Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

smart race. The track was also better for racing and, for the top riders, that's when we can ride to our full ability. " Yamaha's Alessandro Belometti finished in second place, while fellow Yamaha rider Alessio Chiodi took third. The 500cc riders had to go at it on another rough track. For Stefan Everts, however, it was the perfect opportunity to shine, taking the lead from Australian local Andrew McFarlane early and moving away to win, despite damaging his exhaust on one of the rock-hard Broadford jumps. "I felt good," Everts said. "The confidence is coming and I am starting to feel I'm making ground on [Joel] Smets' speed. Today I made a great step in turning the confidence around. Just like [Ricky] Carmichael is doing to [Jeremy] McGrath, I am doing to Smets, I will take his confidence and today was just one step in that direction." Joel Smets, the previous round winner, struggled with crashes, finishing out the day in fifth place and giving Everts a few more points to take to the bank. Everts now has 18 points on Smets after three rounds. Second place in the 500cc race in Australia was McFarlane, while Swedish rider Johnny Lindhe, on a Husqvarna, finished out the day in third. 12Scc The 125cc moto started with Dobb taking a quick lead, followed by another British rider Stephen Sword, German youngster Marco Dorsch, Italian Alessandro Belometti and Dutchman Erik Eggens. From the moment the KTM factory rider saw Australian Andrew McFarlane finished second In the 500cc GP. the front, Dobb was never headed, posting consistent lap times to move away from his rivals. "My lines were good," Dobb said. "I had no problems at all and could relax. This track was much better today, many lines and not as messy as during qualification. The others have to improve their speed. I showed again today that I will be the guy for this year, my confidence is that high at the moment." While Dobb had an easy time, it was not the same for his rivals. Fellow KTM rider Thomas Traversini DNFed with a broken front wheel, while Steve Ramon crashed hard, finishing in 10th place. Dutch GP winner Erik Eggens also failed to ~press, finishing in seventh place. While some of the major names in the 125cc class had trouble, it was again left up to former World Motocross Champion Alessio Chiodi and his fellow Italian team Yamaha rider Alessandro Belometti to take up a challenge set by Dobb. Belometti managed to hold off his more famous countryman, taking a solid second place, just two seconds ahead of Chiodi, who took third. "I have not had a podium for nearly two years," Belo'1letti said. "Today I was able to get some good lines, not take too many chances and control the pace from Chiodi. He came close to me near the end of the race, but I knew he was not going to pass me, my rhythm was good and passing was difficult near the end of the moto." Chiodi, coming back from a terrible 2000 season, is starting to look like the Chiodi of old. The small Italian was happy with another podium place. "Dobb is riding very well at the moment," Chiodi said. "I am starting to get a good setup on the bike and can be happy with a podium today. My start was not great and I had to get through some traffic. Today, I am happy with third place." Second place in the series going into the Australian GP was Team Kawasaki's Steve Ramon, but he had a tough day. As mentioned earlier, Ramon crashed right off the bat. "I was too slow [off the start] and started in the mid pack at the first turn," Ramon said. "I could see the riders up front, Dobb was pulling away from the other guys and I was right on the wheel of Chiodi. We worked our way through the pack and, by lap eight, I was into fifth and feeling confident. I knew that a podium finish was possible. I passed Chiodi and was into fourth position. Dorsch seemed to be tiring and I was setting him up when I hit a braking bump and the bike bounced out of control and I was thrown from my machine." Ramon lost seven positions in the crash and fll1ished out the race in 10th. American Scott Sheak finished in 14th place. Despite a great qualification time on Friday, the Honda rider again struggled when the race got into the late stages. "My preparation has not been good," Sheak said. "With the shorter qualification time, we don't get enough time to set the bikes up. For some riders it's a little easier, for me it's a problem. I am 100-percent fit and my aim is to still win some races. I started in around 15th place, got into 10th place, but near the end I lost some places. I stayed out there and I gave everything I had, so for that I am happy." American Scott Sheak started off well In Australia. He had the fastest qualifying time, but struggled In the 125cc GP, finishing 14th. yet an error by Beirer gave the lead to Pichon. "For the first time this year my bike was set up perfect," Beirer said. "I should have won today. The big mistake was that I tried to ride straight through the chicane and fell. I could not pick my bike up straight away and 12 riders got by me, then I crashed again. I'm so disappointed, I had a chance to take the victory." When Beirer crashed the first time, he nearly took Pichon with him. "I was following Pit Beirer when he fell," Pichon said. "Fortunately, I had enough ground between us to miss his bike when he fell." After that, Pichon cruised. "I was doing the same as my previous race in Holland, just watching what was going on in front, not letting the rider get away but just waiting until the time was right to make the pass," Pichon said. "I took over the lead, and I kept the pressure on to open up a big lead and told my mechanic to give me plenty of signals and times about what was going on behind." Beirer's misfortune gave Yamahamounted riders Claudio Federici and Yves Demaria the chance to get on the podium. Both riders showed great speed but, for Federici, it was a difficult time. "I crashed in practice on Friday," Federici said. "My face was cut and my confidence was gone. I did my best under the conditions. I am angry as I had great concentration in Spain and Holland. In those races I had problems with my bike, today, though, I was the problem." Demaria put his Skittles Yamaha into 10th place of the start and then found some good lines to finish the race in third. 2S0cc For Pichon it was a cake walk from the time German rider Pit Beirer crashed while leading. Beirer looked in good form as he led Pichon into the top section of the Broadford track, aual. n • _ S • APRIL 25, 2001 7

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