Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 2: Megalopolis Motocross Park FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MX SERIES By Geoff Meyer "I I .. :! ~ lit Q §! :i- ~ ~ c 18 MEGALOPOUS, GREECE, MAR 28 he econd round of this year's FIM Winfield World 250cc Motocro s Championships was very much a case of taking one step back and two steps forward, as French Yamaha rider David Vuillemin survived a crash and a poor start to win the Greek Grand Prix, which was held on a muddy and undulating track on the hillsides of Megafopolis. When VuilJemin picked himself up off the ground after a crash in the first moto of the Greek 250cc Grand Prix, it looked like the young rider was possibly in over his head in the premier 250cc class. Sure, he had won the seasonopening Beaucaire International and finished second in the-1998 World 125cc Motocross Championships, but he still trailed the leaders and it was not looking likely he would catch them anytime Somewhere behind all the mud is Frenchman David Vuillem.in, who won the 250cc MX GP In Greece. soon. However, one can never count out a rider of Vuillemin's ability. It was what happened to his rivals that gave Vuillemin his first win in only his second 250cc Grand Prix, but it also showed that the 20-year-old rider from Berre l'Etang, France, will be fighting hard for championship glory, just as he had done last year in his .challenge to Italian Alessio Chiodi in the 125cc championship. "I am surprised to win the overall with a 5-1 result," Vuillemin said after his victory, "but just about everyone crashed, 'and [ will take this \Vin for sure." What of the favorites for this year's 250cc championship? Moto-one winner Pit Beirer blasted out of a left-hand turn while holding third place in moto two and plowed into fellow Winfield Kawasaki rider Marnicq Bervoets, who had finished third in moto one. Mickael Maschio, the moto-one runner-up, was also involved in the accident. "It was a stupid move," Beirer said. "I rode too aggressive and crashed. I am very sorry to Mamicq." American Ryan Hughes, who looked awesome on the muddy track, was also on the ground more often than he would have liked. "Man, I got hit in the face in the first moto by a big lump of mud, lost my goggles and crashed," he said. "Then, in the second moto, I crashed with Geishers." Hughes still managed to fini h fourth overall after fighting like a pit bull. Only Frederic Bolley, who had won the opening Grand Prix of the eason in Spain a week earlier, did not crash. Bolley, though, started slowly in the first moto and was covered in a thick layer of mud, causing him to stop for goggles mid race and lose a lot of time on the lead riders. In the second moto, Bolley showed why he is one of the favorites for the 1999 championship as he rode smoothly for second place in the moto and second place overall. The GP circus would return to Greece without the services of fwo of last year's major players, the injured Stefan Everts and U.s. Supercross Series contender Sebastien Tortelli. It was on this track that these two champions battled hard in one of the greatest GP finals in recent history. In Saturday's early-morning qualification, Yamaha riders stood tall, as Maschio, Vuillemin and Alessio B~lometti finished first, second and fourth, respectively. Again, it seemed like qualification would mean little; Maschio had been' only a midfielder in the 250cc class. In the first moto, German rider Pit Beirer moved quickly to the front on a track that had been was deluged by overnight rain. Only Beirer arrived after the first lap with a clean jersey. In second place was Maschio, who had, in fact, led for the first part of the moto, only to let Beirer by him. "Pit passed me after I made a mistake," said Maschio. "I tried to get him back, but the racing line was very narrow due to the mud. By the time the first lap was over, he was already getting away, though." Back in third place, Vuillemin looked smooth and ready to pounce on Maschio, while Bervoets was smiling after missing a turn-one accident. "Brian Jorgenson crashed in front of me," Bervoets said. "I hit him, but it did not slow me down. r was very lucky not to go down." Hughes was fighting for his life in 20th place after a lap-one mistake. "Out of the start, it was very slippery," said Hughes. "I was behind Bervoets in about fifth place. A big clump of mud hit me in the face, and it really knocked me about. I fell and got up miles back." With a clear track, Beirer took his time a nd by la p three he was getting away from Maschio, while VuilJemin was still third, followed by Bervoets, Bolley, Leon Geisbers, Frederik VjalJe, Mark Eastwood, Serge Guidetty and Collin Dugmore. Riders were falling all over the place, and Hughes was making the most of the situation, climbing up to eighth by lap eight. "I was riding great," aid Hughes." (There were) not a lot of lines to choose from, so I had to pick my places to pass. Some guys were very slow, and I lost my goggles in the crash, so I also had to look out for getting roosted. It wa tough." It was, in fact, only Hughes who was making a .strong move. Up front, everyone rode for survival. Then Vuillemin made a mistake and feU, losing a place to Bervoets. "I just slid off," said Vuillemin. "It was stupid, but the mud was really slippery, and on the downhills it was a little dangerous." Bolley, who had been struggling with the mud, made a quick stop to put on new goggles. The move proved to be a smart one, as he also passed Vuillemin and looked brilliant on the drying-out track. "I had a little time on the rider behind me," BoUey said. "I think it wa Geisbers. I thought I could hold my place and maybe make up some places on the riders who had lost their goggles." Hughes was still making up places and with five laps remaining he passed Giesbers for sixth place. It would be a po ition the American would hold until the finish. Beirer crossed the finj h line a long way ahead of Maschio, with Bervoets, Bolleyand Vuillemin making up the top five. "It was in fact an easy race," Beirer said. "I just took my time. I wanted to save myself for the next moto. Being in front made it not a problem with the mud'. ,I think I was the only one who could say that." With the track now dried out, there were no such problems for Bervoets,

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