Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

CfiIl (Jfl)GA C\XIu t cD enough to be ready to race. As for Stefan, he is a very talented rider and his speed in training has been very good." fverts, who was disappointed with his third place, said he was happy to be back. Everts held second place in the first moto, only to see Smets pass him with a few comers remaining. "1 got really tired in the arms," Everts said. "1 could hardly hang on in the first moto, then in the second race I took it easier and had a nice time." Defending AMA/FMF National Enduro Champion Michael Lafferty (KTM) kicked off the 2001 series with an overall win in Wickenburg, Arizona, on February 11. Russell Pearson (Yam) was second overall, one day after winning the opening Silver State Series round, and Randy Hawkins (Yam) was third overall on the new WR250F four-stroke. Ty Davis (Yam) was fourth ahead of Destry Abbott (Kaw). B o o 8 Ty Davis and Russell Pearson (Yam) held off a last-minute charge by Destry Abbott and Brian Brown (Kaw) to win the Kawasaki Team Green Laughlin U.S. Hare Scrambles Championship outside of Laughlin, Nevada, on February 10. It was the first round in Best in the Desert's Silver State Series. Third overall went to Kurt Caselli and David Pearson (Yam); Shane Esposito and Andy Grider (Kaw) took fourth. Luca Trussardi and Gordon Ward CTM) were the first Vet Pro team at fifth overall. In a rather stunning move, SFX Motor Sports CEO Gary Becker is stepping down from his position and will either move to another position within the SFX group or will walk away completely. " Unfortunately, some internal situations beyond my control have forced me to look in a different direction," Becker said on Friday, February 9 from his office in Houston, Texas. "It's been a very difficult six months for me. There are a lot of things that have gone on. Some things are going in a direction that I didn't want thf:lm to go in - it's not the direction that I wanted to take things. I couldn't keep my word on some issues and I'm not going to db that." Becker is likely to become the CEO of SFX Sports Events, a company within SFX that promotes golf and tennis tournaments, among other things. Becker has been involved in the promotions business for 23 years with his company, PACE Motor Sports, which was bought out by SFX. "Six weeks ago, the sports business changed internally," Becker said. "They've asked me to take a look at it." Inarguably, Becker and his company are responsible for taking Supercross racing to a new level that sees the series sell out stadiums across the country on a regular basis. In addition, thanks to the company's influence and drive, Supercross is now a mainstream sport. "1' m extremely proud of Supercross and the staff that produces it." Becker said. "I'm also proud of how the industry opened their arms to me five ~o o Four-time World 500cc Motocross Champion Joel Smets (KTM) won the first race of this year's European MX season at the Koersel International Motocross in Belgium, February 11. Smets went 2-1 taking the overall ahead of Yamaha-mounted Marnicq Bervoets, who went 1-2. Third place went to fourtime World Motocross Champion Stefan Everts. Everts was making his first appearance on the Rinaldi Yamaha. For Smets, it was a perfect start to the season and a start he expected not to make, according to Cycle News contributor Geoff Meyer. "I'm really surprised," Smets said. "1 have not spent that much time on the bike due to my operation last year. I was not thinking about winning here at all, just trying to get some time on the bike." Bervoets, who many expected to win in Koersel, was not too disappointed and never expected Smets and Everts to be easy pickings. "Joel is fit," Bervoets said. "He's been back long o o o o o o @&J\!l@ ~@ODG!JO@ 00 O O O O O O O O O O O o fJ @tfJ&D~@@ fJ Multi-time NHRA Pro Stock.Bike Champion Dave Schultz died Saturday, February 10, after a six-month battle with colon cancer. He was 52. Schultz won a recorQ six NHRA Pro Stock Bike titles (1987·88, '91, '93-94, '96) anQ score

• Cover