Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~I FIM World Championship Supermoto Series Round 1 : Circuit de Citadelle sUP-!!!irn~rd rAE RM'S NEW Sl1PERMOTO SER'ES GETS ~E GREEN F[A~ STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER NAMUR, BELGIUM, JUNE 14 (8, nder overcast skys, French hero Thierry Van I'U supermotard Den Bosch won the opening round of early heat race, Van Den Bosch also won, giving him a good position on the grid for the final. "This is a great way to start the championship," Van Den Bosch said. "I am not looking at the cham- the World Supermoto Championship (Right) Frenc:h KTM star Thierry Van Den Bosc:h won the inaugural rac:e of the new World Supennoto Championship. (Below) The runner-up was another Frenc:hman, Boris Chambon, riding a Husqvama. He is a fonner winner of the famous Guidon d'Or supennotard rac:e In Paris and one of the title favorites. beJd at the legendary Circuit de Citadelle in Namur, Belgium. The 25year-old Frenchman, who rides for the KTM factory team, showed awesome speed, taking the lead early in the 24-lap race and then, despite a strong challenge by Boris Chambon, and winning by four seconds. In the The World Supermoto Series is run over eight rounds, although it is understood that next year's series could have as many as 16. Many nations have shown interest in the new World title, with this year's championship being run in Belgium, Holland, Austria, America, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, and France. Race organizer Giuseppe Luongo, who took the World Motocross Championships to another level with the Action Group organization, is excited about the his new baby. uThis is even more exciting than when we started with the motocross championship," Luongo said. "This type of racing is really taking off in England, America and Australia. This should also bring some great riders to road racing and other forms of motorcycle racing. In 2003, we want 16 rounds run all over the world. In road racing, motocross and speedway, the riders slide the machines - supermoto is a cheap form of racing and can give many young riders the chance to leam and move into one of the other forms of racing. We also have organized so many great facilities for this series. It was important to run the opening round in Namur; this is the best off-road circuit in the world and has such a great atmosphere. We have secured major television for this series and, like we did with motocross, we can see this series becoming much bigger. If FIM President Francesco Zerbi and Motocross President Wolfgang Srb both attended the Namur event; it was a strong show of support from the FIM. "This series is so important for the development of riders," Zerbi said. "I know road racing is very strong: however, I have a good feeling about this series. You can see here that this is already an exciting series. Next year, we will go over many different countries and some of the best facilities for this form of racing. It would also be important to try and secure a round in England; supermoto is really taking off in that country, and we know the British people are 1DO-percent behind their motorcycle racing." pionship at all, just one race at a Van Den Bosch, though, knows time. I knew it would be tough here that the championship will only get more difficult as the series reaches today; this track has a lot of dirt sections and, for me. it was difficult to work the dirt out. In practice this morning and yesterday, I the later stages. "At the moment, Stephane [Chambon] is not racing this series," Van really worked hard on getting a Den Bosch said. "His priorities are in good setup, and that paid off today. I also learned some good the World Supersport Championship. lines in the dirt section, which is where I seemed to make up time I hope this series can springboard me into that series. I know the top motocross riders and some Ameri- on Boris [Chambon]. He pushed me early, and I had to find some quicker places in the track. After cans want to do this series, so later in five or six laps, I could feel I was Runner-up Boris Chambon, the younger brother of Stephane and a the year we will get much tougher opposition. " JULY 31.2002· eye • III n e vw s winner of the famous Guidon d'Or easier for me." 66 making time on him and could get away. From there, it was much Supermotard race in Paris, came to

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