Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

125: 1. Petteri Silven (Hus) 68 points; 2. Richard Lersson (TM) 78; 3. Mere Germeln (Yam) 60; 4. Simone Albergoni (KTM) 50; 5. Mikko Pihlajevesi sick during both days of competition. "It wasn't so bad during the beginning of the days, but I had no energy in (KTM) 39; 6. Alessio Pooli (KTM) 35; 7. Petri Pojomho (GG) 32; 8. Olivier Rebufie (KTM) 32; 9. the afternoons. Considering the cir- Zdenek Gottweld (KTM) 23; 10. Edward Jones (KTM) 21; 11. Miko Soorenkoskl (Hus) 20: 12. Ivon Boano (Hon) 19: 13. Poblo Peli (Yam) 17; 14. Giuseppe Gomoo (Hon) 12; IS. Jari Mollilo (GG). cumstances this weekend, I'm really happy to come away as the class 250: 1. Samuli Aro (Hus) 90 points; 2. Devid Knight (Yom) 83; 3. Simon Wllk (TM) 58; 4. Jani Loaksonen (GG) 58: 5. Helder Rodriguez (Hon) 47; 6. Cyril Esquirol (KTM) 41; 7. Xocob Agl"ll (KTM) 37; 8. leader after two rounds of the championship." Third overall was Husqvama's Bar- Sebastien Guillaume (Hus); 9. Jamo Boeno (Han) 29; 10. Martin Gottwald (Hus) t 7; 11. Swen tosz Oblucki. Making it a Husky Enderlein (KTM) 14: 12. Giovonni Grilli (KTM) 9; one/two on day one, finishing forty Johansson (GG) 9; 15. Jooo Morques (Yom) 8. 250 4-STRK; 1. Peter Bergvoll (Yom) 91 points; seconds behind teammate 13. Jean-Etienne Memmi (GG) 9; 14. Daniel Paul 2. Peul Edmondson (Hus) 85; 3. Barton Obluekl (Hus) 65; 4. Gererd Farres (KTM) 45; 5. Riccerdo Edmondson, Bartosz now lies third in Fermi (Yom) 41: 6. Nlldos Gustofsson (KTM) 37: 7. Ooniel Eld (Yom) 31; 8. Xavier Colomer (TM) 28: 9. Olivier Jorlot (KTM) 28; 10. Gjermund Frosbod (Yom) 26; 11. Rowan Jones (Yam) 22; 12. Oriol Tort (KTM) the championship. Adding to his day-one win in Spain, Swede Anders Eriksson 19; 13. Patrick Hess (Yam) 10; 14. Daniele Tallini (Yam) 9; 15. Jens Oestreich (TM) 8. 400 4·STRK: 1. Stefon Merrlmon (Hus) 90 topped the 500cc Four-Stroke class in Portugal with two day-wins. Revel- points; 2. Juha Selminen (KTM) 86; 3. Ml!Irko Tarkkolo (Hbg) 55; 4. Miki Arpa (Vor) 49; 5. Motts ing in the difficult dry conditions, Andreesson (Yam) 45; 6. Alessandro Botturi (KTM) 41; 7. Xevier Puigdemont (GG) 36; 8. Eric Bemerd Eriksson's consistency helped him stay ahead of the competition as his fast cross-country special-test times enabled him to ease off toward the close of both days. (Above lett! Paul Edmondson got his first win of the year out of the way after a slxyear absence from the series. (Above right! Anders Eriksson won the 500cc Four-Stoke class and leads the points as well with 95, over Mlka Ahola with 8t. "It has been a very tough race this weekend," admitted Eriksson. "The Silvan is a great start to the year," he heat made it hard for those of us rid- said. ing the bigger bikes, but for me it's been great. The cross-country tests Corse-mounted Frenchman Marc hard to open up a I 12. GuUleume Porte (GG) 17; 13. Olivier Semofel (Hbg) 14; 14. Donlel Persson (Yom) 12; 15. Andrea Caboss (TM) 10. 500 4-STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (Hus) 95 points; 2. Mike Ahole (Vor) 81; 3. Bjome Cerlsson (Hbg) 62; 4. Kari Tiainen (KTM) 45: 5. Giovanni Solo (KTM) 44: 6. Andreas Toresson (Hbg) 41; 7. Fabio Forloll (KTM) 36. 8. Jordi Duran (KTM)25; 9. Milan Boros (KTM) 26; 10. Lourent Bouffioux (KTM) 23; 11. Richord Hoy (Hus) 13; 12. Sont Moreno (KTM) Forloll (KTM); 9 Milon Borras (KTM); 10 Juri Simoncini (Vor); 1 1. Laurent Bouffioux (KTM); 12. Rlchord Hoy (Hus): 13. Sonz Moreno (KTM); 14. Third in the class overall was UFO were very difficult, but (KTM) 27; 9. Morc Pulgdemont (GG) 23; 10. Roman Michalik (Vor) 21: 11. Lorry Gusbovsson (Hbg) 18; pushed really day one and a third-place finish on WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ENDURO SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (ofter 2 of 7 rounds): 13; 13. Juri Simoncini (Vor) 12; 14. Meno Rineldi (Yom) 8; IS. Tobias Auerswold (Hus) 8. Germain with a fourth-place finish on gap and Tobies Auerswald (Hus). it day two. worked," he added. Second overall in the half-liter Four-Stroke class was Husaberg's Oliveira do HIlSJIItIII, Perta..' 1lauIts: Mm1:II23-24, 2802 Bjome Carlsson. Finishing in a com- eN DAY ONE: fortable second place on day one, and then third on day two, Bjorne was happy with his result, having finished fourth on both days in Spain. "I'm really happy with this weekend," said Bjorne. "I've not made any mistakes, but Anders was just too fast to beat this weekend. There's still 10 more days to go in the championship, so I have plenty of time to try and 1. Petten Silven (Hus); 2. Richerd Larsson Petri Pojemho (GG); 4. Merc Germain Alessio Paolo (KTM) 6. Olivier Rebufle Simone Albergoni (KTM); 8. Giuseppe GoUino (Hon); 9. Mikko Pihlov..i (KTM): 10. Zden.k Gottwald (Hus): II. Miko Soorenkoskl (Hus); 12. Homero Castillejo (KTM); 13. Poblo Pen (Yom); 14. Jari Mollilo (GG); 15. Vibo Kuklik. 250: 1. Somuli Aro (Hus); 2. Simon Wilk (TM); 3. Jeni Leaksonen (GG) 4. Devld Knight (Yam); 5. Helder Rodrigues (Han): 6. Cyril Esquirol (KTM); 7. Sebostien Gulllomme (Hus); 8. Jamo Boooo (Han); 9. Xocob Agro (KTM); 10. Mortin Gottwold (Hus): II. Swen Enderlein (KTM); 12. Jeen-Etienne Memmi (GG): 13. Daniel Johonsson (GG); 14. Contardo Lopez (KTM); 15. Joao Morques (Yom). 250 4-STRK: 1. Poul Edmondson (Hus); 2. Bortosz Obluckl (Hus) 3. Peter Bergvon (Yom); 4. Riccardo Fermi (Yem); 5. Gerard Farres (KTM); 6. catch Anders." Another rider not too worried about not winning was Vor's Mika Ahola. Happy just to be in one piece, and not in the local hospital, the Finn suffered a monstrous get-off on day one, one that he admits he was lucky to walk away from. "lover-jumped a downhill jump on one of the motocross tests and hit a tree stump," explained Ahola_ "I'm extremely lucky not to have broken any bones. It's not been the best of starts to the World Championship, but being 14 points behind is nothing Niklos Gustafsson (KTM); 7. Marc Joriot (KTM); 8. Xovler Colomer (TM); 9. Oonlel Eld (Yom); 10. GJermund Frosbod; 11. Onol Tort (KTM); 12. Bianchi Prete (Yam); 13. Rowen Jones (Vem); 14. Petrick Hess (Yem); 15. Jens Oestreich. 4004-STRK: 1. Stefan Merrlmon (Hus); 2. Juho Having ridden in four International Six-Day Enduros. 42-year-old Canadian rider Barry Rempel decided to take the long trip over to Europe from his home in Victoria. BC. Canada. to try his hand at the World Enduro Championship opening rounds in Spain and Portugal. Wanting to •give it a go. before he got too old, Barry and his buddy Dale Walsh from Kamloops. BC, certainly enjoyed the experience. "It's certainly been tough: Said Rempel as he prepared to hand back the 300cc Gas Gas he rented from the Spanish factory. "Spain and Portugal were both hard but for different reasons. The guys that are running at the top of the results sheets have great motor skills, they're able to ride a rut for 10 minutes like we did in Spain and rail berms while avoiding rocks and roots like this weekend in Portugal. - he added. Will he be back? "Probably not. but if I do it'll be as a team manager. It would be great to bring some of our fast youngsters over to give them some experience before they ride an ISDE and to see how they compare to Europe's best. If post-race celebrations are anything to go by. you'd easily have been mistaken into thinking that the CH Racing Husqvama team was celebrating a World Championship victory at the end of the first day's competition in Portugal as the team members celebrated claiming victory in each of the five classes. "I think il"s the first time in history that any manufacturer has won all the classes at a round of the World Enduro Championship,· said a delighted CH Racing team manager Fabrizio Azzalin. "11"s unbelievable and something that will be extremely difficult to repeat. We have a really good team, not just riders but mechanics also. so it"s a testament to all their hard work and determination," he added. Soimlnen (KTM); 3. Morko Tarkkala (Hbg): 4. Roman Michalik (Vor); 5. Mlki Arpe (Vor) 6. Alessllndro Botturi (KTM); 7. Xovler Puigdemont (GG); 8. Motts Andreesson (Yam); 9. Marc PUigdemont (GG); 10. ErIc Bemord (KTM); 11. Olivier Somoflll (Hbg); 12. Gullloume Porte (GG); 13. Daniel Persson (Yom); 14. Lorry Gusbovsson (Hbg); IS. Andreo Cabo.. (TM). 500 4·STRK: I. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 3. Mjke Ahola (Vor); 4. Giovanni Solo (KTM); 5. Fobio Forioll (KTM); 6. Andreo. Toresson (Hbg); 7. Jordi Duron (KTM); 8. Lourent Bouffioux (KTM); 9. Milon Boros (KTM): 10. Juri Simoncini (Vor); 11. Sanz Moreno (KTM); 12. Richard Hay (Hus): 13. Tobios Auerswold (Hus). DAYrNO: 125: 1. Petteri Silvan (Hus); 2. Rlchord Lorsson (TM); 3. Morc Germoin (Yom); 4. Miko Soorenkoski (Hus); 5. Mikko Pihlojovesl (KTM); 6. Giuseppe The most noticeable difference at the second round of the World Enduro Championship over the season opener was the weather. With the mud and ruts of Spain replaced by dust. dry rocks and fierce heat in Portugal, according to two-time ISDE winner Mika Ahola. the start to the '02 season has been the toughest he can remember. "I can't remember a tougher start to a World Championship year: said the Finn. "Both races have been extremely long and difficult. Spain was hard due to the mud and here it is the heat and unforgiving terrain that makes things challenging. - he added. Seven-time World Champion Kari TIainen DNFed on day one in Portugal when his factory KTM broke a metal oil pipe causing his machine to cry -enough.· "' dontthink I'll be able to win the World Championship now.· said Kari. Despite being fourth in the 500cc four-stroke championship. and with 10 competitive days still remaining. the veteran Finn is now 50 points behind class leader Anders Eriksson. Gelllno (Hon); 7. Olivier Rebufie (KTM); 8. Alessio with so many races remaining." Starting at the back of the field, the 125cc class saw Finn Petteri SiIvan clean up on both days to open up a 10-point lead at the top of the class. "This weekend was okay for me," explained Silvan. "I just rode steadily in the mornings and then, when I was happy with the way I was riding, F125: (Yem); 3. (Yam); 5. (KTM); 7. BRIEFLY••• I started to push harder," he added. Pooli (KTM); 9. Jarl Mottllo (GG); 10 Zdenek Gottwold (Hus) 11. Simone Albergonl (KTM); 12. Pablo Pell (Yom); 13. Fredrik Georgsson (KTM): 14 Hornero Castilleja (KTM); 15. VIto Kuklik (KTM). 250: 1. Semull Aro (Hus); 2. David Knight (Yam); 3. Helder Rodrigues (Hon): 4. Joni Looksonen (GG); 5. Simon W1lk (TM): 6. Xacob Agro (KTM); 7. Cyrii Esqulrol (KTM); 8. Sebostien Guillamme (Hus): 9. Jooo Morques (Yom); 10. Jomo Boono (Hon); 11. Mortin Gottwold (Hus); 12. Swen Enderlein (KTM); 13. Euen McConnell (Hus); 14. Jeen-Etienne Memmi (GG ); 15. Bjorn Johonsson (Han). 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvoll (Yom); 2. Poul Gjermund Frosted (Yem); 11. Rowen Jones (Vem): 12. Oriol Tort (KTM); 13. Bianchi Prato (Yom); 14 Jens Oestreich (TM): IS. Patrick Hess (Yam). mounted Swede Richard Larsson. The 400 4-STRK: 1. Stefan Merriman (Hus); 2. Ml!ltts Andreasson (Yam); 3. Juhe Selminen (KTM); 4. eighth-liter crown, Larsson was also happy with his weekend's work. "Usually for me, the Spanish and Portuguese rounds of the championship are my worst. To be in second and only a handful of points behind The most notable non-starter in Portugal was UFO Corse Yamaha team rider Mario Rinaldi. With the swelling from his injured left arm still causing him problems. 'Super Mario' decided not to risk popping the stitches open by attempting to race. Having had a less-than-successful season opener. the Italian now lies a lowly 14th in the 500cc Four-Stroke class. Edmondson (Hus); 3. Berton Oblucki (Hus); 4. Gerord Farres (KTM); 5. Niklos Gusbofsson (KTM); 6. Riccerdo Fermi (Yern); 7. Xevier Colomer (TM); 8. Morc Jorlot (KTM); 9. Oonlele Tellini (Yom); 10. Second on both days was TMmost consistent challenger to Silvan's Czech-born. Italian-speaking Vor rider Roman Michalik was back in the saddle at round two of the championship. but not on the 250cc Four·Stroke machine he unsuccessfully rode at the season opener. this time he was riding a 400cc machine. -We still need more time to develop the 250cc machine,· said Vor Enduro team-manager Franceso Urbinati. "It will be unlikely that one of our top riders win race the machine again this year.· he added. Morko Tarkkola (Hbg); 5. Mikl Arpo (Vor): 6. Alessandro Botturi (KTM); 7. Morc Puigdemont (GG); 8. Romen Mi<:hl!!llik (Vor); 9. Xavier Puigdemont (GG); 10. Deniel Persson (Yam); 11. Lerry Gustevsson (Hbg); 12. Par Olsson (KTM); 13. Guillaume Porte (GG); 14. Andreo Coboss (TM); 15. Torbjom Bock (Hbg). 500 4-STRK: I. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Miko Aholo (Vor); 3. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 4. Kori Tiainen (KTM) : 5. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 6. One rider who is more than happy with his start to the '02 World Championship is Australian Stefan Merriman. Having separated his shoulder while training in Italy shortly after the New Year. the 400cc Four-Stroke Championship leader is iooking forward to the next round of the championship in Greece on April 20-22. "Being forced to stay off a bike for two months in order for his surgery to heal was tough,· explained Merriman. "I'm delighted with my start to the championship. though. The conditions havent really suited me that well, so to be leading the class is great. I've had no problems with my shoulder and the bike is working really well. so it should be a good fight between myself and Juha [Salminen] for the title." he added. One of the most notable non-finishers from the Portuguese event was Gas Gas factory rider Petri Pojamho. Having finished only one day at the season opener due to bike problems. the hard-charging Finn crashed on the second lap of day two. causing enough damage to his bike that retirement was the only option. Petri now lies seventh in the 125cc championship. 56 points behind class leader Petteri Silvan. Giovonnl Solo (KTM); 7. Jordi OUl"lln (KTM); 8. Fabio cue I _ n __ S • APRIL 10. 2002 21

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