Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 3: Valkenswaard MX Park FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MX SERIES "I was really enjoying myself/' Hughes said. "Only problem was, I'm used to hard tracks, and I was standing up and leaning forward and the bike was going everywhere. In the end, though, I was leaning back more, and that worked okay." Vuillemin, who had started much better than he had in the first moto, was fighting with the sandy track, and while holding a solid fifth place he again crashed, ending his day. "I came over a jump and got sideways," Vuillemin said. "I landed really hard and hurt my chest, legs and face. It was a big crash." Up front, Bervoets was miles in front, with Beirer second and Bolley third. Van Rees was now tiring again, and, with only three laps remaining, Hughes squeezed by for' fourth place. Bolley also made a late-race charge to pass Beirer on lap 15. Bervoets, though, would cruise for the final few laps for the win, ahead of Bolley, Beirer, Hughes, Van Rees, Van Leeuwen and Coppins, who has for the third consecutive round beaten the fully factory-backed Suzuki riders. (Coppins is a support rider for S_uki.) Bervoets was more than happy with his result. "1 thought Pit (Beirer} would be fast," Bervoets said. "He has been practicing a lot in the sand, and he's veiY determined, but I have -grown up with this type of track. Pit is more a hard-track rider. I knew [ could win here, and that's the way it turned out." CIf By Geoff Meyer VALKENSWAARD, HOLLAND, APR. 11 arnic q Bervoets was considered damaged goods after last season's World 250cc Motocross Championships. The Belgian rider had finished in fourth place after having scored second place in the championship the past three years. It appeared that Bervoets had finally cracked and was finished as a championship contender, especially. when Suzuki - the team for which he had raced for several years - finally gave up on him. In search of greener pastures, Bervoets ended up on the Jan De Groot Kawasaki team and, so far, the newer pastures have indeed been greener. He just won the Dutch GP and is right in the middle of the series championship points chase. Valkenswaard has long been a track suited only for the sand masters. Stefan Everts and Bervoets are without question'the best in the Valkenswaard powder, and with Everts out due to his knee injury, Bervoets was suddenly the favorite for the Dutch Grand Prix. "I can ride sand," Bervoets said. "I won here in 1997, and I see no reason why r cannot win again this year." When the riders arrived at the hardpacked sand of Valkenswaard on Saturday morning for timed qualification, most seemed happy with the track layout. Even though Valkenswaard is a sand track, it was not as difficult for the nonsand specialists this year. In qualification, it wa still the two best sand riders in Europe - Bervoets and Dutch rider Leon Geisbers - who led the way. Bervoets stopped the clocks with a 2:13.382, and Geisbers with 2:13.833. Further back was Remy Van Rees, another rider from Holland, with a time of 2:14.486. Pit Beirer finished with 2:14.508 for fourth place, and fifth went to Finland's Marko K9valainen with a time of 2:14.582. Ryan Hughes, the only American in the 1999 series, turned in a time of 2:17.367 for 15th place. He knew the sand would be tough. "I never ride sand," Hughes said. 'Tm changing my lines on every comer. It's not easy. But I'm having fun leam- M re ~ c( 34 ing." When Sunday arrived, the overcast skies had many wondering if they would see another rain-affected Grand Prix. As it ttuned out, the rain stayed away all day, leaving the course in rather good condition. As the riders blasted out of the long starting straight into the first corner for the opening moto, England's Mark Jones surprised everyone as he headed the roaring field into the first lap. Behind Jones came another British rider, Paul Cooper, .followed by Holland's Van Rees. Jones, who was drafted into the L&M Honda factory team to replace the injured Stefan Everts, held his spot for two laps before Van Rees moved into the lead. Meanwhile, Bervoets had climbed into third place and was giving Jones serious pressure. Further back chased Beirer, Oscar Vromans, Josh Coppins, Cristian Stevanini, Alessandro Belometti and Rudy Van Leeuwen. Valkenswaard Motocross Park Valkenswaard, Holland Results: April 11, 1999 (Round 3 of 16) MOTO 1: 1. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 2. Remy Van Rees (Kaw); 3. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 4. Leon Geisbers (Suz); 5. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 6. Josh Coppins (Suz); 7. Peter Iven O

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