Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"I was not going to take any risks," Dobb said. "When Ramon and Seguy went by, J started thinking about the championship, it's the first time I've not been worried about being passed by those two." Seguy was on fire, pulling up behind Ramon and putting the pressure on the Belgian rider. By lap ] 4, the lead changed as Ramon, once again, folded under the pressure. "I felt a little tight," Ramon said. "Seguy was really riding hard, he took some chances and I did not want to do that. I let him go and could not pull him back. I did my best." Seguy, though, knew if he wanted the GP he had to fight for it. Having finished runner-up in Switzerland a week earlier, the Frenchman was looking at only one place on the podium. "I knew it was my race, "Seguy said. "I have all the respect for Ramon, he is a very smooth rider and I did not want to have to push my way past. We came over a big jump and I kept the throttle on, I jumped a long way further than Ramon and then passed him on the next corner. I think he was a little shocked that I took such a chance on that jump, but for me it paid off." 2S0cc GRANO PRIX Having watched Australian Chad Reed and New Zealand's Josh Coppins lead him into the first corner, Pichon just took his time, passing both riders in the first lap, and then setting a pace much too quick for them. Reed held on for a few laps, yet once Pichon picked up the pace, it was all over. "I felt so good out there," Pichon said. "We made some changes to the bike since the last Grand Prix and it proved to be perfect. I missed the holeshot, but I could pass the guys quickly. I was sure about being consistent. I don't really like this track, it's not technical, but we all had to (Upper left! The 500cc start gets under way with Mamicq Benroets (2) and Joel Smets (1) fighting for the lead while the pack, Including Stefan Everts (72), gives chase. (Left! KTM's Dobb has shown this season that you are only as old as you believe you are. The longtime veteran has spent many years racing both in the GP series and In America, but this Is his first major championship. race on it. I thought I could pull away qUickly, but I was making mistakes. Reed again surprised me, he's quick. I knew, though, when I passed him that I could maintain a quicker pace. It's been the same story all year long. I was so tired in those last laps, I could hardly hold on to the handlebars, then I started worrying that the bike would break. It was a tough race at the end." Reed could follow Pichon for only a short time and was not surprised he could not match it with the French flyer. Reed, though, was able to make his fifth podium in six races. "Pichon's been fast every weekend," Reed said. "I had the holeshot for a while, then Josh and Mickael got me on the inside. I was able to get back by Josh, then I watched Mickael for a while, checking his lines and trying to learn something, he was IAbove) Nobody in sight: Pichon was hardly challenged in the 250cc race. Bervoets got the holeshot, moved well away from second placed Stefan Everts, and, for all to see, showed that his good form has returned, and then it all went wrong for the Yamaha rider. Just as it looked as though Bervoets would lead his two teammates, Stefan Everts and Andrew McFarlane, to a Yamaha ] -2-3 sweep, it went pear-shaped for the Yamaha team. "I had a nice lead," Bervoets said. "I was making some good lines and felt okay, no trouble at all. I then got out of shape and crashed reaJly hard, bending the handlebars. I could not continue." While Bervoets was dusting himself off, McFarlane was also crashing out of the moto. The young Aussie had been in a dogfight with defending World 500cc Champion Joel Smets for third place when he went down. "I came over a jump and the bike dug in," McFarlane said. "The front wheel just stopped in a patch of mud and the bike kicked me off. Then the bike flipped over and was in a pretty bad condition. I didn't feel too good after that and could not go on." If the Yamaha boys were not having enough difficulties, then Everts was also in trouble. While holding down second place behind Bervoets, his motor began to misfire. "I don't know what it was," Everts said. "This track has many drop-offs and I did not like that the bike was just too fast, though. I could not keep that pace and I know these tracks are not good for a rider like me, I'm more technical and here is not difficult to race for many riders - a little like Switzerland last week, just balls out." Coppins said, "I found it difficult because of my crash in Switzerland. I was tentative early and lost some time on Pichon and Reed because of it. I have had so much bad luck lately that it's made me not take too many chances. I am glad to be back on the podium, I still want to try and get to at least fourth place in the championship, so I have some work to do in the next few races." SOOcc GRANO PRIX Marnicq Bervoets looked a good bet to win his second consecutive Grand Prix overall, at least for the first nine laps of the 500cc moto. cue' e n e ., S • AUGUST 29, 2001 33

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