Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 1 1 : Loketske Ser,-penting being Eric Geboers), taking the 125cc crown in 1991, the 250cc titles in 1995, '96 and '97, and his two 500cc championships in 2001 and this year - truly an amazing career. Everts has also won his championships with the four major Japanese factories, Suzuki (1991), Kawasaki ('95), Honda ('96 and '97) and Yamaha ('01 and '02). Though somewhat overlooked in the hub-bub over Everts' achievement, Smets' accomplishment was also impressive. The KTM factory pilot, who is a four-time World champ in his own rite, has won six Grands Prix this year alone, and he had a legitimate shot at another title for much of the season. "Stefan' was always on the podiurn," Smets said. "I had trouble with my bike in Austria and Italy, and I knew when those two GPs were over that I would struggle to catch him. He's a worthy World Champion, although I feel to have proved to everyone that I am as quick or quicker than him." With Mickael Pichon having won his 250cc Championship two weeks ago in Germany, this round's 250ccclass race was somewhat of an anticlimactic affair. The French Suzuki rider was not about to back off, though, STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER LOKEr, CZECH REPOBUC, SEP. 1 IV'J7 hen Stefan Everts crossed the lJLJ finish line in the 500cc portion of the historic penultimate round in Eastern Europe, he moved one step closer to becoming the most successful Motocross Grand Prix rider ever. In finishing second to Joel Smets on the day, the already legendary Belgian captured his sixth World Championship - moving into a tie with countryman Joel Robert for the record. "I've dreamed about this championship," Everts said. "When I was growing up, Joel Robert and Roger DeCoster were the legends of our country. Today, I have equaled the record of Robert - that is really an incredible feeling. I knew after my injuries in 1999 and 2000, it would be difficult to win more World titles, and with Joel Smets also racing the 500cc class, it was not going to be easy. My family now has 10 World Motocross Championships; that's really something special." (Stefan's father, Harry, is a four-time World Champion.) The Yamaha rider ads his sixth World title to his 54 Grand Prix overall victories, plus he is one of only two riders to have ever won championships in all three classes (the other 34 SEPTEMBER II, 2002' ICI U ICI • • n • ..., s and he is now using the remainder of the season to keep his form good for the upcoming Motocross des Nations. Pichon took victory number 10 for the year, and his eighth in a row. With the win, Pichon also equaled the record held by Smets for most consecutive wins in a season. At the final round in Russia, the Frenchman will go for the outright record. "Winning is always fun," Pichon said. "It is even easier if you don't have any pressure on. With the championship already won, I could take it a little easier. The early part of the race was tough; Coppins really kept the pressure on for those first few laps." New Zealander Coppins finished second on his Honda to Pichon for the fifth time this season, while in third place was last year's 125cc World Champion James Dobb, on the factory KTM. The 125cc class is still open, and the winner won't be decided until the Russian race in two weeks. Skinny Frenchman Mickael Maschio took the win in Loket, and in doing so moved to 10 points ahead of Patrick Caps in the title chase. Caps' day turned into a nightmare, as he struggled after a bad start. Also out of the runnjng early was Caps' fellow Belgian, Steve By finishing second In the Czech Republic, Stefan Everts clinched his sixth Wortd Championship, moving Into a tie for the record wtth Joel Robert. Everts has won titles In every class. Ramon. Ramon and Caps entered the first few corners outside the top 10 after a turn-one crash between Ben Townley and Antoine Lettelier caused them both to lose places. 12Scc GP Maschio bolted out of the start and, after temporarily relinquishing to an early charge from American Trampas Parker, moved into the lead, followed by Parker, Philippe Dupasquier, American Jeff Dement and Mark De Reuver. Caps and Ramon trailed after being involved in the turn-one accident with Ben Townley. (While neither Caps nor Ramon went down, their progress was slowed due to the crash; Ramon held 13th place and Caps 17th.) Maschio was hauling as he moved away from then-second-placed Dupasquier, who had passed Parker, yet it was the two Belgians who were making thjs race an exciting one. By lap five, Ramon held sixth and Caps ninth, but Maschio was not about to begin looking over his shoulder just yet. "I didn't know were they were,"

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