Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Gustavsson (Hbg); 7. Olivier Samofal (Hbg); 8. Daniel Persson (Yam); 9. Arnaldo Nicoli (KTM); 10. Torbjom Back (Hbg); 11. Andrea Cabass (TM); 12. Gianluca Amighetti (KTM); 13. Thomas Gunther (Hbg); 14. Heikki Timonen (KTM); 15. Jade Gutzeit (Suz). 500 4·STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Mika Ahola (Vor); 3. Bjome Carlsson (Hbg); 4. Giovanni Sllla (KTM); 5. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 6. Mario Rinaldi (Yam); 7. Jordi Dunsn (KTM); 8. Milan Baros (KTM); 9. Laurent Boufioux (KTM); 10. Richard Hay (Hus); 11. Ralf Scheidhauer (Hus); 12. Christoph Seifert (KTM); 13. Cristian Spreaflco (Vor); 14. Karsten Wills (Hbg); 15. Ralf Dennemnoser (KTM). WORLD C'SHIP ENDURO SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (after 5 017 rounds): 125: 1. Petteri Silvan (206); 2. Richard Larsson (182); 3. Marc Germain (145); 4. Petri Pohjamo (119); 5. Simone Albergoni (112); 6. Zdenek Gottvald (81); 7. Ivan Boano (75); 8. Alesio Paoli (72); 9. Mikko Pihlajavesi (70); 10. Mika Saarenkoski (49); 11. Olivier Rebufie (48); 12. Pablo Peli (35); 13. Jari Mattila (35): 14. Alexander Wilk (26); 15. Andrea Raphael (25). (Lett) Marc Gennain finished second on both days in the 125cc class and currently holds down third in the points standings. (Above) Roman Michelik blasts his way around a grassy benn on the way to 3-3 finishes in the 400cc Four-Stroke class. (KTM); 12. Karsten Wills (Hbg); 13. Moreno Jose Sanz (KTM); 14. Cristien Spreafico (Vor); 15. Richard (103); 7. Ivan Boano (97); 8. Xacob Agra (75); 9. Hay (Hus). DAY TWO David Fretigne (51); 10. Cyril Esquirol (50); 11. Emanuel Albepart (37); 12. Jeen Memmi (31); 13. Martin Dottvllid (28); 14. Giovllnni Gritti (25); 15 Swen Enderlein (22). 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvall (241); 2. Paul 125: 1. Petteri Silvan (Hus); 2. Marc Germain (Yam); 3. Petri POhJamo (GG); 4. Richard larsson (TM); 5. Simone Albergoni (KTM); 6. Mika Saarenkoski (Hus); 7. Mikko Pihlajavesi (KTM); 8. Zdenek Gottvald (Hus); 9. Alessio Paoli (KTM); 10. Pablo Peli (Yam): 11, Alexander Wilk (KTM); 12. Jari Mattila (GG); 13. Paolo Carrara (Yam); 14. Marko Barthel (KTM); 15. Homero Diaz (KTM). 250: 1. Samuli Arc (Hus); 2. Jani Laaksonen (GG); 3. JlIrno Boano (Hon); 4. Helder Rodrigues (Hon); 5. Xacob Agra (KTM); 6. David Knight (Yam); 7. Sebllstien Guillaume (Hus); 8. Simon Wilk (TM); 9. Alessandro Zanni (Han); 10. Stefano Passeri (Yam); 11. Fausto Scovolo (GO); 12. Tullio PeltigrinelJi (KTM); 13. Andtrea Beconi (Hon); 14. Emmanuel A1pepart (GG); 15. Alberto Ceruti (Hon). Continuing his "I'm not too bothered if I don't win, as long as my position as 125cc championship leader doesn't change" philosophy, series leader Silvan wasn't too bothered about the fact that he didn't win the day - having made a small mistake on the 14th and final special test. Finishing less than two seconds behind winner Larsson, had it not been for his mistake Petteri probably would have topped the day. Despite the heavy rain that greeted the riders as they started the final three special tests of day two, Silvan reversed his day-one defeat to top the class by 12 seconds over Germain. Having been lying outside the top six in class before the final three tests, Germain's three final test-winning performances lifted him to second, demoting Larsson to fourth. Third on day two was Gas Gas rider Petri Pohjamo. Having retired from day one after feeling dizzy - a result of taking antibiotics for a tooth infection - the often-inconsistent Finn now holds fourth in the class. Making history in the 250cc TwoStroke class, CH Racing Husqvarna rider Samuli Aro extended his championship lead with two dominant class wins. Finishing ahead of the very much on-form Italian Jarno Boano on day one, and then ahead of countryman Jani Laaksonen on day two, Aro now looks a sure bet for his first-ever World Championship. "This weekend was the first time ever in my enduro career that I didn't crash," Aro explained. "Not only that, I didn't have any problems and I claimed another 50 points. The whole weekend was really uneventful. I was just riding normally." Claiming his best result of the year, Honda-mounted Boano proved that he can still mix it up at the front of the class with a second- and thirdplace finish. Third on day one, round-one winner David Knight dropped to sixth on day two after a disastrous final special test. Usually one of the fastest riders in the wet, he finished the day just one second behind fifth and a further second behind fourth, proving just how close things are in the 250cc series. The result of the 250cc FourStroke class is becoming more and more predictable with each passing race. Once again, UFO Corse Yamaha rider Peter Bergvall topped the class on both days, extending his championship lead in the process, while Husqvarna rider Paul Edmondson placed second. Third place went to Swede Niklas Gustafsson. On day two, Bergvall again remained unchallenged, and with Edmondson failing to finish, he is almost assured the championship. Oblucki Bartosz placed second, with Gustafsson third. eN Valli Bergamaoche, elusane, Italy Results: May 1B·19, ZOOZ DAY ONE 125: t. Richard Larsson (TM); 2. Marc Germain (Yam); 3. Petteri Silvan (Hus); 4. Roberto Bazzuri (Hus); 5. Simone Albergoni (KTM); 6. Zdenek Gottvald (Hus); 7. Ivan Boano (Hon): 8. AlessIo Paoli (KTM); 9. Mikko Pihiajavesi (KTM); 10. Andrea Raphael (GG): 11. Jeri Mattila (GG); 12. Alexander Wilk (KTM); 13. Mika Saarenkoski (Hus); 14. Paolo Carrara (Yam); 15. Angelo Signorelli (TM). 250; 1. Samuli Aro (Hus); 2. Jamo Boano (Hon); 3. David Knight (Yam); 4. Stefano Passed (Yam); 5. Helder Rodrigues (Han); 6. Sebastien Guillaum (Hus); 7. Jani Laaksonen (GG); 8. Simon Wilk (TM); 9. Xacob Agra (KTM); 10. Emmanuel Albepart (GG); 11. Andrea Beconi (Hon); 12. Giovanni Gritti (KTM); 13. Fausto Scovolo (GO); 14. Jean-Etienne Memi (GG); 15. Swen Enderlien (KTM). 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvell (Yam); 2. Paul Edmondson (Hus); 3. Niklas Gustafsson (KTM): 4. Riccardo Fermi (Yam); 5. Oblucki Bartosz (Hus); 6. Giuseppe Canova (Hus); 7. Xavier Colomer (TM); 8. Deniele Tellini (Yam); 9. Marco Rossi (Yam); to. Oriol Tort (KTM); 11. Olivier Joriot (Hus); 12. GerardFarres (KTM); 13. Maurizio Micheluz (Yam); 14. Gjermund Frostad (Yam); 15. Rudiger Bachmann (Yam). 4004-STRK; I. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Stefan Merriman (Hus); 3. Roman Michelik (Vor); 4. Miki Arpa (Vor); 5. Alessllndro Betturi (KTM); 6. Eric Bemard (KTM): 7. Marko Tarkkala (Hb9); 8. Torbjom Back (Hbg); 9. Olivier Samolal (Hbg): 10. Daniel Persson (Yam); 11. Larry Gustavsson (Hbg); 12. Amaldo nicoli (KTM); 13. Gianluca Amighetti (KTM); 14. Andrea Cabllss (TM); 15. Heikki Timonen (KTM). 500 4·STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 3. Bjerne Carlsson (Hbg); 4. Mario Rinaldi (Yam); 5. Fabio Farioli (KTM); 6. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 7. Laurent Bouffloux (KTM); 8. Jordl Duran (KTM): 9. Milan Baros (KTM); 250: 1. Samuli Aro (235); 2. David Knight (152); 3. Jani Laaksonen (147); 4. Simon Wilk (132); 5. Helder Rodrigues (115); 6. Sebastien Guillaume 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvall (Hus); 2. Oblucki Bartosz (Hus); 3. Niklas Gustafsson (KTM); 4. Gerard Farres (KTM); 5. Riccardo Fenni (Yam); 6. Giuseppe Canova (Hus); 7. Marco Rossi (Yam); 8. Daniel Tellini (Yam); 9. Olivier Joriot (Hus); 10. Xavier Colomer (TM); 11. Oriol Tort (KTM); 12. Maurizio Michelul (Yam); 13. Rudiger Bachmann (Yam); 14. Patrik Hess (Yam); 15. Rowan Jones (Yam). 400 4-STRK: 1. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Stefan Merriman (Hus); 3. Roman Michelik (Vor); 4. Miki Arpll (Vor); 5. Marrko Tarkkala (Hbg); 6. Larry Edmondson (185); 3. Oblucki Bartosz (160); 4. Gerard Farres (110); 5. Niklas Gustafsson (103); 6. Riccardo Fermi (97); 7. Olivier Joriot (63); 8. Gjermund Frostad (58); 9. Danile Tellini (56); 10. Rowan Jones (53): 11. Oriol Tort (44); 12. Xavier Colomer (43); 13. Partick Hess (32); 14. Daniel E1d (31); 15. Giuseppe Canova (20). 400 4-STRK: 1. Stefan Merriman (225); 2. Juha Salminen (221); 3. Marko Tarkkala (123); 4. Miki Arpll (118); 5. Roman Michelik (106); 6. Alessllndro Botturi (91); 7. Matts Andreasson (77); 8. Olivier SamolaJ (58); 9. Eric Bernard (55); 10. Larry Gustavsson (53); 11. Xavier Puigdemont (53); 12. Daniel Persson (52): 13 Torbjorn Back (29); 14. Andrea Cabass (27); 15. Mllrc Puigdemont (23). 500 4-STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (225); 2. Mika Ahola (192): 3. Bjome Carlsson (157); 4. Giovanni Sala (127); 5. Andreas Toresson (102); 6. Jordi Duran (81); 7. Mario Rinaldi (78); 8. Milan Baros (73): 9. Fabio FarioH (89); to. Kari Tieinen (65); 11. Laurent Bouffioux (64); 12. Richard Hey (39); 13. Juri Simondni (21); 14. Christoph Seifert (20): 15. Jose Moreno (19). BRIEFLY••• Injured Farioli KTM rider, Italian Mateo Rubin, was present in Italy to support his teammates stili unable to compete himself due the broken left leg he sustained while on a preseason KTM photo shoot. Having missed all of the '02 season so far, the 2000 250cc Four-Stroke World Champion was due to undergo further surgery to remove the external metal work currently holding his lower leg together the Monday after the race. 'If all goes well, I hope to be back on a bike in two months," said Rubin. "I have set myself the goal of competing al this year's ISDE," he added. KTM teammate Kari nainen was also present. having undergone successful surgery on his left elbow. The Italian round of the World Enduro Championship marked the end of Frenchman Eric Bernard's International enduro career. The nearly man of the enduro world. haVing finished second in both the '98 250cc and '00 400cc championships. he will not compete in the final two Scandinavian rounds of the championship, deciding instead to concentrate on the remaining rounds of the French Enduro Championship. Bernard is expected to run the official KTM France enduro team in '03. Finn Mika Ahola's freak World Championship luck continued in Italy as the '01 500cc FourStroke runner-up failed to finish the first day after a slow-speed fall put him out of the event. Holing his bike's right radiator and breaking his kickstart mechanism, leaving him stuck in third gear, Ahola now trails championship leader Eriksson by a seemingly irreversible amount. "I rode the first two tests of the day without a spring in my rear brake," explained Ahola at the end of day two. "I stalled the engine on both of the first two tests due to the problem. which meant that I was already a long way behind Anders [Eriksson, the championship leaderl and from there things just got worse. At the end of the first lap, when I was coming down the mountain, I ducked to go under a tree and clipped it with my arm. It knocked me off the bike at almost walking speed but it somehow split my radiator. That was bad enough, but when I tried to start the bike, the kickstart gears wouldn't engage as they had somehow sheared off and fallen into the gearbox." Stuck in third gear, and realizing that continuing would only damage the bike further. he decided to call it a day and get the bike fixed and ready for day two. The Italian round of the championship featured a 'Trialare' for the first time ever. Intended to entertain and attract spectators. and TV coverage too. the short. yet extremely challenging. trials-like section attracted more than two thousand spectalors but received mixed reactions from the competitors. Taking place at the end of each day's competition, the rider with the fastest time on each day received 1000 euros. The results from the Trialare didn't count towards the class positions, and UFO Corse Yamaha rider David Knight won both days. Anders Eriksson "The Trialare was really unfair for the 500cc-c1ass riders on day one because we had no lines to follow. When I saw the lines today [day twol they were completely different. I think that it isn't a good idea to have this type of test in every event because we aren't trials riders and we aren't on trials bikes." Mika Ahola - "I don't think it's a good idea because these aren't trials bikes." Samuli Aro - "They can put the Trialare in each race as long as the results don't affect the World Championship. It was qUite nice to ride, and definitely nice for the public, but it should remain separate from the race, like this weekend." Juha Salminen - "I think it's a good idea if there is prize money, like this weekend, as long as the results don't count towards the World Championship. One thing that the organizers must remember is that we aren't riding trials bike and that there are a lot of riders who have never ridden one." Giovanni Sala - "I think that the Trialare is a great idea because it gives the spectators something spectacular to look at. The problem is that if you are in a position where you are leading a World Championship you could crash and put yourself out of the competition, ending your championship hopes. For the spectators, it is definitely the way forward. In the Dakar, we have a lot of special stages in Europe, which are often in the mud. With our heavy bikes, this is stupid but it is good for the spectators and the TV too. Some sort of spectacular section with a prize is definitely a good idea. - 10. Ralf Scheidhauer (KTM); 11. Christoph Seifert cue I e n e _ os .JUNE 5, 2002 43

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