said. '1 lost a place to Vuillemin, then to
Leon Geisbers. I tried to keep it going and
was riding okay, but this track was not
good. After the first moto, I wanted to do
whatever I could to get some points."
With laps running out, Bervoets
slowed down his pace, and Beirer and
Vuillemin climbed a little closer. Beirer
suddenly had the overall in his sights.
'1 could see [ was catching Marnicq,"
Beirer said. "Time was running out, and I
didn't expect to get him. Then, with a little over a lap to go, I slipped on a tight
right-hander and crashed. Vuillemin got
by and I had to get going before Geisbers
arrived."
While Beirer would let Vuillemin
through, the second-moto outcome
failed to stop the Winfield Kawasaki.riders, as Bervoets went on to take the second-moto victory and the overall. Beirer's third place let him keep second
overall, with Vuillemin taking third
overall.
"We have done very well," Bervoets
said. "Our team is in perfect shape. After
the Valkenswaard win last week and now
this, I feel we are in the driver's seat."
Beirer, some three points behind
Bervoets for the series lead, was also
happy with the result.
"In the end, the fall meant nothing,"
Beirer said. "First and second overall and
also in the champion hip points - we are
going all the way. [I's a great day for Jan
(De Groot), also - he has worked very
hard for this win."
Vuillemin was happy to get back on
track after failing to score any points in
Valkenswaard.
"I wanted a lot of points from this
GP," Vuillemin said. "My aim is to finish
top three by the end of the year, then
head to America to race. I could ha ve
done better had it not been for the firstturn problem in the opening moto, but a
podium finish is always good for me. We
can go to the South American rounds a
little confident."
Frederic Bolley, who had led the series
going into the French GP, was not smiling. A crash in the second moto left him
with no points and saw him lose the
seri'es points lead.
'1t was a bad day," Bolley said. "First
moto, I got only fifth place; then, in the
second moto, I crashed and DNFed after
only two laps. II's been a tough day. ] usually can score many points in my home
GP.Maybe today I tried too hard."
CIII
MotcH:lub d'Ernee
Ernee, France
Results: April 18, 1999 (Round 4 of 16)
MOTO 1: 1. Michael Maschio (Yam); 2. Pit Beirer
(Kaw); 3. Mamicq Bervoets O<.'w); 4. If.lvid Vuillemin
(Yam);
5. Frederic Boll")' (Hon); 6. Leon Gcisben; (Suz); 7.
Nicolas Ch; 2. Yves Demaria
(Hus); 3, Joel Smets (HbgJ; 4, Peler Johansson
(KTM); 5.
Andrea B
