Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

MOTOCROSS Fill WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc IIX SERIES (left) Tallon Vohland's bid for the championship title took a turn for the worse when he broke his shoulder in the first mota. (Below) Marnlcq Bervoets sits all alone in second place in the series points chase. my shoulder blade. I thought about riding the second moto, but it was not possible." The battle up front was now in full swing. Demaria had moved to within a second of the leader and by lap 10 was on his back wheel. Tortelli, on th.e other hand, was not the least bit worried. "1 saw him coming, but I knew I could hold him," Tortelli said. "1 tried to move away but he followed me, then Stefan started to also come toward us. It was getting very close." With laps running out, TorteIJi finally did move away, taking the win ahead of Demaria, Everts, Beirer, Karlsson and Bervoets. Brown finished 12th and claimed his first World ChampionslUp points. "To be honest, 1 miss America," Brown said. "But I've got to give this thing a good go. Things can only improve." (left) Mike Brown scored his first GP points with 12-5 mota finishes. The second moto was different this time, as it was Brown who took the bit between his teeth and raced to the front, followed by Demaria, Everts and Bolley. Further back came TorteJli in 18th, Dewit in 20th and Beirer in 32nd. Bervoets was even further back. Brown's lead was short-lived. "When I was in front my arms pumped up really bad, so I backed off a little," Brown said. With the sudden surrender by Brown, Demaria looked like the possible overall winner. Everts was soon past Brown, and with the fa t-approaching Bolley, Brown was again playing the game of two steps forward three steps back. Tortelli had been doing his own playing and by lap eight was in fifth place, amazingly on a track that was very demanding, and the 18-year-old was riding like a veteran. Demaria was soon feeling the heat from Everts, and on lap 15, lost the lead. Everts was hearing the cheers from the small Itahan crowd, but it was for thirdplaced Tortelli, his charge from 18th position getting everyone's attention. Bervoets and Bierer were also passing riders at will, with Bervoets in 10th place and Bierer in sixth. With only four laps remaining, the heat was now showing up front, with Demaria sitting trackside with a bent bike and a broken rib. "He (Demaria) was going very fast," Everts said. "But his condition is always a bit suspect." Tortelli, who had possibly caused the crash (only through pressure) was now second and Everts was showing some concern. "My strong point i my strength," Everts said. "But I knew he was coming and it was not getting any easier." Tortelli moved on to Everts like a bird of prey. Surely this younger, stronger rider would soon have IUs victim. Everts looked his usual calm seli riding in his sit-up style, the defending champ holding IUs lines, while Tortelli looked for a faster place on the track, moving up the main straigh t on the last lap. Everts was still in command, as the new hero challenged the old. Everts, the master of heated warfare, was brilliant, blocking the onrushing Tortelli every time the Kawasaki rider put his wheel in a passing position. Then with only feet left, TorteUi locked his bike sideways and passed for the lead. "1 knew at the moment he passed me, he held the inside and he was very fast," Everts said. "The part of the track where he passed me, he was very fast." Tortelli would make his own mistake, though. As the riders entered the last tum of the moto, Tortelh entered the tum a little too fast, IUt a small rut and lost his lead. "I made a stupid mistake," TorteLJi said. "I got my wheels caught in the ruts and he got me, then up the finish straight, it was wild." Everts' win was not enough to take the overall, but more important things were at stake. "The series lead is more important for sure; I don't have the speed of Tortelli at the moment, but I will have soon," Everts said. "It's very early in the series." Tortelli was al 0 impressed with his result and made a special comment about being only 18 years old. ''It's not the age; today I felt very strong," Tortelli said. "We fought a tough race, we are both men, many times our bikes touched. It was a great race, but I feel like I'm the winner here." In third place and obviously out of sight of the crowd was Bolley, followed by Beirer, Brown, Bervoets, Dewit, Leon Geisbers, Dugrnore and Eastwood. fN Italian 250cc GP Clngoll, Italy Results: April 20, 1997 (Round 4 of 15) MOTO 1: 1. Sebastien Tortelli (Kaw); 2. Yves Demaria (Hon); 3. Stefan Everts (Hon); 4. Pit Beirer (Hon); 5. Joakirn Karlsson (Hon); 6. Marnicq Bervoets (5U2); 7. Frederic Boney (Kaw); 8. Mark Eastwood (Han); 9. Collin Dugmore (Hon); 10. Werner Dewit (5uz); 11. Peter Iven (Kaw~ 12. Mike Brown (Yam~ 13. Miska Aaltonen (kIM); 14. Justin Morns (Han); 15. Christian Stevanini (Han); 16. Max Gazebrata (Yam); 17. Joakim EJiasson (Yam~ 18. SamuU Are (Yam); 19. Leon Giesbers (KTM); 20. Jaime Scevenels (Hon). MOTO 2: 1. Stefan Everts (Hon); 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Kaw); 3. Frederic Bolley (Kaw); 4. Pit 8eirer (Hon); 5. Mke Brown (Yam); 6. Mamicq Bervnets (Suz~ 7. Werner Dewit (Suz); 8. Leon Giesbers (KTM); 9. Collin Dugmore (Hon); 10. Mark Eastwood (Hon); II. Peter Iven (Kaw); 12. Miska Aaltonen (KTM); 13. Jaimy Scevenels (Han); 14. Alessandro Lanni (Han); 15. Joakim Karlsson (Han); 16. Paul Cooper (Kaw); 17. Samuli Aro (Yam); 18. Joshua Coppins (Suz); 19. Alessandro Bartolini (KTM); 20. Peter Nejs (Han). O/A: 1. Sebastien TorteW (Kaw); 2. Stefan Everts (Hon); 3. Pi' Beirer (Hon); 4. Frederic Bolley (Kaw); 5. Mamicq Bervoets (Suz); 6. Yves Demarill (Hon); 7. Mike Brown (Yam); 8. Werner Dewit (Suz); 9. Collin Dugmore (Hon); 10, Mark Eastwood (Hon). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MX SERIES POINT STANDiNGS (After 4 of 15 rounds): 1. Stefan Everts (130/2 wins); 2. Mamicq Bervoets (110/1); 3. Sebastien TortelU (97/3); 4. Tallon Vohland (95/1); 5. Pit Bierer (87); 6. Werner Dewit (73); 7. Yves Demaria (71); 8. Peter Iven (SS~ 9. Joakim Karlsson (54/1); 10. Pedro Tragter (46); 11. Collin Dugmore (33); 12. Frederic Bolley (32); 13. Leon GiesbelS (27); 14. Paul Cooper (22); IS. Mark Eastwood (20); 16. Miska Aaltonen/Thierry Bethys (17); 18. Mike Brown (15); 19. joaJdm E1iasson (12); 20. Jaimy Scevenels (II).

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