Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FIM World Championship 250cc MX Series, Round 1 (Lett) Frederic Bailey look the overall win al the opening round of Ihe World Championship 250cc MX series. (Below left) Ryan HugheS had a strong debut in the World Championship, rebounding from a pair of bad starts 10 take third and fourth in the two molos for thirdo~lI. Mark Eastwood, unable to ride for three weeks prior to Spain, had also looked likely to finish in the top six for more than half an hour. "My shoulder didn't WaTry me at all, though my grip with the le~t hand was getting weaker as the race went on," Eastwood said. "But that wasn't why I crashed. The rear wheel stepped out in a turn, and anywhere else on the track 1 would have been able to save it, but it was the turn with the downhill jump straight after it and 1 ended up in the bushes." "Easty" got back on in 13th. Paul Cooper, on the factory Husky, had been chasing him for a long time before dropping a couple of places near the end. ''I'm delighted," Cooper said. "Don't forget that this bike is only 10 weeks old, and a result like this is wonderful news for me, the team and the factory. 1 had my usual problems with arm pump toward the end and eased up rather than risking a mistake." In the second mota, Beirer was clearly au t to level the scores, as he slid around the first turn in front and had a clear advantage leaving turn two. But it all went wrong. "They graded the track, and my front wheel dropped into a hole full of wet sand," Beirer said.. "Before I knew it, the rear wheel had broken out and 1 was on the ground." By the finish, he was seven th after remounting in last. Again a Suzuki led - it was Coppins this time - ahead of Mickael Maschio (who had exited the first mota with a broken front wheel), Bervoets, Bolley and Vuillemin. For 16 minutes the Kiwi led, until the inevitable occurred. "1 lost Bailey when 1 made a mistake at half-distance," claimed Bervoets after the race. Vuillemin closed down Coppins for third in the closing laps, and Hughes was fourth by the end from 12th on lap one. "1 think [ rode too much in training and forgot how to start," Hughes said. "1 know 1 have the speed, anyway." "Ryno" might even have taken third again, but he took too long to pass the factory Suzuki of Leon Giesbers rnidrace before finally riding the Dutchman high into a turn with a classic block-pass. _ By Alex Hodgkinson TALAVERA DE LA REINA, SPAIN, MAR. 21 ven without Stefan Everts, it was a victory romp for the Radson Honda team at the opening 250cc MX GP in Spain as upgraded team leader Frederic Bailey zapped the opposition in both motos at the Circuito Cerro Negro. The Winfield Kawasaki team trails by just six points in th.e manufacturers' championship, but their individual riders Marnicq Bervoets and Pit Beirer each finished down the leaderboard in one mota to go with their runner-up slot. The most impressive challenger was GP debutant Ryan Hughes, second on points at the end of the day after-chasing through fTom abysmal starts for 3-4 mota finishes on the Pamo Honda. Showing the form expected of him, David Vuillemin was the fifth rider to take a podium finish.' The factory teams got the sh.ock of their lives as Suzuki privateers Collin Dugmore and Michal Kadlecek beat them to the first turn. Pole setter Bailey WoilS second leaving the turn, how.ever. '1 was talking to Stefan (Everts) dur.ing the week," he said, "and he reminded me tha t the turn here is perfect to hold the line from the inside gate. 1 knew Beirer was behind me, so 1 made my move for the lead on lap two and pushed hard to build a cushion. 1 was even able to extend it to seven seconds, and 1 was happy that that was enough." Beirer needed another lap to demote Dugmore, but his chase was never going to earn the win. "1 was riding a little stiff and was missing about a third of a second a lap to Frederic," Dugmore said. E 26 Circuito Cerro Negro Talavera de la Reina, Spain Results: March 21, 1999 (Round 1 of 16) MOTO 1: 1. Frederic Bolley CHon); 2. Pit Beirer (Kow): 3. Ryan Hughes (lion); 4. Josh Coppins (5uz); 5. Mamicq Bervoets (Kaw); 6, Collin Dugmore (Suz); 7. David Vuillemin (Yam); 8. Paul Cooper (Hus); 9. Peter Iven (Kaw); 10. Remy Van Rees (Kaw); 11. Alessio Dugmore would lose only one more place before the closing laps - to Hughes. "A turtle could have beaten me off the line," Hughes said. "1 just didn't time the gate at all." He was 22nd after half a lap, but the Californian rode a scintillating first seven laps to blast through the field. "When I got to third, I got boarded how far it was to the leaders and decided to save some energy for race two," Hughes said. "1 used the rest of the race to tryout different lines'. 1 must admi t that 1 am really pleased. That was one of the finest races 1 have had for a long, long ti.rne." Marnicq Bervoets and David Vuillernin were finding it more difficult to advance and eventually sandwiched Dugmore in a tight finish for fifth, with Bervoets in front - but still behind his '98 bike, as Josh Coppins, who had been styling all weekend, ripped up the leaderboard from an initial 1Oth. Belometti (Yam); 12. Leon Geisbers (Suz); 13. Mark Eastwood (Hon); 14. Thierry Bethys Q-lon); 15. Marko Kovalainen (Hon). MOTO 2: 1. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 2. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 3. David Vuillemin (Yam); 4. Ryan Hughes (Hon); 5. Josh Coppins (Suz); 6. Leon Ceisbers (Suz); 7. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 8. Paul Cooper (Hus); 9. Peter Iven (Kaw); 10. Thierry Bethys (J-Ion); 11. justin Morris (TM); 12. Remr. Van Rees (Knw); 13. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 14. A essio Belomclti (Yam); 15. Cristian Stevanini (Kaw). O/A: 1. Frederic BoUey (Hon); 2. Mamkq Bervoets O

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