Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128075
Motocross By Geoff Meyer ARSAGOSEr RIO, ITALY, SErf. 19 n fro nt o f 60,000 Italian spectators, fou r-time World Motocross Cha mp ion Stefan Evert s came back from the disappo intment of losing th e United States Grand Prix a week earlier by taking out the UFO Fastcross wi n in northern Italy. Everts was still comi ng to terms wit h the fa ct th at h e did no t b eat Ke v in Win d ha m a t th e U.S . G P , so w it h a strong field at the Fastcross, Everts had so mething to prov e. "I wa n ted so mu ch to win in America," Everts said. "When I think abou t it, this event might no t have th e im portance of the Ll.S, GP, bu t it was tough to wi n." The Arsago Seprio trac k favo red the American riders with its ma ny jumps and technical turns, so it is not surprising that of the past 15 wi nners, 11 have been Ameri cans. The field in Ital y was fu ll o f p o s s ibl e winn ers : Jere my McGrath marked hi s return to su p ercro ss action, and American Champion Greg Albertyn , tw o-time World Ch am pi on Seba stien Tortell i, a nd Am erican Motocross d es Nations team rider Mike LaRocco were on hand . Unlike at th e U.S . GP, the field did not d rop off there. Wor ld 125cc Mo tocross C ham p Alessio Chiodi, World 250cc Mo tocross Cham pion Frede ric Belley, new Pro-Circuit sig nee Tallon Vohland, Larry Wa rd, Jim my Button, Mic ka e l Pic hon, Jeff en en en ~ cD G; ..c o U o 46 C ircuit A rsago Seprio Emig and Ryan Hug hes were a lso in Italy for the Fastcross. Pr ac tice w as held on Sa tu rday a nd with heavy rain coming down the riders just cru ised around the muddy track, nobod y showing anythin g just yet. It was the thr ee Suzuki riders - Albertyn, Ward an d Pich on - wh o clock ed the qu ickest times . Everts ended the session in 14th place. With McGrath not eve n listed in the times for the first group and finishing in seventh place in the second gro up, all did no t seem okay with th e s ix-ti me America n Supercross Champion. "If th ey didn't tell me to go out I would not have," McGrat h said. "It was just a little dangerous to extend you rself on this track under these conditions." Everts , a mud lover, was also a little concerned about the weather. "You ride on the same track as everyone else," Everts said. "It's slippery out there, I will take my risks tomorrow ." Sun day morn ing came and light rain greeted the rid ers. Whil e the track was now a littl e better than Satu rday'S track, if the rain continue d it was su re to be ano ther Euro pean mud wrestle. The first heat of the day saw la Rocco lead home a Honda trio, as Vo h la n d gave awa y an early lead to finish second ahead of Bolley. Next came Button and Maschio, The second hea t was the best of the day wit h Wa rd ta ki n g th e w in from Albertyn , Hu gh es, Everts an d Tortelli. Pic ho n claimed th e la st hea t, lead in g home McGra th, Chiodi, Emig and Fabio Balducci. One o f the g rea t a ttribu tes of th e Fastcross race is the fact that the top rid ers are seen several tim es throughou t the day. Before the Semi-finals were ru n, one-o n-o ne races, called Tennis Matc hes, we re ru n. This tu rned ou t to have some major surprises, as firs t McGrat h was knocked ou t by Chiodi in the first round . Then (Above) Shortly after just losing out to the Americans at the Budds Creek U.S. GP, Belg ian Stef an Everts go t so me revenge with a win at Fastc ross, an imp ortant off-seaso n Italian race. (l eft) Making his first appearan ce since being dropped by Kawasak i a few weeks ago, Jeff Emig rode a Yamaha to ninth place. larry Ward (not pictured) was the top American , in second. (Right) After sitting out the bulk of the AMA outdo or ser ies, Jeremy McGrath mad e his return at Fastcross. He struggled on the wet track, placing 12th in th e final. winning the final wa s French Yamaha rider Micka el Maschio, wh o won more due to h is g rea t s tarts tha n anything else. In victory, Maschio first beat World 250cc champ Bel ley , fo llowed by a d ru mmi ng of Emig. Masch io follow ed up 6y crossing the finis h line ahead of American outdoor champ Alberty n in the fina l.