Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

(Above) Kenneth Gundersen posted his first 250cc GP win of the year. (Above right) After a close race, PatrIck Caps came away with the 125cc-class win. set about making a passing move on his Berni Honda teammate Pit Beirer. As Dobb continued to pull away, Gundersen took on some problems, as Coppins and Beirer moved closer to him. "I was forced to have a pain-killing injection to my big toe," the eventual winner. Gundersen, said after the race. "I caught it under the footrest yesterday and now it's badly swollen. I was having trouble changing gear in the free practice session this morning. I had so much pain and couldn't shift gear, I was hoping for top 10 and a handful of points, but to win is unbelievable. I passed Coppins on the opening laps and then the leader Dobb, but he took me right back. I was happy to just stay in second position while I struggled with arm pump in my right arm in closing laps. The pain was starting to come from my toe as the injection wore off." The Kawasaki rider was able to hold onto his second place and then, with half a lap remaining, received a gift from Dobb. "I was still looking for a way around him when he crashed on the last lap and handed me the win," Gundersen said. "I still can't believe it. What a day." Gundersen added that he understood why Dobb had crashed. "The track was very slippery," Gundersen said. "There was only one dry line. On the corner before he crashed, I almost went underneath him, it was almost like I hit him, but I didn't. I just turned off and he fell, it was probably a combination of tiredness and just the end of the race, he lost concentration, which was lucky for me." Second-placed Coppins also rode a brilliant race and came closer than ever to winning his first GP. "I can feel it's going to be soon," Coppins said. "I feel really comfortable and have changed some things. The Hondas are prefect and that makes a huge difference for me. I pushed a little hard early, though, and my condition near the end of the race was not good enough to pass Kenneth." Beirer was the crowd favorite; the German rider was delighted with his first podium ride in Teutschenthal. "I have been so close many times and never had a podium [here]," Beirer said. "This is like a win for me. I can feel my rhythm and condition is getting better every week. It was a very quick pace and you had to really charge hard early. In the end I was finished, I had nothing left." Pichon, who finished in eighth place, gave his side of the first-turn crash. "I was side by side with Bolley, he moved wide and I went with him," Pichon said. "Beirer cut across Bolley and Bolley then turned into me, not deliberate, but I had nowhere to go. I was carrying too much speed in fourth gear. I hit a bump, which sent me straight into the side of him. I hit him pretty hard and we both went down. It was very difficult during the opening lap, but I managed to find my way around six or seven riders and then the same on the next lap, I am not used to having to fight from behind, but I proved that I can do it." Pichon's factory 250cc machine was struggling for power, as the exhaust pipe had been squashed on to the frame in the first-comer incident. "I could feel the bike was down on power," Pichon said. "I caught up to ninth place on lap 12, I was starting to feel tired. I had put a lot of effort into those early laps. It wasn't easy finding a way past some guys. The bike was a little twisted, but I still wanted to race and try to win. I am in the championship to win, not to take second - every point counts. I tried my hardest, but eighth was the best position I could expect." 500cc GP The 500cc race was full of special moments. From the time Yves Demaria and his KTM teammate Joel Smets led the field of four-strokes around the first lap of the 35-minute moto, it was a fight to the finish. As Smets dropped back through the field with his injured shoulder, Demaria held off Italian Andrea Bartolini and Everts. For Everts, though, it was time to attack the leaders. After following Demaria for 13 laps, the Belgian took the lead, and then despite pressure from Bartolini and Bervoets, cruised to his record-breaking victory. "I knew. Demaria would have trouble with his condition," Everts said. "I just waited for that moment. Once I got past, I had some trouble with Bartolini; he really pushed hard to get me, and I had to fight to keep my lines." With Bartolini stuck to the back wheel of Everts, the two forgot about Bervoets, who had snuck up on the lead pair. "I didn't even know Bervoets was there," Everts said. "Then, with a couple of corners remaining, I could sense somebody was going to try a pass. I protected my lines and was able to keep him out - it turned out to be Marnicq." Bervoets, who would finish in second place after passing Bartolini, seemed to have a much better pace than Everts in the last two laps. "Had it been another lap or so, I think I could have taken the win," Bervoets said. "I tried to pass him on the last lap. He had been taking an outside line on one corner and I went to pass him on the inside; however, he must have seen me coming and closed the door." As for Smets, he fought off fellow Belgian Cedric Melotte for several laps to take 15 points and sixth place. CN Telkessel Circuit TeutscheA1hal, &el1llllny Results: April Z7, zaaz [Round 3 of 1Zl 125 GP: 1. Patrick Caps (KTM); 2. MickaeJ M.lschio (K.w); 3. Phillipe Duposquier (KTM); 4. Ben Townley (KTM); 5. Alex Puzer (Hus); 6. T.nel Leak (KTM); 7. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 8. Steve Rlimon (KTM); 9. Ty1. R.ttr.y (KTM); 10. Erik Eggens (KTM); 11. Antoine Letteller (Yam); 12. Christian Stevanini (Hus); 13. Tallon Vohland (KlIw); 14. Brett Metc.lfe (KTM). 250 GP: 1. Kenneth Gundersen (Kaw); 2. Josh Coppins (Han); 3. Pit Beirer (Hon); 4. James Dobb (tITM); 5. Jussi Vehvilalnen (Hon); 6. Paul Cooper (Hon); 7. Gordon Crockard (KTM); B. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 9. Johnny Aubert (Yam); 10. Alessio Chiodi (Yom); 11. Andrew McFarlane (Kaw); 12. Mlirko Kovalelinen (TM); 13. llluris Freiberg (Hon); 14. Mark Eestwood (Han); 15. M.l"'el V.n ONnen (Y.m). 500 GP: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Marnicq Bervoets (Yam); 3. Andrea Bertolini (Hon); 4. Yves Demaria (tITM); 5. Vieo GlIrcia (KTM): 6. Joel Smets (KTM); 7. Cedric Melone (Yam); 8. Chris Burnham (Hon); 9. Brilln Jorgensen (Hus); 10. JOllkim KlIrlsson (Hbg); 11. Alex Belometti (Vor); 12. Danny Theybers (KTM); 13. Jo.qulm Rodrigues (Vor); 14. Stu.rt Flock.rd (Han); 15. Ava Leak (Han). FlJII WORLD C'SHIP 125cc MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 12 rounds): 1. Mickllel M.schio (63/1 win); 2. P.trick C.ps (54{1); 3. Ben Townley (54); 4. Erik Eggen. (51); 5, Phillipe Dup!lsquier (49); 6. Alex PuzlIr (44); 7. Steve Ramon (38/1); 8. Tyl. R.ttr.y (36); 9. Luigi Seguy (34); 10. Antoine Lettelier (32); 11. Brett Metclilfe (27); 12. T.llon Vohl.nd (23); 13. T.nel Leak (21); 14. Jeff Demen. (21); 15. M.lrvin V.n O.ele (16) FlJII WORLD C'SHIP 250cc MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 12 rounds): 1. Mickllel Pichon (63/2 win.); 2. Kenneth Gundersen (56/1); 3. Josh Coppins (54); 4. Pit Bejrer (52); 5. Frederic Bailey (47); 6. Jussi Vehvil"nen (45); 7. P.ul Cooper (44); 8. Alessio Chiodi (40); 9. J.mes Dobb (36); 10. Johnny Aubert (34); It. Lauris Freiberg (29); 12. MlIrko KovlIllIinen (28); 13. Gordon Crockllrd (26); 14. Andrew />\cF.rI.ne (24); 15 C.rI Nunn (20). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 500cc MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 12 rounds): I. Steflln Everts (67/1 win); 2. Joel Sme.. (65/2); 3. M.lmicq Bervoets (62); 4 Andrell BlIn.olini (58); 5. Vico G!lrcill (48); 6. Avo Leok (33); 7. Chris Bumhllm (32): 8. CedriC M.elotte (29); 9. JOllkim KlIrisson (26); 10. Alex Belomeni (23); 11 Rom.n Jelen (23); 12. Joaquim Rodrigues (22), 13. M.iska Aliitonen (22); 14. Yves Dem.n. (18); 15 F.brizio Doni (16). BRIEFLY••• Representatives from Ooma flew to Los Angeles on Monday of thiS week to have talks with the promotional team for this year's Motocross des Nations. set to be held at Competition Park in Califomia. Ooma has taken along their track designer. Freddy Verherstraeten. and he will give his thoughts on how the track should be designed. Ooma is interested in using some supercross obstacles. such as whoops, double jumps and triple jumps. Verherstraeten wanted It be known. however, that the track will not be too difficult for the teams from countries where supercross is not ridden. "I want to make it interesting for the riders and crowd.' Verherstraeten said. "I think with the area being rather flat. we have to make the track something like supercross - what else can we do? We don't want to make it too tough. though. for the riders who come from countries where supercross is not ridden. so the whoops won't be huge like in Amencan supercross races... FIM delegate Wolfgang Srb also flew to America this week to have talks with the Clear Channel people about the World Supercross Championships. Srb will attend the Las Vegas Supercross. "I am looking forward to las Vegas," Srb said. "It IS important that we all get together and work out what is best for the series. It is still our aim to make a World Supercross Series. which will be good for the sport. " The Talkessel Circuit came under fire pnor to the Grand Prix. Riders were disappointed that the track was shortened and a technical area was taken out. Trampas Parker complained to Oema's Freddy Verhertraeten on Sunday morning. "The guys are makmg these tracks too fast." Parker said to Verhertraeten. "Where are all the technical areas? I know it's not your fault. Freddy. I just want some places to pass. that's all." The young Vangani 125cc KTM team produced brilliant results In Germany. Led by Ben Townley. who claimed fourth place. the teenager's teammates Tanel Leek and Tyfa Rattray finIshed in sixth and ninth. respectIVely. Joel Smets's crash on Saturday was shown on television in the press office He crashed hand on a downhill and the bike cartwheeled down the track. Smets suffered a shoulder injury and took pain-killers prior to the SOOcc race. After taking the holeshot. KTM's press agent Tom Jacobs. said. "Joel is a tough guy. When he took the pain-killers. he got very light ,n the head. I'm really surprised he got the holeshot. he was like seeing stars Just five minutes ago." Smets did not hold the lead for long. though, as he quickly dropped off the pace. The chances of two World Motocross Grands Prix in America next year IS looking slim. It seems that two American tracks are chasing the chance to run a Grand Prix In 2003. one being Competition Park in California and another a yet·to·be·named track. Veterans were out in force in Germany last weekend. Former World Motocross Champions Trampas Parker and Alex Puzar. who both won World titles back in the 1990s, qualified for the 12Scc Grand Prix. with Puzar claiming fifth place and Parker 18th. Parker had to do it the hard way after crashing while leading his qualification race. Parker just made it through in eighth place. "I've had some bad luck in these qualification races." Parker said. "It's crazy out there, so many riders wanting to get through. I still feel good on the bike and can race with these young guys." Parker ONFed the opening round of the World 12Scc Championship when hiS throttle grip came off. cue I _ n __ s MAY 8, 2002 21

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