Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

demanding sand. American Mike Brown, who was in desperate need 'of some results, was happy enough with the change. "I have not ridden on m~ny of these tracks, but this one looks okay," Brown said. "It's not too sandy. Sand is not my favorite kind of track." Vohland was also a little surprised. "It's the type of sand that you might have trouble adapting to, but we will see. (Above left) Sebastien Tortelll won the first moto but finished a disappointing 11th in the second. (Above, left to right) Everts, Bervoets and Vohland on the podium. (Left) Mike Brown was left stranded on the start line in the first moto with a fouled spark plug and retired with arm pump in the second. 1I For Vohland the texture of the sand would in fact playa major part in the motos. As the riders assembled at the start grid for the first moto all eyes were on Tortelli and Everts, but it was Frenchman Frederic Botley who placed his Kawasaki machine in the lead on .the opening lap, at least for several corners, Bolley would have a huge crash as he entered a comer after a downhill jump. "I just went over and over," BQlley said. "It was not a good place to crash for sure." With the Kawasaki rider now out of contention, it was up to rvs teammate Tortelli to power to the front, with'Vohland, Werner Dewit, Everts, Bervoets, Joakim Karlsson and Pedro Tragter following soon after. Tortelli seemed on a mission, as he reeled off some brilliant lap times, but Vohland would not give up his chase. Lap after lap, Vohland would move a little bit closer to Tortelli, then in a moment of sheer madness, the American returned to his wild ways. "We were both on the limit, no doubt about it," Vohland said. "I felt comfortable and he looked a little wild in some places, so I knew I had a chance, but then I made an error. I came close to crashing, hit some tires and needed a real change of underwear." Vohland would tell this in a crowded press room afterward. . With the near miss, VohIand had brought himself back to F:verts, who had been holding a slight lead over Dewit and Bervoets. It was now this freight train that would give the crowd all the interest. With Tortelli moving off into the distance, Vohland, Everts, Befvoets and Dewit swapped positions sometimes in what looked like desperate moves. Dewit was the master of messing up his fellow competitors on one occasion, charging under an unsuspecting Vohland. "He was riding very fast," Vohland said. "He (Dewit) came under me on a right-hander so hard, I backed off a little, then Stefan passed me. It was very close racing out there." Soon after, Dewit would sample some Vohland payback, as the Yamahamounted American took a short left hander with his Yamaha, obviously heading for Dewit's yellow Suzuki, the pass occurred on the entrance to the main straight and the large crowd screamed the American on as he retained his second place. While Dewit and Vohland had some scary moment, it was not the same for Bervoets or Everts, who both seemed happy to keep out of trouble. "I just wanted to get the moto out of the way," Everts said. "I never felt good the whole time, my timing was out for sure, by the time I caught Vohland I felt better, but it just did not go as I planned." The final order in moto one was Tortelli, Everts, Vohland, Bervoets, Dewit, Tragter, Karlsson and Peter Iven, Pit Beirer and, in 10th, Leon Giesbers. Casualties of the first moto included Brown, his Yamaha left sitting on the start line after a fouled plug was found to be the problem. "It's always something," Brown said. "I come to these races hoping for a change of luck." Brown is still to record a single point in this year's series. Bolley, of course, would never recover from his opening- lap crash and finished in 21st place. He too is finding the points hard to come by: no points from the first five motos of .the year,and time is running out on his GP career. Yves Demaria would also finish out of contention, but would at least score some points in 13th place. The second moto would again see Bolley get the holeshot, though Vohland was ready to pounce,. with Dewit looking fired up in third. Everts held sixth place with Bervoets fifth, while Brown finally held a promising fourth. Motoone winner Tortelli was in all sorts of trouble and out of major contention after a set of falls dropped him to 27th place. "Someone cut me off, then I just did not want to risk any injuries, so I settled back a little," Tortelli said. An arm-weary 'Brown would not keep up his good form for too long, first dropping to sixth on lap three then to 10~ one lap later and finally retiring on lap five in 11th place. "I got severe arm pump," Brown said. Vohland, however, was very much keeping the American flag flying as he passed Bolley and took the lead. The Rinaldi Team Yamaha rider would hold the lead for 10 laps, until he was overcome by the Suzuki ridden by Dewit. The crowd came alive with the new leader, very much a favorite in the south of Holland. Dewit looked in the best form of his life, as he held Vohland at bay while also keeping Dewit's teammate chasing in third. Tortelli had moved to 10th place, but with another fall, his chances of a major charge went down the tubes. "I was going okay, but in the end I wanted some points," Tortelli said. ''I'm not thinking about the championship, This is all a learning year." With time running out Bervoets blasted past Vohland and Dewit, but would not finish there, as Vohland also made his way past Dewit and set out after the lead rider. "I knew a win would give me the overall, so I was giving it everything," Vohland said. "But it was tough. The track did not give you much chance to create new lines, so I had to follow Bervoets for a while, then I just got a tittle tired." Vohland did not yet know how tough the next few laps would be, as the two leaders came upon some slow traffic. With laps ticking away, Bervoets and Vohland began their battle while lapping the tail end of the field and this is were Bervoets held the upper hand, though not from better passing moves. "Man, those other Suzuki riders were all over me. I was blocked for sure. I'll have to work out something with my teammates in the future." Vohland was obviously a little bitter about the team tactics. With the aid of his lesser-known teammates Bervoets turned up the wick and took the win ahead of Vohland, Everts and Dewit. Tortelli would cruise in on 11th place some minutes behind the lead pack. The final top 10 being Bervoets, Vohland, Everts, Dewit, Karlsson, [ven, Beirer, BoIley, Demaria and Tragter. l"N Dutch GP Valkenswaard, Netherlands Results: April 14, 1997 (Round 3 of 15) MOTO 1: 1. Sebastien Tortelli (Kaw); 2. Stefan Everts (Hon); 3. Tallon Vohland (Yam); 4. Marnieq Benroets (Suz); 5. Werner Dewit (Suz); 6. POOm Tragter (Hon); 7. joakim Karlsson (Hon); 8. Peter Iven (:Kaw)'; 9. Pit Beirer (Han); 10. Leon Giesbers (KTM); 11. Justin Morris (Hon); 12. joakim EHasson (Yam); 13. Yves Demaria (Hon); 14. Mark Eastwood (Hon); 15. Peter Nijs (1:100); 16. Miska Aaltonen (KTM); 17. Paul Cooper (Kaw); 18. Jaimy Scevenels (Han); 19. Collin Dugmore (Han); 20. Oscar Vroman (Kaw). MOTa 2: 1. Mamie Bervoet:, (Suz); 2. Tallon Vohland (Yam); 3. Stefan Everts (Hon); 4. Werner Dewit (Suz); 5. Joakim Karlsson (Han); 6. Peter Iven (Kaw~ 7. Pit Beirer (Han); 8. Frederic 8ol~ey (Kaw); 9. Yves Demaria (Hon); 10. Pedro Tragter (Hon); ] L. Sebastien TOl'telli (Kaw); 12. joakim Eliasson (Yam); 13. Paul Cooper (Kaw); 14. Joshua Coppins (Suz); 15. Colling Dugmore (Han); 16. Peter Nijs (Han); 17. Michael Gouvemsur (Kaw); 18. Erik van Klinken (Han); 19. Stefan Anderson (Yam); 20. Dnmien Deni,1 (Kaw). WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MX SERIES (After 3 of lS rounds): 1. (TIE) Stefan Everts/TaUon Vohland (95); 3. Mamicq Bervoets (90); 4. Pit Beirer (6]); 5. Sebastian TorteW (60); 6. Werner Dewit (58); 7. Yves Demaria (54); 8. Pedro Tragter (46); 9. Peter Iven (45); 10. Joakim Karlsson (42); 11. Paul Cooper (22); 12. (TIE) Collin Dugmore/Leon Glesbers (19); 14. Thlecry Bethys (17); 15. Joaklm Kliasson (12); 16. Miska Aaltonen (10); 17. (TIE) Frederic BoUey lJaimy SCevenels (8); 19. Mark Eastwood (6~ 20. (TIE) Justin Morris/ Alessandm Zanni (5). Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 • Cingoli, Italy, April 20 Round 5 - Brou, France, May 4

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