Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

With Tortelli coming through the field like a runawa y train, the strength of France was showing. That was until fast Frenchman Bolley found fallen countryman Demaria in his path. ' "I hit the turn and there he was lying on the track," Bolley said. "I just ran into him. Both riders would drop back significantly, Bolley to 30th, Demaria to 32nd. Everts made his first lap one of his best, pulling away from the field and leaving Joakim Karlsson, Paget, Beirer and an already fifth-place Tortelli to fight for the crumbs. Tortelli was not wasting time, though, as he soon climbed past Beirer and set out after Karlsson. Paget in the meantime realized he was in dangerous territory and dropped 'to fifth place. Tortelli and Karlsson then reeled off some fast laps and the two moved closer to Everts. Then on lap four, Tortelli passed the Swedish rider known as "Viking" and set out after the leader. It ,wasn't too Icing before Everts looked over his shoulder and saw a redhot Tortelli coming. "I was getting arm pump and knew he would catch me, so I just hoped we would have a nice battle, but then he was not there," Everts said. Sure enough, Tortelli had made the same mistake he had made at rounds one, three, six and seven and he hit the dirt. "I was feeling great, but the track was very slippery and my wheel slipped on the comer, then I was stuck under the bike," Tortelli said. With his major rival down, Everts just rode his normal race, taking his time with cornering to take the win by six seconds over the quickly remounted Tortelli. Everts was looking very confident as. he crossed the li):\e, even having time to look back as Tortelli came in sight, slowing enough for Tortelli to have to look in his direction. As the French rider did so, Everts raised his arms in celebration as if (Above) Everts won the first moto but crashed In the second. (Right) Swede Joaklm Karlsson carded a pair of fifth-place finishes. to say, "Yes, you may be faster, but I'm the winner." German Beirer finished third, followed by Demaria, Karlsson, Bervoets, Brown, Colin Dugmore, Bolley and Mark Eastwood. For Demaria it was a super ride. "I like these tracks with big downhills," Demaria said. "I won here last year with Yamaha. It's a good track for me." Brown was looking better every lap and seemed happy enough with his result. . '1 got a terrible start, but rode good," Brown said. "My speed was good. This track is okay, but it takes a lot of concentration. 1I Everts in the meantime was rubbing his finger, compliments of a television cameraman. "I hit him," Everts said. "He was standing too close to the track. He learned his lesson for sure." The second moto proved to be just what everyqne expected. Tortelli learned from his first-moto crash and trailed in .fifth place after the fist lap. This time he was more patient with his passing and by lap six was onto Everts' back wheel. The race looked likely to turn into a real dogfight, with first Tortelli jumping past Everts on the huge talbetop jump, then Everts trying the same move on a smaller jump several turns later. But Tortelli held on and moved away from the Belgian, who was having some trouble this time out. "I didn't feel good," Everts said. "The bike was moving around. I think we picked the wrong tires for the race. The track changed a lot and the tires are very important here." Brown, who had promised a better stat! in the second moto, was not seen in the first-turn action. In fact, he never made it to the start - he was in the track hospital. "I got really dizzy and felt very cold," Brown said. "They gave me a drip and I feel better now. I ate some· pasta last night and felt a little sick in the stomach, but it went away. Then just before the second moto I got sick again." While Brown lay in trouble in the hospital, Tortelli was doing his own thing, turning out super-fast laps and slowly moving away from Everts, who was slowing dramatically. Beirer was soon onto Everts and knew his chance had come. "I saw Everts and thought I would have to fight him," Beirer said. "But he crashed. It was a good ride for me." Demaria was also in the picture, moving into third place (thanks to Everts) and deSpite severe fatigue, looking ahead to Beirer. '1 was very -tired," Demaria said. 'The first moto really took it out of me. Coming from near last to fourth left me with nothing for the second moto." Still, the fast Frenchman was holding third place with no trouble. As the laps came to an end, Tortelli held on to win with a 23-second margin over Beirer, Demaria, Karlsson and Everts. . With the motos complete, all that was left was to look ahead to \he Belgian GP, to be held in Kester on June 22. For Tortelli, it is a matter great of importance, . not only for his championship hopes, but for bragging rights as well. '1t is an important GP for me," Torte!Ii said. "It is Stefan's home race and it would be nice to win there." . Everts had other ideas. ' '1 like Kester a lot," Everts said. "It's a good track for me, so I should go good on it. I'm also due to win again." {l'I San Marino GP Borgo Maggiore, Italy Results: June 8, 1997 (Round 8 of 15) MOTO 1: 1. Stefan Everts (Han); 2. Sebastien Tortelli '(Kaw); 3. Pit Belrer (Hon); 4. Yves Demaria (Hon); 5. joakim Karlsson (Han); 6. Mamicq Bervoets (Suz); 7. Mike Brown (Yam); 8. Collin Dugroore (Han); 9. Frederic Boney (Kaw); 10. Mark Eastwood (Han); 11. Peter Iven (Kaw); 12. Frans Garcia (Yam); 13, Chris StevanirU (Han); 14, joshua Coppins (Suz); 15. Plerrick Paget (Han). MOTO 2: 1. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 2. Pit Beirer (Han); 3. Yves Demaria (Hon); 4. joakim Karlsson (Han); 5. Stefan Everts (Han); 6, Mamicq Bervoets (Suz); 7. Peter Iven (Kaw); 8. Werener Dewit (5uz); 9. jaimy Scevenels (Hon); 10. .collin Dugmore (Hon); 11. Leon Giesbers (KTM); 12, joshua Coppins (5uz); 13. Miska Aaltonen (KTM); 14. Cederic Melotte (Suz); 15. Damien Denil (Kaw). OIk 1. Sebastien Tortelli (Kaw); 2. Pit Beirer (Han); 3. Stefan Everts (Han); 4. Yves Demaria (Han); 5. joakim Karlsson (Hon); 6. Marnicq Bervoets (5uz); 7. Peter Iven (Kaw); 8, Collin Dugmore (Hon); 9, Mike Brown (Yam); 10. Werner Dewit (Suz); 11. ]aimy Scevenels (Hon); 12. Frederic Bolley (Kaw); 13. Joshua Coppins (Suz); 14. Mark Eastwood (Han); 15. Leoo Giesbers (KTM). WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250« MJ( SERIES POINT STANDINGS tAfter 8 of 15 rounds): 1. Stefan Everts (278/4 wins); 2, Sebastien Tortelll (219/2); 3. Marnlcq Bervoets (212/1); 4, Pit Belrer (167); 5. joakim Karlsson (147); 6. Peter lven (118); 7. Werner Dewit (114); 8. (TIE) Yves Demaria/Frederic Boney (10<\); 10. Tallon Vohland (95/1); 11, (TIE) Mark Eastwood/Mike Brown (n); 13, Collin Dogmore (68); 14. Pedro Tragter (59); 15. Leon Glesber.; (59). Upcoming Rounds: Round 9 - Kesler, Belgium, June 22 Round 10 - BelQ Horizonte, Brazil, July 6 31

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