more than hall the field with 17 CR500s 'and five KX500s, ," .' , Anothe; non-Euro pean newcome r is 24:yea;.0Id J~styn McCabe'. interestingly. many of the fo u r·strokes this year have gone d o wn in .. Ranked 10th in his native Canada. the M9nitob9n is'riding 9 ,KTM for a ' c a pac ity ,The factory'Husaberqs now have the same engine specihca- SW dealer. J ust four months after breaking a femur in a crash at a ISS tlonsas the production bike. at 59Bcc. A flner-balanced crank and tuning Czech supercross, J ustyn was 32nd in his group: to the cylinder headhave produced rncrehp than o.n the. oJ sio, and.the .d " .», team is,now workinq to make 9 wider third ge9r. 'so that top can be dis·' ' The' ve nue for the May 19 2S0cc OF' was d~e' to b e decided by the carded as a weight·saving exercise.,leaving S mels with just two gears as French federation on' Monday. The Italians withdrew their offer when diffi· first was already discarded severa l years ago, The factory Huskys 'of culties were encountered with the Montevarchi authorities for 'a race at ' Martens'and Boorlen,this year.are 610cc after racing with 630cc for the . such ' short, notice. while the Belgian federaiion refused to support the last three years. "The 630 motor was too strong to ride hardJor 45 min-, Lommel bid. The Fren ch choice is between Bea ucaire' and St Jean ' . , , . " ' ules.: Martens said, ."Last year I won race in Belgium with,a full 650cc d'Angely, ' motor: but it ripped your arms off." Zupin rider Peter Johansson retains the 630 molar.' , ' , ' ," , ' " Yves De;""ria and company ha~e made a determinati~n ~ega~ding ih~ Frenchman's'troubles at the opening 2S0cc GP round in Spain: Apparent"' Seven riders . .Shayne King . Healey. Hedman . Ma rsh. Wa lkne r. ,Iy his shock blew out the O-rings and lost its damping oil,in bothmo tos , Dirkx and Ross! - have bee n prOllided .with,the lo ng.st roke 368 ' beca use of co mpression 'changes 'made ,by the Fre nchman and his' mechanic against the advice of Ohlins: " " a ....... ..... l-< 0.. -< 15

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