FIM World Championship Motocross Series
Round 1 : Eurocircuit
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER
VALKENSWAARD, HOUAND, /'lIAR. 23·24
overcast skies and in front
\:V of 16,000 spectators, the Mota
GP opening round - held at the highspeed Eurocircuit in the south of Hoiland - offered no surprises, as Joel
Smets won the 500cc class, Mickael
Pichon topped the 250cc division,
and Steve Ramon took the 125cc
category.
Just as was the case last year, the
2002 series looks likely to come
down to just a select few riders. In the
big-bore class, the expected battle
between Team KTM's Smets, defending champ Stefan Everts and his
Rinaldi Yamaha teammate Marnicq
Bervoets came to life in the opening
laps. The three Belgians raced away
from the pack and eventually finishing more than a minute ahead of
fourth-place rider Andrea Bartolini,
the Honda-mounted Italian. While
Everts led early, his condition was
again brought under question, as he
succumbed to the relentless pressure
of Smets near the halfway point of
the 20-lapper. Bervoets, who held
third for some time, passed Everts
two laps later but - despite his efforts
at catching Smets - had to settle for
the runner-up position.
"I felt I had a good rhythm," Smets
said. "I came here with the intent on
winning. I like the Valkenswaard
sand, and when I was behind Stefan
[Everts], I could feel I was a little
stronger. '
In the 250cc race, which opened
the day, it was two-time champ Frederic Bolley who took the holeshot.
The Yamaha-mounted Frenchman
looked in great form, leading fellow
countryman Pichon for 13 of the 21
fl fl nder
(Top) Now riding
a Yamaha,
Frederic Bolley
(7) grabbed the
2SOcc holeshot
and eventually
finished second.
He's chased here
by Andrew
McFarlane (88),
Mlckael Pichon
(hidden), Josh
Coppins (6),
Jussl Vehvilalnen
IS), Pit Beirer (5)
and Marcel Van
Drunen (11 0).
(Left) The 2S0cc
win went to
defending champ
Mickael Pichon,
who looked as
dominant as
ever.
20
APRIL 3, 2002'
cue
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