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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128121
FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 12: Circuit of Lierop STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER UEROP,HOLLAND,SEP.3 had Reed has arrived - just in tim,e for him to leave. The 19year-old Australian, who has been the talk of the 2001 GP circuit, took a victory in the thick sand of Holland, leading home newly crowned 250cc World Champion Mickael Pichon and Finnish rider Jussi Vehvilainen, but he'lI be headed away to the United States after the fast-approaching end of this year's series. With the win, Reed became only the second Australian rider to win an MX Grand Prix, and the first Aussie to do so since Jeff Leisk topped the French GP at Brou in 1990. With only two races remaining on this year's circuit, Reed is desperate to take at least one more victory and gain second place in the series, though the hungry teenager is already looking forward to America. "I felt I could [win] here [in the GPs]: Reed said. "It's been an important part of my preparation for America, coming to Europe. I've raced the riders who I admired as a kid, and now I know I can race with them. Pichon has been the guy all season long, and when I passed him for the lead, I knew he would not give up. We both made mistakes as the race entered the last Japs - I was able to hang on and get my first win. Now I want more, for sure. Leisk finished second in the 1989 World 500 Championship. He is respected so much in Australia for that feat, and I would like to match it with second in this C year's World 250 Championship. That would be cool." Pichon had no answer to Reed's scintillating speed on this day, and the Frenchman granted his young rival some respect. "He rode very well," the Corona Suzuki rider said. "I was making too many mistakes. When he passed me, I thought I could just wait for a moment to pass him back - it did not come. He was the better man today." While the win by Reed was the highlight of the Grand Prix of Dutch Brabant, the 500cc class was full of drama. Victory went to defending champ Joel Smets, but the talking point of the race was the DNF of his Belgian countryman - series-leader Stefan Everts. The Bartolini Yamaha rider had led the rac.e for the first 10 laps, with Smets' factory KTM on his back wheel, and the 10,000 fans were shocked when the race leader pulled to the side of the track, dismounted his machine and walked back to the pits - a clinched title on hold until at least one more race. "The bike just stopped," Everts said. "I came over a jump, and it just rolled to the side of the track. I could do nothing - just watch as Smets raced past. I am still 28 points ahead in the championship with only two rounds to go, so while I am disappointed, I am not desperate yet." Earlier in the Open-class race, yet another Belgian - Marnicq Bervoets had crashed while holding third place, but he then also passed the stranded Everts and thus took the runner-up spot behind Smets and ahead of Spanish rider Vico Garcia. "Stefan should still win it [the title] easy," Smets said. "Today was good (Above) Australian Chad Reed scored his first GP victory just two races before he'll leave to series to race in the U.S. Here, he is honored along with Kawasaki team boss Jan De Groot on the top step of the 250cc podium, while MInner-up Mickael Pichon (left) and Jussl Vehvilainen look on. (Left) Dutchman Eric Eggens made the best of his home round, ending a dry spell by collecting his second 125cc GP victory of the season. n e _ s