Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 8: Crossodrome FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc MX SERIES tried to tell the officials to work on the corners, make some more lines - they don't listen." Elsewhere, Bolley was on fire, moving from 20th place on lap one to seventh place on lap 11. But he would go no further. Vuillemin, showing no signs of the shoulder injury he suffered a week earlier in a French Championship round, never looked back. Even with his front brake overheating, he still went on to win by 12 seconds over Beirer, Belometti, Dugmore and Hughes. "My brakes started overheating with a few laps to go," Vuillernin said, "(but) it did not cause too much problem. I had such a big lead, I did not have to go hard on the downhills." Hughes' fatigue, due to a bout of the flu, had ruined his second-moto charge. "I had the flu last week and took some stuff for it," Hughes said. "Near the end, I was very weak. Third overall is what I wanted, though. I've made some points on Bolley and Bervoets, and that's important for the championship." Beirer was the happy man, though, as he now leads the championship, and' with his confidence at a season high, it is looking very likely he wiu be the World Champion come September. "I have just started," Beirer said. "I felt I am getting better. On this track, I rode consistent, finished with a win, and lead the points table. I can't complain about that." t:If By Geoff Meyer MAGGIORA, ITALY, JUNE. 13 1 have never led the WOrld 250cc Motocross Championships - never in my career," a very happy Pit Beirer said after sweeping two firstplace moto wins under the carpet to win his first overall victory of the year. And in doing so, he is now the man atop the series points standings. The Winfield Kawasaki rider, who has finished second three times in this year's series, is now up 231 points and leads his fellow Kawasaki teammate Marnicq Bervoets by five points. The Italian 250cc Grand Prix, which was played out on the undulating Maggiora track, got off on the right foot for American Ryan Hughes. Saturday's qualification was - for just about the first time this year - a good one for Hughes, as he qualified in third place behind Beirer and Bervoets. So now it was time for the Californian to impress, having earned a prime position on the start gate. However, Hughes has not gated up front in a long time, and, on the oneline Maggiora track, getting a good, clean start is critical. '1 don't usually go any good in qualifying," Hughes said. "Here, it went okay. I like this track, although they could do something with the corners. It will be just one line tomorrow. You know, I've watched the Motocross des Nations video (when the U.s. team won on this very track in 1986) about 1000 times, bu t I guess that was a long time ago. Still, it gave me some motivation (there are) a lot of jump~, and everyone knows Americans can jump." Going into Sunday's first moto, many looked at Hughes as the early favorite, as he had looked flashy on Saturday and his time proved he indeed liked the track.'(Not to mention that he has a huge Italian following, since he now lives in Italy this year.) It all meant nothing, though, as Hughes again got off to a terrible start. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong," Hughes said. "Maybe I'm trying too hard. I also got caught up with (Frederic) Bolley going into the first corner - that puJ me back in about 10th place." Up front, it was French rider Mickael Maschio who led, followed by Beirer, 'Brian Jorgensen, Bervoets, Philippe Dupasquier, David Vuillemin, Mark Jones, Josh Coppins, Frederic Vialle and Hughes. Maschio's lead was short-lived, as Beirer pushed past on the second la p. Then the French rider found himself in even more trouble when he became entangled in a banner. Maschio looked like he was gift-wrapped, as he tried to remove the banner, which had not only wrapped around his front and back wheel but also his neck. "I think Beirer must have hit it and when I arrived at a jump, the banner was across the track," Maschio said. "I tried to get it out, but r could not." Vuillemin was caught in the accident, §! too, hitting his fellow French rider and ~ .damaging his own bike. . '1 hit Maschio and he bent my front brake," Vuillernin said. "From then on, I did not have very good front brakes. On the downhills, it was mOre difficult than it should've been, but that's racing, 19uess." 38 7: Crossodrome Maggiora, Italy Results: June 13, 1999 (Round 8 of 16) Hughes moved into sixth place on lap four and was soon behind the struggling Vuillemin. "I saw Vuillemin up ahead," Hughes said. "I knew I had the endurance to catch the guys up front. When I got to Vuillemin, he just moved over." Vuillemin, .as i.t turned out, was in even more trouble, as his bike began misfiring. "I did not know what it was," VuiHemin said. "1 would get into the corners and the bike would just rev really hard.l had to let Hughes through." Jorgensen, who had been in third place, was soon in big trouble, too, as he lost control of his machine on one of the treacherous downhills. Hughes, who was just behind Jorgensen, saw the crash unfold. "Man, he went down hard," Hughes said. "He got out of shape and just crashed into the ground. I thought he would never get up." Jorgensen remembered nothing of the crash. "1 just hurt all over," Jorgensen said. "I don't remember a thing. All I know is, I have pain all over my body." With Jorgensen out of the way and Vuillemin losing ground at an alarming rate, Hughes cruised to a consistent third place. Beirer was a clea I' winner over Bervoets, the two Kawasaki pilots taking their qualification form into the race. Beirer was more than happy with his result. "I knew I was the fastest today," Beirer said. "When I'm getting to the front, I just have myself to worry about. Maschio got by me early; then I got him back again quickly. From there it was easy." The second moto saw another Yamaha rider giving Beirer a hard time. Vuillemin was out of the start like a Pit Beirer took over the World Championship 250cc points lead at round eight in Italy by posting a 1"2 moto tally for the overall. rocket, pushing past the first corner in front of Beirer, Belometti, Colin Dugmore, Vialle, Jones, Christian Stevanini, Pierrick Paget, Dupasquier and Maschio, and then Hughes, who once again suffered a bad start in 11th place. Frederic Bolley, who had crashed in the first comer of the first moto, made a repeat performance. With an open track, Vuillemin looked brilliant. He built up a quick lead ·over Beirer, while Hughes moved up but was finding it a tough task. By lap five he was in seventh place, behind Maschio. "It was so hard to get by riders," Hughes said. "There was just one line. I Briefl MOTO 1: 1. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 2. Mamicq Bervocts (Kaw); 3: Ryan Hughes (Hon); 4. David Vuillemin (Yam); S. Josh Coppins (So2); 6. Philippe Dupasqwer (Hon); 7. Mark Jones (Hon); 8. Alessandro Belometti (Yam); 9. Pierrick Paget (Hon); 10. AJessandro Zanni (Hon); 11. Remy Van Rces (Kaw); 12. Marko Kovalainen (Hon); 13. Frederic ViaJJe (KTM); 14. Cordon Crockard (}-Ion); 15. Jussi-Pekka Vehvilainen (Hon). MOTO 2: 1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 3. Alessandro Belometti (Ynm); 4. Collin Dugmore (Suz); 5. Ryan Hughes (Hon); 6. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 7. Frederic Bolley (Hon); 8. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 9. Mark jones (Hon); 10. Cristian Stevanini (Kaw); 11. Philippe Dupasquier (Hon); 12. Marcel Van Drunen (Yam); 13. Cordon Crockard (Hon); 14. Pierrick Paget (Han); '15. Serge Cuidetty (KTM). O/A: 1. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 2. bavid VuilJemin (Yam); 3. Ryan Hughes (Hon); 4. Marnicq Bervoets (Kaw); 5. Alessandro Belometti (Yam); 6. M",rk jones (Han); 7. Philippe Dupasquier (Hon); 8. Collin Dugmore (Suz); 9. josh Coppins (Suz); 10. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 11. Fred,eric Bolley (Han); 12. Picrrick Paget (Han); 13. Cristian Stevanini (Kaw); 14. Alessandro Zanni (Hon); 15. Cordon Crockard (Han), FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250« MX SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 8 of 16 rounds): 1. Pit Beirer (231/1 win); 2. Marnicq Bervoets (226/3); 3. Frederic BoUey (188/2); 4. Ryan Hughes (184); 5. David VuiIlemin on /1); 6. josh Coppins (133); 7. Mickael Maschio (121); 8. Remy Van Rees (113/1); 9. Leon GeisbeJ> (113); 10. Alessandro Belometti (67); 11. Paw Cooper (65); 12. Peter Iven (SO); 13. Gordon Crockard (48); 14. Marko Kovalainen (47); 15. Brian jorgensen (41)). Upcoming Rounds: Round 9 - SI. Jean d'Angely, France, June 20 Round to - Kester, Belgium, June 27 Stefan' Everts will also raCe the Los Angeles. • •• Stefan Everts says he is looking forward to California. round of the World Supercross Series on' Nove'mber 20. The Honda factory rider is Keen to get some practice in supercross. with the idea of at least finishing with some good results in the World' Series. "I will do the complete s'!ries this year." Everts said. . "That means America. I look forward to that the U.S. round of the World Championship 250cc MX Series at 'Budds Creek on September 12. The Belgian champ has ·raced several motos there. and is very much hopeful of a win. race. "Sure. thaI's the one I want. - Everts said. Painter Troy Lee was in Italy for the GP and it "(Sebastien) Tortelli will be there and also appears he will be doing some special work for . some American riders. It will be a nice race to . several of the GP riders. Lee was seen talking to take home:" . Everts aod Ryan Hughes about new paint jobs. It looks likely that David Vuillemin may Also in .Italy was ESPN commentator Davey change his mind about racing in Arne'ica in . Coombs: Coombs, a big fan of Grand P.rix 2000. It is rumored that Yamaha France has motocross. still did television interviews with offered Vuiliemin a rather large amount of some of the riders while enjoying his "vacamoney to stay in Europe. "I am not sure where tion" in Europe. ~ I needed a holiday from the I will. raCe· now." Vuillemin said. "A few weeks Nationais and I just wanted·lo see this race ago I thought America. but now I do not really track ever since the United States team won have a good idea what I will do. I think the des Nations here il> 1986," Coombs said. Europe. " "I've had a great time here.'

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