Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

happy to have finished both days' competition. It is, after all, my first year on a four-stroke and riding enduros." Third on day one was Vor rider Roman Michalik. Finishing a strong fourth in the 400cc championship, he failed to finish day two due to a mechanical DNF. Third on day two was Swedish rider Daniel Persson. Anders Eriksson claimed Husqvarna's third '02 World enduro title with a winning performance in the 500cc Four-Stroke class on day one. Finishing just 1 1/2 seconds ahead of Finn Mika Ahola, Eriksson claimed his sixth Four-Stroke title, his third in the Over 500cc class. "It has been a great year for me this season," he said. "I was better prepared at the start of the year and have tried to be consistent all year." Second on day one, before winning day two, Ahola knew that the championship was Anders' to lose, but he nevertheless continued to show the determination he has all year. "It's been a tough year, having to ride with my shoulder brace," Ahola said. "It's made things really difficult. Hopefully, next year I'll be fully fit and able to win." Third place on day one went to home rider Andreas Toresson, on the factory Husaberg, while teammate Bjorne Carlsson claimed third on day two. Bjorne didn't finish day one due to an ignition problem, but he claimed third in the series. CN Swedish Enduro Elcsju, Sweden Results: June 15-16, 2002 (GG): 7. Riku Riihelainen (KTM); 8. Zdenek Gottvald (Hus); 9. Richard Larsson (TM); 10. Veltteri Salonen (Hus); 11. Homero Diaz (TM); 12. Fredrik Georgsson (KTM); 13. Rickard Hansson (KTM); 14. Pablo Peli (Vam); 15. Edwold Jones (KTM). 250: 1. Samuli Aro (Hus); 2. Helder Rodrigues (Han); 3. Simon Wilk (TM); 4. Sebastien Guillaume (Hus); 5. David Knight (Yam); 6. Jani Laaksonen (GG): 7. Xacob Agra (KTM): 8. Euan McConnell (Hus); 9. Janne Suominen (Kaw); 10. Thomas Bengtsson (Yam); 11. Francis Renato (KTM); 12. Bjorn Johansson (Hon); 13. Martin Gottveld (Hus); 14. Joakim Johansson (Han); 15. Chris Hockey (Hus). DAY 1 125: l. Petri Pohjemo (GG); 2. Petteri Silvan (Hus); 3. Simone Albergoni (KTM); 4. MlUC Gennein (Vern): 5. Richard Larsson (TM); 6. Mikko Pihlajevesi (KTM); 7. Valneri Salonen (Hus); 8. Zdenek Gottveld (Hus); 9. Homero Diaz; 10. Rlku Rihelainen (KTM); 11. Rickard Hansson (KTM); 12. Pablo Peli (Vern); 13. Fredrik Georgsson (KTM); 14. Edward Jones (KTM); 15. Stevie Roper (KTM). 250: 1. Sllmuli Arc (Hus): 2. Helder Rodriguez (Hon); 3. David Knight (Yam); 4. Sebastian Guillaume (Hus); 5. Simon Wilk (TM); 6. Jllni Laaksonen (GG); 7. Euan McConnell (Hus); B. Xecob Agrlll (KTM): 9. Jenne Suomlnen (Kaw); 10. Bjorn Johansson (Hon); 11. Daniel Johansson (Hon); 12. FnllOcis Lopez (KTM); 13. Thomas Bengtsson (Y8m); 14. J08kim Johansson (Hon); 15. Chris Hockey (Hus). 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvall (Yam); 2. Paul Edmondson (Hus); 3. Oblucki Bartosz (Hus); 4. Nikl"s Gustafsson (KTM); 5. Gerard Farres (KTM); 6. Erno Aro (Yam); 7. Daniel Eld (Yam); 8. Gjermund Frostlld (Yam); 9. Marc Joriot (Hus); 10. Orlol Tort (KTM); 11. Patrick Hess (Yam); 12. Rowan Jones (Yam); 13. Danlelle Tellini (Yam); 14. Pelle Svensson (Yam); 15. Dirk Schumann (Hus). 400 4-STRK: 1. Juha Solminen (KTM); 2. Mots Andreasson (Yam); 3. Roman Michalik (Vor); 4. Stefan Merriman (Hus): 5. Marko Tarkkala (Hbg); 6. Alessandro Botturi (KTM); 7. Jonas Hermansson (Hbg); 8. Daniel Persson (Yam); 9. Vesa Kytonen (GG); 10. Larry Gustafsson (Hbg); 11. Par Olsson (KTM); 12. Torbjorn Back (Hbg); 13. Joan Jou (KTM); 14. Christoff Gustafsson (Yam); 15. Rickard Svenman (Hus). 500 4-STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Mika Ahola (Vor); 3. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 4. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 5. Jordi Duran (KTM); 6. Milan Barros (KTM); 7. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 8. Fabio Farioli (KTM); 9. Mario Rinaldi (Yam); 10. Richard Hay (Hus); 11. Carl Bjerkert (KTM); 12. Linus Broman (KTM); 13. Laurent Bouffioux (KTM); 14. Tobias Auerswald (Hus); 15. Potrik Gorl (KTM). DAV 2 125: 1. Simone Albergoni (KTM); 2. Petri 250 4-STRK: 1. Peter Bergvall (Vem); 2. Paul Edmondson (Hus); 3. Niklas Gustafsson (KTM); 4. Daniel Eld (Yem); 5. Gjermund Frosted (Yem); 6. Gerard Farres (KTM); 7. Marc Joriot (Hus); 8. LarsErik Larsson (Yam); 9. Mike Sassi (Yam); 10. Patrick Hess (Yam); 11. Rowan Jones (Yam): 12. Pelle Svensson (Yam); 13. Dirk Schumann (Hus); 14. Bjorn Sjoo (Yam). 400 4-STRK: 1. Juhe Salminen (Hus); 2. Mats Andreassen (Yam): 3. Daniel Persson (Yam); 4. Vesa Kytonen (GG); 5. Jonas Hermansson (Hbg); 6. Marko Tarkkala (Hbg); 7. Larry Gustafsson (Hbg); 8. Alessandro Botturi (KTM); 9. Par Olsson (KTM); 10. Christoff Gustafsson (Yam); 11. Joan Jou (KTM); 12. Torbjom back (Hbg); 13. Magnus Olofsson (KTM); 14. Rickard Svenmen (Hus); 15. Arto Rintakoski. 500 4-STRK: 1. Mika Ahola (Vor); 2. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 3. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 4. Ivan IAbove) Petteri Silvan had an up-anddown weekend, finishing second on day one and crashing out on day two. He wrapped up the 125cc World Championship after his points haul on day one. Cervantes (KTM); 5. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 6. Mario Rinaldi (Yam); 7. Milan Barros (KTM); 8. Giovanni Sala (KTM): 9. Cerl Bjerkert (KTM); 10, Unas Bromen (KTM); 11. Thomas Berglund (KTM); 12. Patrick Gor! (KTM); 13. Laurent Bouffloux (KTM); 14. Tobias Auersweld (Hus); 15. Jordi Duran (KTM). WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS (After 7 of 7 rounds): 125: I. Petteri Silvan (Hus); 2. Richerd Larsson (TM); 3. Petri Pohjemo (GG). 250: I. Samuli Aro (Hus); 2. Dovid Knight (Vam); 3. Jiri Laaksonen (GG). 250 4·STRK: I. Peter Bergvall (Yam); 2. Paul Edmondson (Hus): 3. Oblucki Bartosz (Hus). 400 4-STRK: 1. Juhe Salminen (KTM); 2. Stephen Merriman (Hus); 3. Merco Terkkala (Hbg). 500 4-STRK: I. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 2. Mike Ahola (Vor): 3. Bjome Cerlsson (Hbg). BRIEFLY••• Despite Failing to put his name to the 500cc Four-stroke World Championship. Finn Mika Ahola was happy to Finish as runner-up For the second consecutive year to Swedish rival Anders Eriksson. having been Forced to sit out much of '02. "I had two options at the beginning of the year." explained Ahola. who badly damaged his right shoulder dUring preseason training in Italy... I could either have an operation to repair the damaged ligaments. or ride with a brace. I decided to ride with the brace. which has been really difficult." Ahola will undergo surgery after the final round of the Italian Enduro Championship and will be out of action For three months. With his Fourth World Enduro Championship title in the bag, KTM Factory rider Juha Salminen will now tum his attention to the motocross GPs as he takes a break from the enduro scene. "It's important For me to take a break From enduros." said Salminen. '" need to have a new focus For a while and be around different people; then I will come to ISDE and be ready to win. I'm hoping to race in the Open class in Genk and Gauildorf on a 520 KTM." Salminen is no stranger to the MX scene. as he Finished 12th in the 250cc class in Namur. Belgium. last season. Pohjomo (GG); 3. Mikko Pihlajavesi (KTM); 4. Marc Germ"in (Yam): 5. Mika Saarenkoski: 6. Jari Mattila The eH Racing Husqvama team Finished what has been a challenging year For them as the most successful team in '02. having claimed World titles in the 125cc. 250cc and 500cc Fourstroke classes. With Financial difficulties (due to the takeover of the MV Augusta group by Piaggio. leaving the team with an extremely tight budgetl. the Fabrizio Azzalin-managed squad also Finished as runners-up in the 250cc Four-stroke and 400cc Four-stroke classes. Australian Stefan Merriman was a nonstarter in the 400cc Four-Stroke class on day two in Sweden. deciding not to ride after championship rival Juha Salminen claimed the 400cc title with a class-topping ride on day one. With the knee he injured on day one in Finland giving him problems. and with second place in the class ensured. Merriman spent the day watching his rivals in the two motocross tests. We are the champions! After the disappointing event in Finland one week earlier, many riders commented positively about Ihe Swedish round of the championship. saying that it had one of the best courses of the year. With one cross-country test (situated near the start/finish area) and two motocross tests. the Four laps on day one and three laps on day two proved to be to everyone's liking. -The distance between all the special tests was great this weekend." said 250cc World Champion Samuli Aro. "Because the lap was smaller. and because there was more of them. we were riding for 25 to 35 minutes. then into a test and then back onto the course For another 25 10 35 minutes. and so on. It meant that you never had time to get bored." Farioli KTM rider Simone Albergoni claimed his first-ever World Championship class win with victory in the eighth-liter division on day two. Having placed a strong third on day one. Albergoni. who Flew into the Portuguese and Greek rounds of the championship at the 11 th hour after sitting through entrance examinations for the Italian police force. Finished the year Fifth in class in only his First full season of WEC competition. c y .. I e n _ VII' S JULY 10, 2002 51

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