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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128169
World Motocross Championship Series Round 10: German Grand Prix his usual trick of pushing that little bit harder than his rivals, despite some tense moments. "I came into Germany really nervous," Pichon said. "Just like last year, I thought a lot about the championship. I won the title in Gaildorf in 2001, and while this is not as exciting as that win, it's still very special. I had a tougher year this year - Josh Coppins and some of the others proved to be quicker than last year." With the championship now tucked away in his luggage, the twotime World 250cc Motocross Champion will turn his attention to the Motocross des Nations in America in a month's time. STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER GAILDORF, GERMANY, AOG. 18 orona Suzuki rider Mickael Pichon is once again a World 250cc Motocross Champion. In front of 15,000 screaming German spectators, the french hero took his eighth win of the season around the treacherous Gaildorf circuit in the north of Germany, and that was enough to secure his second successive World Championship. Pichon did it the tough way in round 10 of the 12-round series. Having gated around 10th place, Pichon fought his way past Johnny Aubert, then pushed his Suzuki around early leader Alessio Chiodi on lap four. Once in the lead, it was all over as the quickest rider in Europe began 34 AUGUST 28, 2002 • cue I "I can now look towards the des Nations," Pichon said. "I have won the championship, and it's been a e n _ VII' S tough year. I know, though, if I can beat Ricky Carmichael, it will make the season even better. 1 will go to America with the intention of doing the best I can. I know if I can beat Carmichael, he'll be pretty angry. Everyone is thinking he can beat me, so the pressure is not on me." Finishing behind Pichon in Gaildorf was Pit Beirer and Frederic Bolley, while New Zealand's Josh Coppins finished fourth on a privateer Honda after being fired by his Vismara Honda team on the Friday of the Grand Prix. While Pichon took his second consecutive World Championship, Belgian Stefan Everts is only a heartbeat away from taking his sixth crown. Everts had to be satisfied with second place in Germany, though, as the Alessio Chiodi (73) got the jump on the 250cc field in Germany, but Mickael Pichon (1) Is simply on another level in Europe, and he came from behInd to take another easy win. Pit Beirer 15), Josh Coppins 16), Frederic Bolley (7), James Dobb (64) and Kenneth Gunderson (67) gave chase early on. 500cc win went to fellow Belgian Joel Smets, with Yves Demaria finishing third. In the 125cc class, it was once again a battle between Mickael Maschio and the two Belgian youngsters, Patrick Caps and Steve Ramon. In the end, it was Maschio taking the win and the series points lead, while Caps has to be satisfied that he is only one point off Maschio with two rounds remaining in the championship.