Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128155
FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 4: MCA Motocross Circuit STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER ST.-JEAN D'ANGElY, FRANCE, MAY 12 1Jt0r the first time in many years, W three of the most technical riders on the circuit won their respective classes at an MX GP. In front of 26,000 spectators, Belgian Steve Ramon, Frenchman Mickael Pichon and Belgian Stefan Everts won the 125, 250 and 500cc classes, respectively, with performances so clean that one could barely notice the dust and mud that are such an intrinsic part of motocross. Everts' record victory - the 52nd of his career - was made easier by the fact that rival and countryman Joel Smets was riding injured. The KTM rider had re-injured his shoulder while training during the week and could only manage fifth place. "To win a World Motocross Championship, you have to stay healthy," Everts said. "Now it's my time to put some pressure on. I want to win Grands Prix while Joel is not 100 percent - I have to make my move now. I know something about being injured, and I also know how much it takes out of you." Smets' problems began two weeks ago when he crashed during practice for the Grand Prix of Europe and tweaked his shoulder and lower back. Though he seemed to recover quickly, Smets felt a pain in his shoulder while training in the gym during the week. 24 MAY 22, 2002. eye I e (Above) The 125cc class rounds tum one on the same track where Team USA won its last MX des Nations title. Appropriately enough, that's American Trampas Parker (54) with the holeshot. (Rightj He hasn't yet followed through on his threat to try out the 125cc class, but Mlckael Pichon continues to be the absolute master of the 250cc ranks, winning three of the first four rounds. "I knew straight away that I had done something," Smets said. "The pain was terrible. I am so disappointed with what happened. I will fight back, though. This Grand Prix - and also the last ones - I just rode for points." Once known in Belgium as the next Stefan Everts (but now seen more as a choker), Ramon has thwarted many chances at glory, but after seven years on the GP scene, the 22-year-old finally appears to be performing like many thought he could a few years ago. He took his first-ever victory at this season's opening round, and backed it up in France with win number two. "It is important to make a break on the others," the KTM rider said. "( had trouble with my condition after crashing in the Spanish Grand Prix a month ago and only this week have been able to ride the bike to 100 percent. My training has also struggled, and finally I'm feeling good on the bike. De Reuver put some pressure on, and that was really tough for me, n e _ s •