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MOTOCROSS Round 6: Foxhill Mota Park Rid WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc AfX SERIES By Alex Hodgkinson 26 SWINDON, ENGLAND, MAY 24 f Sebastien Tortelli's double defeat f champion Stefan Everts in Bel'um two weeks earlier had been the arning salvo, the repeat at Foxhill was a stunning blow. The Belgian, Everts, had not been bea ten at the track for three years - he had never even looked in danger of being challenged there - and the Frenchman, Tortelli, twice came from behind this weekend to reduce the deficit at the top of the table to just six points. "He was going just a little bit too fast for me today," a shell-shocked Everts had to admit. "I was giving 110 percent, but 1 couldn't stay with him when he passed me in race one." Tortelli was not slow to inflict a further blow in the battle of the minds. ''"Ibis isn't actually my favorite track," he said. Though Frederic Bolley was eventually third on the day, Pit Beirer was dearly the next-fastest man, and he could soon be right up with the two leaders. '1 have the speed again now, but not for 45 minutes yet," admitted Beirer. '1 was delighted how close 1 was able to stay in race one, because they were both flat out, but there was a lO-minute spell in midrace when 1 got arm pump and had to let them go." Racing first to accommodate the schedule of the live TV coverage, the first 250cc race threatened to be the usual procession, as Everts took an early lead, even though Tortelli quickly demoted holeshot winner Werner Dewit from second to chase him, with Beirer third as early as lap two. While the trio chased around in front, wild card Rob Herring was getting the massive crowd in the mood. "It took me a couple of laps to settle and Maschio went past, but then 1 started to ride smoothly and find the right gears," Herring sii!d. "1 go.!-him back, soon got Dewit, and was hauling back Bervoets and pushing him onto Vohland. In the end, 1couldn't quite get them." But even the patriotic crowd had had their attention diverted elsewhere by then. Approaching half-distance, Everts suddenly had a five-second lead. "1 made a mistake on a downhill and went out into the stones," Tortelli explained. The gap remained there for several laps until Tortelli suddenly upped his tempo, caught the Belgian and swept past on a long uphill. Everts retaliated within a lap, but on the half-hour the Frenclunan struck again at the corner after the finish line, and Everts had nothing more to give. Beirer was a gallant third, and Vohland lost fourth to Bolley. "1 started making mistakes and my arms pumped up after a few laps," said Vohland. "1 think it's because I'm not used to racing with the leaders recently." Jocke Karlsson was in trouble. RWJ boss Colin Reed said:"Tocke has been having difficulty concentrating all weekend. We think it may be a blood deficiency. 1 don't want him to race moto two, and he will go to a specialist tomorrow." Demaria crashed in a chicane on lap one and did not appear again. Everts was dearly anxious for revenge in race two and actually pas ed Tortelli . on the first lap as the Frenchman disputed the lead with Vohland. But the Belgian could never escape, and we will never know if he could have withstood Tortelli's head-to-head challenge this time, because after 15 minutes he misjudged a berm and flew off the track. By the time he had turned around to give chase, Tortelli was too far in front to be realistically challenged, and after a couple of laps Everts accepted his fate and concentrated, on not letting teammate Bolley get too dose. Beirer had crashed downfield from fifth on lap two. Vohland did likewise from fourth a couple of laps later, and their recoveries to fifth and sixth enlivened the remainder of the race. The American was happy with his form, apart from that crash. "Getting the holeshot helped me a lot," Vohland said. "I had to let Everts, Tortelli and Bolley past me, but 1 was able to learn from their lines. Things are getting better." Herring was again a revelation. '1 felt really comfortable in that battle for fifth," Herring stated, "but 1 had a small crash at the bottom of a hill midrace and lost my rhythm." And there were other brave home riders. Paul Cooper defied a torn biceps muscle to finish 14-12, while Justin Morris (11-14) was racing for the first time since damaging his back two weeks earlier at the European GP. After a lackluster 18th in race one, (Above) Werner Dewit (7) leads the start of the first 250cc GP moto at England's Foxhill Moto Park. He's chased by sebastien Tortelli (4), Tallon Vohland (6), Stefan E\(8rts (behind Dewit), and Rob Herring (20). (Left) Tortelli (4) stunned 250Cc GP serles points leader Everts by winning both motos.