Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

points, a score he could have more than doubled had it not been for his crashes. The opening moto of the campaign was a scorcher. Despite being victorious in his and Team Rinaldi' very first SOOcc GP moto, puzar was convinced of one thing after the first moto. "Several riders will win motos this year," Puzar said, "but I was the stronge t in that one!" He was ninth on lap one after Smets had pushed rum out in a tum. The Italian moved relentlessly up the leaderboard to catch battling leaders Smets and Demaria. Both those riders had taken turns at the front, and each handed the lead to the other upon stalling the motor in tight turns. A for the home crowd, Demaria' performance sent them wild; as for the champion, his finish - he only accepted defeat for second place after he and Demaria had collided in the final turn - was beyond his wildest hopes. "Even last week, I was finished physically after 30 minu tes," Smets said, "and I never expected to be able to push so hard for so long so soon after my injury layoff." puzar knew why he had won. "My bike is so fast, and I have the best physical condition," Puzar said. "I have never trained so hard in my entire career.,r KTM was also'delighted with the GP debut of its four-stroke. Peter Johansson only lost a top- ix finish when he stalled the bike. "The hydraulic clutch had been damaged earlier on," he said. But Shayne King was a glorious fourth with a la t-Iap pass on Andrea Bartolini "That race proved we can race with them," King said. "I saw Andrea was tiring, and 1 was determined to pass rum. He blocked my line where [ intended to do it, so [ just went wide open over the next jump and we collided on landing, but I was in front!" Darryll King was way down in eighth. "I wheelied out of the gate," he said. "Then I spent the entire race adjusting the 'clutch." But he was better off than his fellow Husky rider Bernd Eckenbach. "I hurt my left shoulder on Tuesday," Eckenbach said. "Within a few laps I can't hold on anymore. I can't start race two." Parker had a typically outrageou race. He was 19th on the first lap but hot up through the field. "The 380 KTM can get out of the gate, because there were others 1 had to pas ," Parker said. "That start was down to me." He moved relentlessly through the until he hit ninth-placed Jochen Jasinski. "That guy wasn't having a great ride, but he sure knows how to block," said Parker, who ended up losing two places in the end. '1 made a big mistake." Demaria looked to be the certain winner of the second race as he pulled out to a healthy lead for half an .hour. "I had the correct tires mounted for this race," Demaria said. "The first moto, I had no grip after a few laps." But Puzar had other ideas. "[ didn't want to eat his dirt all race," Puzar aid. "I pushed again after half an hour and was on rum with three laps to pa~k go." . But there was no way past, even when a backmarker hampered Demaria badly halfway around the last lap and the two leaders raced side by side along the top straight. Bartolini was third after letting the front two go after 15 minutes. ' "But they were hold ing me up until then, so I know now I have the speed again," said the Italian, who broke a femur la t August. "Alll must do now is find the endurance." Smets settled into a secure fourth early in the moto. Rob Herring lost sixth when the foam filling came out of his front tire and hooked him off the bike, while Spaniard Francisco Garcia Vico tarted making enemies early in the season with direct hits on Chris Burnham and Darryll King. Shayne King had to come from 23rd this time. "Smets wobbled 30 yards out of the gate and came across me," Shayne said. Parker was again on a mission, coming from 15th this time, but be had to do everything twice after a crash. "The front wheel washed out the first time I got to 1Oth," Parker said. CIII. Spanish SOOcc MX GP Castineau-de-Levis, France Results: April i 1, 1999 (Round 1 of 13) MOT(}l: 1. Alessandro Puzar (Yam); 2. Yves Demaria (Hus); 3. Joel Smets (Hbg); 4. Shayne King (KTM); 5. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 6. Jocke Karlsson Brieflv... Action Group. the promoters of the World 250cc Motocross Championships and World Supercross Championships, will run only triple-class Grands Prix by the year 2002. According to AGI president Giuseppe Luongo. the motocross will soon attract more people and more sponsors. "We will try and run triple Grands Prix where all three 125. 250 and 500cc classes will run on the same day: Luongo said. "My dream is to see all three classes on the same day. and for televiSion and sponsors. it will be very interesting. We will run three tripleheaders in 2000. and it is without doubt the future of World motocross.' The Action Group, which has made the World Championships much more professional. has added live television to the series and also signed up many of the top American riders for the end-of-season World Supercross .Championships. Four-time World Motocross' Cha'mpion Stefan Everts was at Valkenswaard to sign autographs and to hold a press conference about his injury. it seems Everts will possibly return to the GP scene'sometime in August. . Yamaha fac'tory rider Nlickael .Nlaschio. 'who finished third overall in the Greek GP' two weeks ago. ,failed to qualify for the . Dutch Grand Prix after crashing in qualification and sustaining a severe concussion. (Hon); 7. Francisco Garcia Vico (Yam); 8. Darryll King (Hus)i 9. Jochen Jasinski (Hon); 10. Rob Herring (Hon); 11. Chris Bumham (Hon); 12. Trampas Parker (KTM); 13. Miska Aaltonen (Yam); 14. Kent Asplund (Yam); 15. Erwin Machtlinger (Hon). MOTO 2: t. Yves Demaria (Hus); 2. Alessandro puzar (Yam); 3. Joel Smets (Hbg); 4. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 5. Shayne !Gng (KTM); 6. jocke Kadsson (l:I0n); 7. FrOlncisco Carcia Vico (Yam); 8. DarryU King (Hus); 9. Shayne King (KTM); 10. Trampas Parker (KTM); 11. Miska Aaltonen (Yam); 12. Willie Van Wf."SScl (Hus); 13. Avo Leak (KTM); 14. Thierry Bethys (Hon); 15. Kenl Asplund (Yam). O/A: 1. Yves Demaria (Hus); 2. Alessandro Puzar (Yam); 3. Joel Smets (Hbg); 4. Andrea B.utolini (Yam); 5. Shayne -King (KTM); 6, Jocke Karlsson (Hon); 7. Frnncisco Carcia Vico (Yam); 8. Darryll King (Hus); 9. Peter Johansson (KTM); 10. Trampas Parker (KTM). WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 500« GRAND PRIX MOTOCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Af'er 1 of 13 rounds): 1. (TLE) Yves Demaria (1 paddock have full·time press agents. The Winfield Kawasaki and Suzuki teams have British photographer Ray Archer doing their press work. while the ~&M Honda teams have signed Belgian journalist Stefan Geukens as their press agent. The tobacco companies (L&M and Winfield) have pulled out all the stops to give motocross a bigger name. With the tobacco laws the way they are these days. the two top teams. however. sometimes can't show their logos. Countries such as Belgium. Holland and France will not allow the tobacco companies to advertise, forcing the Winfield team to use the name "Wlnteam' as their logo In those countries. Ryan Hughes was a little unlucky: His American camper van was broken into while on the boat to Europe. Several items were stolen. including a television and a microwave. Hughes will travel through Europe in the camper with his wife and son. Georges Jobs was back on the GP trail in France. but the five-. time World Champion; now 38, had no illusions about winning. 'I'm just racing. for fun and will race when I feel like it. ".Jobe said. "The only series I will contest is the Supermolard." After snatching the final qualifying place on the CR250/500 Honda he rides for Team Cinti. Jobe admitted. '1 have a special motor which I rode in the championship last week, but I couldn't hold on to it and I am riding with a' standard engine here." He was lappe~ in both <}'1otos. The two-stroke/four·strok·e split was exactly 50/50 after qualification, with 20 four-strokes - nine Yamahas. six Huskys. three Husabergs and two KTMs' - qualified. Grand .Prix motocross is without doubt experiencing another : surge. in popUlarity: Not only is live television coverage' now a . There were' only two Kings in France; Darryll a~d ShaYne. major factor in the GP scene, tbe two top teams in the Grand Prix Young.est brother Damien has only' been riding again for.two Pit Beirer won the first moto but lost the overall to Bervoets. Belrer ened up second in France with a 1-2. win)/ Alessandro Puzar (37); 3, Joel Smets (28); 4. Andrea Bartolini (26); 5. Shayne King (20); 6. locke Kmlsson (20); 7. Francisco Garcia Vico (8); 8. DarryU King (16); 9. Peter Johansson (11); 10. Trampas I)arker (10); 11. Miska Aaltonen (8); '12. Joch 'n Jasinski (7); 13. Rob f-lerring (6); 14. Chris Bumham (5); 15. Willie Van Wessel (4); 16. Avo Leok (3); 17. Kent Asplund (3); 18. Thierry Bethys (2); 19. Erwin Mnchtlinger (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Osuna, Spain, April 18 • Round 3 - Schwanenstadt, Austria, May 2 weeks after shattering bones in his right foot in December: he hopes to race In May. Maddii Husqvama teammates Bernd Eckenbach and Yves Demaria had new frames delivered the day before the French GP. They have the same geometry - with the steeper fork angle as the experimental frames perfected in early-season testing. Darryll King has dispensed with the titanium exhaust. "Steel pipes don't run so hot. so the power is less aggressive.' he said. The factory four·stroke KTMs now have larger radiators. four gears instead of SIX. with closer ratios. and a new oil·filter system. They are still using the Husaberg head but with KTM rocker erms and cams. The bike should be lOO-percent KTM within three ~ weeks. RWJ has improved the coolant circulation on its CR2S0/S00 hybrid by using a curved radiator, an.d the better of two variations also turns the radiator on its side. with the coolant honeycomb running horizontaily.instead of vertiCAlly. The 380 KTM of Trampas Parker featured new cases and a "flower bloom" front disc, both intended for the 2000 production bike. 'Parker will race this year with number 11;. 'I-wanted a ~even on my plate. I won the 125cc World title with 77. and the 250 with seven.' Bader Nlanneh gol a ridefrom rese",e on his VZ4ooF. "I'm noi quite ready again yet,' Manneh said. "I broke my knee at the Geneva SX In December. and that was one reason to switch classes. The' 500 season has started later than the others.' Manneh was 30th .in both motos.· .

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