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Beaucaire Classic (Above) Frenchman David Vuillemin returned home from contesting the U.S. Supercross series to post the overall in Beaucaire with a 2-1-3 moto tally. (Left) Pit Beirer won the first moto, but in the end he could only claim second, behind Vuillemin. By Alex Hodgkinson BEAUCAIRE, FRANCE, FEB. 21 avid Vuillemin need not celebrate' his Beaucaire Classic win too early. The event marked the opening race of the Europeah outdoor D motocross season, and only two riders in the 22-year history of the event have gone on to win a World title after winning the opening round. Stefan Everts certainly has nothing to celebrate. For the first time in nearly 20 years, no reigning World Champi- ons started at Beaucaire. Last year's Beaucaire winner, SOOcc champ Joel Smets, was present, but he could not ride. . "Although my aIm was plated after I broke it at the German championship race last September, the bone never healed," said Smets. "It had been hurting whilst I was in Australia for the ISDE, bu t the problem was only discovered at the start of the year. I have been in plaster for six weeks and cannot ride until midMarch." "This must be the only place in Europe where there's a water shortage," remarked industry man Dave icoll as he peered through the billowing clouds of dust whkh killed off any hopes of good, close racing. But one man could smile after the first mota: Pit Beirer. "I think o'!t in front was definitely the best place (to be) today," said Beirer. '1 gated third, but I was almost gifted the lead. puzar was finding the big Yamaha a bit of a handful in the corners, and Belometti was making mistakes everywhere. He was obviously so nervous after taking the holeshot. It was no surprise to me that Vuillemin was fast. The rest of us have not been racing for many months, and he already has race speed from riding U.s. supercross. If he had come onto my rear wheel,. I would have let him past, but 1 was able to maintain the same pace as him for the win." The race was just another practice session for Everts, as he circulated half a lap down. "I got a good start, with just Belometti and Puzar ahead of me, but another rider came across the track from the inside as we entered turn two, we touched, arid I was pushed into the fence," said Everts. "It took me a long time to restart the motor, but 1 was happy not to be in the pack. Most of all, I am just glad not to have got hurt." It was Peter Johansson, debuting the four-stroke KTM, who had made contact with the Belgian. "Stefan hooked up in my rear wheel and 1 lost a couple of places," said Johansson. "But the whole team can now breathe a sigh of relief, because we know we can get out of the gate with the other four-strokes." Puzar crashed downfield at halfdistance. The most impressive ride came from Yves Demaria, who was 13th on lap one; by the finish he was sixth, behind Johansson. Race two was run in similar conditions, but this time it was Beirer's turn to chase while Vuillemin absconded with the holeshot and ran away with the race. Within three laps, Beirer was second, but Vuillemin already had a big lead. This time it was Johansson's turn to crash at the top of the start straight. "Somebody clipped the track-marker tires on the inside and bounced off into me," said Johansson. Everts took a no-risk third with a late pass on teammate Bailey as Demaria again put in the most impressive ride of the race. He was 18th on lap one; he had hustled and bustled to ninth by the finish, passing teamma te Bernd Eckenbach on the last lap. . If anyone still needed evidence of the importance of a good start in the dusty conditions, it was provided by Belometti. Third in race one, the Italian started 23rd and finished 22nd in race two. The third-race start was the vital factor in deciding the overall. Vuillemin was third on lap one, with Beirer seventh. Both advanced, but the' ga p between them was too grea t to give Beirer a chance of the overall, even when he advanced to third behind Demaria and Vuillemin. The Germa n settled for second overall, and it was no longer a question of who would win on the day, but who would win the race. With the two-lap board awaiting them, Vuillemin nipped past Demaria in a turn, but the Husky's power saw Dema ria back in fran t by the top of the long uphill finish straight. The two Frenchmen passed and' repassed each other in the remaining laps before Demaria eventually came home to a popular win, which thus clinched third overall. - Everts moved forward in Beirer's wake until he swapped on a downhill and slithered into the wooden fence at the-bottom, damaging ligaments in his lower right leg. CII Circuit Saint Roman Beaucaire, France Results: February 21,1999 MOTO 1: 1. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 2. David Vuillemin (Yam); 3. Alex Belometn (Yam); 4. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 5. Peter Johansson (KTM); 6. Yves Demaria (Hus); 7. Marnicq Bervoets (Suz); 8. Brian Jorgensen (Suz); 9. Jason Higgs (Ver); 10. Peter lven (Kaw). MOTO 2: 1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 3. Stefan Everts (Hon); 4,. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 5. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 6. Jocke Karlsson (Hon); 7. Brian Jorgensen (Suz); 8. Peter Iven (Kaw); 9. Yves Demaria (Hu.s); 10. Bernd Eckenbach (Hus). MOTO 3: 1. Yves Demaria (Hus); 2. David Vuillemln (Yam); 3. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 4. Brian Jorgensen (Suz); 5. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 6. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 7. Jooke Karlsson (Hon); 8. Steve Ramon (Kaw); 9. Johnny Aubert (Hus); 10. Alex Belometti (Yam). O/A: 1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 3. Yves Demaria (Hus); 4. Brian Jorgensen (Suz); 5. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 6. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 7. Jocke Karlsson (Hon); 8. Alex Belometti (Yam); 9. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 10. Peter Iven (Kawl.