Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127830
otherwi e you'll have riders out there all night. Still, though, I had some energy left." One hour remained when news came ou t that Esquirol was ra'cing to his third GLC win, but the news was much too optimistic. The Honda France team was looking confident - their man had given the team a huge lead by GLC standards and he wa riding with such predsion. Charbonnel was now riding without his goggles, and the white face of the defending champion seemed to stare into the oncoming darkness as if to put a spell on the leader. It had worked on Peterhansel, so why not Esquiro!. Then it happened. Esquirol, while bobbling 011 one of the tough, rocky sections that many riders complained were too difficuit, lost concentration, clipped a sharp rock with the edge of his chain and came to a standstill. "All was going great," EsquiroI said. _"I have never felt better - strong, fast, perfect - then I ju t stopped. I sat there with nothing to do but wait for someone to come and help. It was a long wait." In the time it took Esquirol's crew to arriye, Charbonnel was past and on the way to his second GLC win - robbery, luck, whatever. The thin Charbonnel was not smiling through his open-faced helmet as he reached the end of his quest. The crowd gave him the now-familiar help up Dead Crow Hill. "They again helped," Charbonnel said. "This year I had more energy, it was not as close, but for Cyril I am sorry. He rode very well." (Above) Diehard off-road fans surround winner Charbonnel at the finish. (left) French hero Stephane Peterhansel has yet to win the Gilles lalay Classic. He had problems in one particular mudhole and ended up' ninth. The other finishers were in total 29 25 French riders, three Italians and a sole Swede. Sala claimed fourth place. "I rode very slow early, waiting for it to get tough, but it never did," Sala said. "By the time I decided to really ride hard, I could only catch the four-stroke of Pidoux. I'm 33 years old. Maybe I'll never win the Gilles Lalay Classic." Eriksson, whose 12th place was still a strong performance, was not overly disappointed. years ago, "To beat the French in this event is not going to get easier." The only rider to do so is, in fact, Jonsson, and you can be sure he is correct in his opinion. Sorry or not for Esquiro!, Charbonnel joined Esquirol and another two-time winner, Jonsson, as the winningest rider in the short six-year history of the event, which pays respect to the late Gille's Lalay, a rider who could well have been shadowing his old friends. l'N Gilles lalay Classic limoge, France Results: February 25, 1997 "I found the rock sections very strange," he said. "They were like trials, you had to jump from one to the other, but I did my best; that is all you can ask from me." Just ahead of Eriksson came the two other Italians, Arnoldo Nicoli and Mario Rinaldi, 10th and 11th, respectively, putting some international flavor into the top field. As one rider by the name of Sven Erik Jonsson mentioned a cou pie of O/A: 1. Laurent Charbonnel (Kaw); 2. David Castera (Yam): 3. Cyril Esquirel (Hon); 4. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 5. L.lurent Pidoux; 6. Gilles Algay (KTM); 7., Eric Bemnrd (KTM); 8. L..l Urent Bouffioux (Hbg); 9. Stephane Peterhansel (Yam); 10. Arnolda Nicoli (KTM); 11. Mario Rinaldj (KTM); 12. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 13. Serge Nuques; 14. Cuy Paulman; 15. Christophe Meillat (Hon); 16. Etienne Lormand; 17. Frederic DeLettre; 18. David Baffeleu~; 19. Christophe Croizet; 20. Thierry Magnaldi (KTM); 21. Arnaud Bt..>snier; 22. Snmuel Dold; 23. Michel Gau; 24. Regis Francois; 25. Oliver Sarnofan; 26. Sebastien Caillol; 27. Jean Michel Paquient; 28. Philippe Lachenal; 29. Bruno Robin. SUPERBIKES • 250 GRAND PRIX. 750CC & 600CC SUPERSPORT • HARLEY·DAVIDSON SUPERTWINS • FORMULA XTREME VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES' MOTOCROSS. FREE PADDOCK ACCESS, PARKING AND GRANDSTAND SEATiNG TOYOTA CHALLENGE OF LAGUNA SECA 97 • APRIL 18-20 A M A NAT o N A SUPERB TICKETS TOYOTA BUDWEISER K E C HAM P o N p H S E E 1-aOO-327-SECA BRIDG£STONE B 0 'S C H A M A - SANCTIONED