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MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MOTOCROSS SERIES Round 8: San Marino four wins from four starts, and a series lead of 55 points over fellow Belgian Bervoets. Timed practice was all Tortelli, but as former 125cc World Champion Bobby Moore mentioned, "The French are always fast in practice. They must be bred fast, but it's not about being fast in practice. The races are what count." Moore, who was in San Marino to help fellow American Brown, was sure of one thing though. "That kid is fast," Moore said. "He's like he's on fire at times. His blistering speed is amazing." Moore was correct, but unfortunately for Tortelli, he would be correct on both comments. Tortelli is indeed fast, but the race is what really counts. As the riders blasted out of the start gate, Tortelli was mired midpack, with quite a lot of work in front of him. Everts, meanwhile, had l1ailed the holeshot over Bolley, Demaria and another French rider, Pierrick Paget. Further back and having his share of problems was Brown. "I followed too many riders," said Brown, who was running in about 25th just after the start. "It's a mistake I have made before. I'll have to improve on my starts." (Lett) Stefan Everts (1) grabs the holeshot ahead of Frederic Bolley (5) at the start of the Dutch 250cc GP. By Geoff Meyer BORGO MAGGIORE, ITALY, JUNE 8 peed. Sebastien Tortelli has it. No one, not even his most fierce. rivals deny that. But when he hit the dirt in the first moto of the San Marino World 250cc motocross Grand Prix, everyone in attendance figured the French sensation had once again blown any chance of taking the overall. Tortelli had been in the process of reeling in defending World Champion Stefan Everts, and by all accounts all he had to do was make the passing move and the first moto was his. Ask American Jeremy McGrath how dillicult it is to come from behind and you will get an answer of, "The catching is easy, but it's the passing that's the problem." After San Marino Tortelli had that very problem, for while he won the overall, he is still miles behind Everts in the points race. Tortelli's 2-1 result netted him a cool 37 points, while second-place Pit Beirer, who put together another consistent weekend, earned 32 points. Everts placed third for 31. Despite finishing behind Tortelli, the smile on the face of Everts told the true story. "I said in the start of the year he would be fast, sometimes faster than me," Everts said. "Here he was good, no doubt about it. But he's a long way behind in the points and I've also said that's what is important, not being fastest sometimes." Everts had a point, but Tortelli was sure he had proved who was the real top dog. 'Tve proved time after time, I am the fastest rider," Tortelli said. "Look at the qualification times, the lap times of the motos - but I'm still learning. Today was my day." Qualification did prove Tortelli's amazing speed. He topped the Saturday times with a 2:12.517, followed by Everts' 2:13.059, Frederic Bolley's 2:13.245, Marnicq Bervoets' 2:13.304 and Yves Demaria's 2:13.394. American Mike Brown was a comfortable seventh-fastest on 2:14.163. Tallon Vohland made the effort to qualify, and while he did set a time of 2:16.178, for 20th place, he claimed it was not worth risking any further damage to his Foxhill-injured knee and so sat out of the races. Entering the San Marino GP, Everts definitlHy had momentum on his side: (Above and left) Frenchman 5ebutIen Tort8Il1 overcame this washout to win the Dutch GP. 30 He won the second moto.