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/128097
FIM World Championship 125/25D/50Dcc MX Series Round 1 : EI Circuito De Bellpuig FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 125 MX SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After I of 15 round.): 1. EI Circuit de Bellpuia Bellpuia. Spain Results: March 18, 2001 (Round 1 of 151 Jamie Dobb (25/1 wins): 2. Thomas Traversini (20); 3. Aless;o Ch;odi (16); 4. Steve Ramon (13); 5. Kenneth Gundersen (11); 6. Luigi Seguy (10): 7. 125 GP: I. Jamie Dobb (KTM): 2. Thomas Alex Belometli (9); 8. Alex Puzar (8); 9. Scott Sheak Traversini (KTM); 3. Alessio Chiodi (Yam): 4. Steve Ramon (Kaw); 5. Kenneth Gundersen (KTM); 6. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 7. Alex Belometti (Yam); 8. Alex Puzar (Kew); 9. Scott Sheak (Han); 10. Christian Stevanini (Hus): 11. Serge GUidetty (Hus); 12. Sven Breugelmans (Yam); 13. Stephen Sword (Hus): 14. Petri Jarvela (Han); 15. Nicoilis Charlier (KTM). 250 GP: 1. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 2. Pit Seirer (Yam); 3. Frederic Solley (Han); 4. Claudio Federici (7); 10. Christian Stevanini (6); 11. Serge Guidetty (5): 12. $ven Breugelmans (4); 13. Stephen Sword (3); 14. Petri Jarvela (2); IS. N;coIas Chart;er (I). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250 MX SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 15 round.): 1. Mickael Pichon (25/1 win); 2. Pit Beirer (20); 3. Frederic Bolley (16): 4. Claud., Federid (13); S. Paul Cooper 11); 6. Josh Coppins (10); 7. Gordon Crockard (9); 8. Chad Reed (8); 9. Juss;·Peka (Yam); S. Poul Cooper (Yam); 6. Josh COPP;ns (Suz); 7. Gordon Crockarel (Hon); 8. Chad Reed (Ka",); 9. Vehvil8inen (7); 10. Danny Theybers (6); 11. Johnny Aubert (5); 12. M8rko Kovalainen (4); 13. Jiri Cepell'Jc (3); 14, Massimo Bartolini (2); 15. Justin Morris (I). Jussi-Pekka Vehvilainen (Han); 10. Danny Theybers (KTM) ; II. Johnny Aubert (Yam); 12. Marko Kovaillinen (Yllm); 13. Jiri Cepelac (Yam): 14. Massimo Bartolini (KllW): 15. Justin Morris (Yam) 500 GP: 1. StefllO Everts (Yam); 2. Andree FtM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 500cc MX SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 15 round.): I. Stefeo Everts (25/1 win); 2. Andrea Bartolini (20); 3. Bartolini (Husky); 3. Joel Smets (KTM); 4. Marn;cq Joel Smets (16); 4. Mamicq Bervoets (13); S. Cedric Bervoets (Yam); 5. Cedric Melotte (Vor): 6. Frllncisco Garcill (KTM); 7. Fabrizio Dini (Yam); 8. Johnny Undhe (Hus); 9. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 10. Gert Jon Van Doom (Vor): 11. WnUe Van Wessels (Hbg); 12. Mats Nilsson (Hbg): 13. Trampas Parker (Yam); 14. Rupert Wlllkner (KTM); 15. Johan Boonen Melotte (11); 6. Francisco Vico Garcia (10); 7. Fabrizio Dini (9); 8. Johnny Undhe (8); 9. Andrew McForlane (7); 10. Gert-Jan Von Doorn (6); 11. Willie Van Wessel (5); 12. Mats Nilsson (4); 13. Trampas Parker (3); 14. Rupert WllIlkner (2); 15. Johan Boonen (1). (KTM). (Left) Husqvama's Andrea Bartolini finished second In the 500cc class. (Above) America's topfinishing rider in Spain was Scott Sheak, who took ninth In the 125cc class. (Right) Skittles Yamaha's Pit Belrer took runner-up honors In the 250cc class. BRIEFLY••• It is beginning to look as though the cancelled Italian Grand Prix will not be replaced, leaving the series w;th 14 rounds ;nstead of 15. The 2002 World Motocross Championsh;ps will aga;n see major changes. The 250 and 500cc classes will be joined as one ·Open" class, w;th the 125cc class fOCUSing on younger rid· ers. Dorna, the promoters of the World Motocross Championship Series. has yet to decide how many motos will be held, so the GP series could go back to a two-moto format. Not all of the motorcycle manufacturers were happy with the new rule changes for the 2002 World Motocross Championship Series. While many feel the Open class will be a good thing for the sport, some felt they should have been notified first. Husqvar. na spokesman Martino Bianc!. said, "We have a good 250cc motocross b;ke. We also have good four· strokes, but for us the change has not been done at a correct time. The people at Doma have to understand that it is the manufacturers and the riders who are running the machines and putting in money for this series. We knew nothing about the changes unt;1 the press had ;nformed us, that is not a professional way to work. We will make a decision this week about the s;tuation. " 10 MARCH 28, 2001 • cue • e n e _ The one-moto fonnat for each class was very entertaining at Spain. and despite all the negative comments from riders, press and team managers, the first GP of the 2001 season was a success. Jamie Dobb enjoyed his first outing with the new system. "It's better for the public. - Dobb said. -They know who won. last year I won the overall without even winning a moto; I doubt many knew who had won. ThiS way the winner of the moto is the winner of the GP. easy to follow and the spectators gel to see aJlthe top riders in action ... Television coverage for the 2001 World Motocross Champi. onship Series has now been organIZed and nearly all the rounds of the series will run live on national teievislon. Eurosport will also run some delayed action from the GPs. Chesterfield returned to motocross in Bellpuig. The cigarette company now sponsors the Rinaldi Yamaha Team. The last time Chesterfield backed a motocross team was in the early 1990s, when Americans Donny Schmit. Bobby Moore and Holland's Pedro Tragterwere World Champions. Stefan Everts now has 44 GP overall wins to his credit and is now just six GP victories away from breaking the all-time GP win record heid by Joel Robert. Everts' win ;n Spain was h;s first since September of 1999 in Germany. s Helmet cameras were introduced at the Span;sh Grand Prix. Pit Belrer and Mamlcq Bervoets had the cameras attached to their helmets. The cameras were not used often throughout the race, but they were used at special moments, such as when Smets passed Bervoets for third. The television crews also had the over·the-track cameras, similar to what are used In the Ameri· can Supercross races. Peter .Johansson failed to qualify for the Spanish GP. Injured two weeks prior to the GP. the Swedish rider tried to ride on Fri· day. yet decided to return for the Dutch GP In Valkensvaard in two weeks. A whoops section was added to the track in Spain. The FIM banned the use of American-style whoops on GP tracks three years ago, but they are back. Several of the top Europeans crashed in the section, including Joel Smets and Claudio Federici. The Spa track in Belgium will also run a large whoops section. Many riders were injured at the first GP In Spain. Amer;can .Jeff Dement crashed over a jump. compressing two vertebrae in his back. The Yamaha rider will remain in a Spanish hospital for lhree days where he must rema;n on his back. Sweden's .Jocke Karlsson injured his right knee: the Swede has internal bleed;ng In the knee but should return to act;on ;n two weeks. French Kawasaki rider Mickael Maschlo crashed in the 250cc moto and had the handlebars ernbedded into his stomach.