Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

FIM. Wor"'ld Championship Motocross Series Round 8: Circuit de la Citatlelle got a little nervous when Bervoets started coming to me. I suffered some arm pump early, then I looked for my timing and I found the better lines on the track." eN Circuit de la Citadelle Namur, Belgium Results: August S, 2001 [Round 9 at 141 Stefan Everts receives congratulations after crossing the finish line for his momentous achievement, Legendary racer Joel Robert, whose mart< Everts tied at Namur, was among those congratulating the Belgian. 125: 1. Jamie Dobb (KTM); 2. Steve Ramon (Kaw); 3. Alex Puzar (Hus); 4. Mark De Reuver (Yam): 5. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 6. Kenneth Gunde~en (KTM); 7. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 8. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 9. Marco Dorsch (KTM); 10. Julian Bill (KTM); 11. Alesslmdro Belometti (Yam); 12. Petrick Caps (Yam): 13. Kevin Strijbos (Yam); 14. Antoine Lettelier (KTM): 15. Phillipe Dupasquier (Kaw). WORLD C'SHIP 125cc MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 14 rounds): 1. Jamie Dobb (190/6 wins); 2. Steve Ramon (112); 3. Erik Eggens (101/1 win); 4. Luigi Seguy (84); 5. Kenneth Gundersen (82/2 wins); 6. Alessio Chiodi (77); 7. Alessandro Belometti (60); 8. Mark De Reuver (58); 9. Sven Breugelmans (56): 10. Stephen Sword (55); 11. Patrick Caps (53); 12. Brian Jorgensen (44); 13. Alex PUZllr (43): 14. Christian Stevanini (43); 15. Thomlls Traversini (42). 250: 1. Mickael Pichon (Su,): 2. Chad Reed (KllW); 3. Pit Beirer (Yllm): 4. ClllUdio Federici (Yam); 5. Josh Coppins (Suz); 6. Gordon Crockard (Han); 7. Frederic Bolley (Han); 8. Collin Dugmore (KTM); 9. Jussi Pekka Vehvilllinen (Han); 10. Marko Kovalainen (Yam): 11. Justin Morris (Hon): 12. Juha Salminen (KTM); 13. Espen Blikstad (Su,): 14. Joequim Rodrigues (Hon); 15. Dlln0Y Theybers (KTM). WORLD C'SHIP 250« MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 14 rounds): 1. Mickeel Pichon (215/7wins); 2. Gordon Crockard (132/2 wins); 3. Cleudio Federici (99); 4. Josh Coppins (94); 5. Chad Reed (93); 6. Pit Beirer (92): 7. Frederic Bolley (85); 8. Jussi Pekka Vehvileinen (59); 9. Yves Demario (54); 10. Danny Theybers (49); 11. Paul Cooper (43); 12. Marko Kovalainen (42); 13. Collin Dugmore (38); 14. Mickael Maschio (33); 15. Johnny Aubert (32). 500: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Mamicq Bervoets (Vam); 3. Joel Smels (KTM); 4. Vico Garcia (KTM): 5. Andrew McFarlane (Vern): 6. Erwin Machllinger (Hon); 7. Shayne King (KTM): 8. Avo Leak (KTM); 9. Chris Burnham (Hon); 10. James Noble (KTM); 11. Miska Aaltonen (Yam); 12. Fabrizio Dini (Vern); 13. Andrea Bertolini (Husky); 14. Damien King (KTM); 15. James Ma"h (Vam). WORLD C'SHIP 500cc MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 14 rounds): 1. Stefen Everts (215/7wins); 2. Joel Smets (173/2 wins); 3. Marnicq Bervoets (137); 4. Vico Garde (82); 5. Andrew McFarlane (68); 6. Johnny Lindhe (51); 7. Shayne King (49); 8. AvO-Leok (45); 9. Cedric Melotte (39); 10. Chris Burnham (37); 11. Joakim Karlsson (36); 12. Peter Johansson (35); 13. Johen Boonen (30); 14. Gert-Jan Van Doom (30); 15. Willie Van Wessels (28). Upcoming Rounds: Round 10 - Roggenburg, Switzer1and, August 12 Round 11 - Gaildorf, Germany, August 19 BREIFLY• •• With the Motocross des Nations scheduled to be run at Namur on September 30. many riders and teams looked at that track's GP as an opportunity to prepare for the event. For French 125cc rider Luigi Seguy, it was a chance to prove a point. Seguy has been penciled in to ride the 125cc machine for France at the des Nations. although Mickael Maschio is also on the 125cc list. Se9uy finished fourth. while Maschio failed to finish due to a crash. The French federation will not choose David Vuillemin or Stephane Roncada in the team. feeling their performances in recent races have not made them worthy of selection. The French team is expected to be Pichon, Sebastian Tortelli and Seguy. mistakes and backed off, trying to just get some good lines, and that worked. The atmosphere was great. If you see how the people cheer for you, it's just awesome. My aim is still to beat Stefan [Everts] and Joel [Smets] on the same day, maybe in Switzerland that's a track I like. Stefan is riding so well at the moment, it's difficult to beat him." KTM factory rider Smets was very disappointed, having struggled with arm pump. "I could just not hang onto the bike," Smets said_ "I could not ride the lines I wanted to, and my rhythm was not there. This is one of the worst memories in my career. I feel so down about today." As for record-maker Everts, it was his day, and he was happy to talk about the future. The four-time World Champion is ready for anything. "I did not know that I could win my 50th GP win here, so that was a surprise," Everts said. "I love Namur, and it was so easy here. I think yesterday I was thinking about the 50th win, and I did not ride very well. I checked the track last night, and with two times 20 minutes for practice, it's very difficult to work this track out with so little time in practice. I got a great start and had some good momentum. McFarlane passed me, I could see him on the outside, and then I got him back. I n e _ s cue •• Instead, it was AustraIran Andrew McFarlane who pushed his way past Everts to lead the first lap. McFarlane looked in brilliant touch as he held a slight lead, but it was not too long before Everts rode into the Aussie. As McFarlane tried to settle down, Everts moved away, never to be seen again. "McFarlane passed me pretty aggressively, and I wanted to pay him back, so the pass I made was tough," Everts admitted. "Once I got into the lead, my rhythm was perfect." McFarlane was happy to keep with Everts early. Knowing that his competitors had all seen the track on many occasions, he made the best of the situation. "I wanted to race with Everts," McFarlane said. "He's been here many times before, and I knew he would be tough to race with. I'm just happy to get top five at this place. You know, by the time the des Nations comes around, the Aussies will have a good chance here_ I tried to push hard in some places, but it's tough here to take chances, You don't want to push too hard and end up in the trees," Bervoets, who has suffered from serious arm pump this year, was happy to finally finish in second place. "I tried to ride as hard as I could," Bervoets said. "I pushed to get to Stefan, but then I made a couple of big 12 AUGUST 15, 2001 • The Australian MXdN team is already selected. and it will be Andrew McFarlane on the Open-class bike. Chad Reed on the 250cc machine and Michael Byrne on the 125. After the performances of Reed and McFarlane at the Namur GP. many are looking at the Aussies to crack a podium finish. something they have never achieved. even in the Jeff Leisk era. Australia' s best result is a fourth place at the 1988 event in France. The Belgian MXdN team is not yet decided. but Stefan Everts has hinted that he would prefer to ride his factory 500cc machine. 'I want to be able to race with [Ricky] Carmichael at Namur,' Everts said ... My best chance is with the bike I race every week. Of course Joel [Smets] is also best-suited to the Open-class bike and we have to think about the team. The final selection will be up to Joel Robert. our team manager.' Word around the pits has the Bel9ian team bein9 Everts on the Open-class bike. Marnicq Bervoets on a 250 and Steve Ramon on a 125cc machine. leaving Joel Smets out in the cold. The British MXdN team will consist of Jamie Dobb on the Open-class bike. Carl Nunn on the 250 and Stephen Sword on the 125cc machine. The CAS Honda team has been given factory Honda bikes for 2002. The team. led by Irishman Gordon Crockard. was given the word at Namur. but there is some confusion as to who will ride for the CAS team in 2002. It is understood that Crockard is in serious talks with both KTM and Kawasaki for 2002, leaving the CAS team with Jussi Pekka Vehvilainen. Current 250cc champ Frederic Bolley is expected to race the factory Honda CRF450R in next year's Openclass championship. Jamie Dobb has been told by team manager Kurt Nicoil to stop practicing durin9 the week. Dobb injured ligaments in his shoulder in a practice crash. The 125cc series points leader has made an amazing recovery. and is expected to be crowned World Champion in two weeks in Germany. The crowd attendance U5.000> for the Namur GP was down compared to last year. and despite Everts going for his 50th victory. there were some worried officials when the rains came on Saturday night and Sunday moming. One Namur official 9ave his indication of the problem: "We have always been able to pull a crowd at this place. The rain. the fact it's on television live in Belgium - it's very disappointing. and something we have to look at." Despite the crowd concernS. the Namur GP was run to perfection. although the racing this year was on the boring side. This has been the case at many of the GPs. typically dominated by James Dobb. Mickael Pichon and Stefan Everts. Whoops were added to the Namur track. and while riders like Mickael Pichon. Chad Reed and Stefan Everts loved them, the other riders had major trouble. The best moment for the whoops was as Pichon and Reed battled for the lead in the 250cc race. The two went side-byside up the whoop section with neither backing off. Both held perfect control. and it was something special to see a supercross-style battle at the famous MX arena. Erik E9gens continued the KTM shoulder-injury season. Eggens crashed in the closing stages of the 125cc moto and tore ligaments on his shoulder. He will have an X-ray this week and hopes to be fit for the Swiss GP next weekend. Stefan Everts' press agent. Stefan Geukens. made a presentation to Everts after the Namur Grand Prix. giving the Belgian a special T-shirt with the words .. 50 Wins" on it. The Everts camp then came into the press office with champagne. giving each of the journalists on hand a signed T-shirt and a glass of the bubbly.

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