Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

"It's the idea that the championship points are what matters," Everts said. "Every race 1 get faster, if we go like this for the rest of the season, I'll be happy." Tortcl1i was also upbeat about the situation. "Stefan got some·points on me today, but it's a long season," TorteIlis said. Dave Grant, manager of the Everts Honda team had his versioJl of what's to follow in the next few months. "Stefan is still learning the new Honda," Grant said. 'The more he rides it the better he is getting, but that guy over there (pointing to Tortelli) is a fast young kid, I've seen many great World Champions and that kid is one of the future greats." l:N (Right) British rider Justin Morris leads Frenchman Frederic Bolley In the first moto. (Below) Swade Joaklm Karlsson grabbed second in the first moto, fifth In the second for fourth overall. (Below right) A number of Brit riders rode well at the French GP, the best being Mark Eastwood, who went 5-4 for fifth overall. French 250cc GP Brou,France .Results: May 4, 1997 (Round 5 of 15) Bolley, who said: "Same story. I was looking good, really riding the best I could, then heard the horns getting louder and louder.' I started trying too hard and he caught me." Bolley, on the other hand, was surprised by his sudden possibility of third in the moto. "Eastwood was making some good laps," Bolley said. "I was not looking at my pit boards, then when I did 1 was already onto him." . With the roar of 20,000 French homs Bolley moved into third place, leaving only Everts from stopping a French 1-2. So moving onto the next round in the Czech Republic, Everts is still the man to beat, at least that's the way Everts sees it. The crowd was going crazy as Tortelli moved closer to Karlsson and Everts, but it was all for nothing. "Joakim was riding very fast," TortelIi said. "I tried to get past him, but it was hopeless, then I got a little tired." In the end, the flag came out to greet Everts, followed by Karlsson, Tortelli, Bolley, Eastwood, Bervoets, Brown, Morris, Peter Iven and Pit Beirer, in that order. Although the crowd did not get complete .satisfaction from the first moto, .things would go all France in moto number two. Out of the start again, the red machine of Eastwood led the way, followed by Tortelli, Finnish rider Miska Aaltonen, Everts, Morris, Beirer, Jamie Scevenels, Karlsson, Werner Dewit and Bolley. Bervoets, who had crashed on the opening tum was near last. "It was a typical tum-one problem, everyone everywhere," Bervoets said. Brown's second-moto race plan was not coming together. "After the first moto, I let too many riders past early on," Brown said. "I'll have to be more aggressive in this mota." His early position of 30th was not what he·wanted. Eastwood knew he was under pres- sure and in a short time, Tortelli was into the lead, but Eastwood hung with the new leader and began moving a little away from third-placed Everts. Brown was now 25th and looking likely to score very few points in this moto, while Bolley was doing his best to give his pa triotic fans some reason to applaud, and by lap five, he was on the tail of Morris and looking for Eastwood. "The English riders were fast today," Bolley said. "But I wanted to get the podium and I raced with him for a little while then found a way past." TorteIli was running and hiding like he had done in three of the previous motos this season. "It (his shoulder) felt much better, in the first moto my shoulder was sore," . TorteIli said. "We strapped it and the pain was not so bad." As for Everts, he had worked his way . into second place, his eyes were now firmly set ahead, and his next aim was to catch Tortelli. "Once I got into second I wanted to have some fun," Everts said. '1 was riding very fluid and felt good." Third-placed Eastwood was still holding his lines, but just like in the first moto, he was getting the hurry-up from Mcrro], 1. Stefan Everts (Hon); 2. joaltim Karlsson (Hon); 3. Sebastien TortelIi (Kaw); 4. Fred..-ic Bolley (Kaw); S. MMk Eastwood (Hon); 6. Mamicq Bervoe.. (Suz); 7. Mike Brown (Yam); 8. juslin Morris (Hon); 9. P_lven (Kaw); 10. Pi' fle;rer(Hon); 11. Werner Dewit (Suz); 12. Colin Dugmore (Hon); 13. jaimy Scevenels (Hon). . MOTO 2: 1. Sebastien Tortelli (Kaw); 2. Stefan Everts (Hon); 3. Frederic Bolley (Kaw); 4. Mark Eastwood (Hon); S. joaIrim Karlsson (Hon); 3. 6. Werner Dewit (Suz); 7. P_I.... (Kaw); 8. Juslin Morris (Hon); 9. Miska Aaltonen (KTM); 10. Morticq Bervoets (Suz); 11. Leon Ciesbers (KTM); 12. jaimy Scevenels (Hon); 13. Pedro Tragt.... O/A; 1. Stebn Everts (Hon); 2. Sebastien TortelH (Kaw); 3. Frederic Bolley (Kaw); 4. joakim Karlsson (Hon); 5. Marl<, Eastwood (Hon); 6. P_ Iv... (Kaw); 7. Justin Morris (Hon); 8. Marnicq Be.rvoets (Suz); 9. Werner Dewit (Suz); 10. Mike Brown (Yam); 11. Miska Aaltonen (KTM); 12. Jaimy Sccvenels (Hon); 13. Pit Beirer (Hon); 14. Leon Ceisber.; (ICTM); 15. Collin DugJ1>lft (Hon). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - lake!, CZech Republic, May 11 Round 7 - FOxhill, England. May 25

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