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FIM World Championship Motocross Series with Coppins and had to take third place." 500cc GP Smets and Everts have pretty much owned the Open class this year, and while one or the other of the two Belgian legends has raced. away with all but one of the previous 10 rounds, this race showed no slowing up for the two. Smets led from the first turn, and by the second corner, Everts was on his right shoulder. Lap after lap, the two showed the world that, on four-stroke machinery, they are possibly a threat to the powerful American team at the Motocross lies Nations. Third place in the early going was held by CAS Honda rider Vehvilainen. A 250cc regular, the Finn held off Javier Vico Garcia, Yves Demaria and (Left) Newly recrowned 250cc champ Mickael Pichon scored his eighth win in a row, tying him for a record with Smets. (Above) Frenchman Mickael Maschlo gamered the 125cc win, putting him in good. position to wrap up the tiddler title at the final round. The 125cc class is the only division not clinched earty. Marnicq Bervoets. With three laps gone, Smets seemed to be making a break on Everts, while Vehvilainen had dropped a long way off the pace of the leaders. Smets, however, Was actually hoping his work wasn't over yet. "I was waiting for Stefan," Smets said. "I wanted him to race with me. The championship was just about Rui Goncalves (KTM); 13. Jeff Dement (Hon)'; 14. Christian Stevlminl (SOl); 15. Tanel Leok (KTM). 250c<: GP: 1. Mickllel Pichon (Suz); 2. Josh get enough points was by having a race with him and him making a mistake." POINTS STANDINGS (After II of 12 rounds): 1. Stefan Everts (248/4 Wins); 2. Joel Smets (207/6 Coppins (Hon): 3. James Dobb (KTM): 4, Jussl over, and the only way I was going to Vico (200); 5. Andrea Bartolini (144): 6, Vves Vehvllainen (Hon): 5. Gordon Crockard (KTM); 6. Carl Nunn (Hus); 7. Andrew McFarlane (Kaw); 8. Kenneth Gundersen (Kaw); 9. Paul Cooper (Hon); 10. Chris Martin (Suz); 11. Christian Beggl (Hon); 12. Mark Eastwood (Hon) 13. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 14. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 15. Pit Beirer (Hon). While Smets' notion seemed logical, Everts wasn't about to cooperate. 500cc GP: I. Joel Smets (KTM) 2. Stefan Everts "I attacked Joel for a little while," Everts said. "Passed him for a little (Yam); 3. Javier Vico Garcia (KTM); 4. Jussi Vehvilainen (Hon); 5. Andree Blirtolini (Hon); 6. Yves Demarie (KTM); 7. Brilln Jorgensen (Hus); 8. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 9. Roman Jelen (Hon) 10. James while. I wanted to come here and win Noble (Hon): 11. Peter Iven (KTM): 12. Mark Jones (Hon); 13, Donny Theybers (KTM). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 125« MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 11 of 12 rounds): 1. the title and the GP, but I got into a small battle with him, and I decided to slow and take a safe second place Mickael Maschio (207/4 wins); 2. Patrick Caps (197/ 1 win) 3. Steve Ramon (196/1 win); 4. Philippe Dupasquier (172); 5. Alex Puzar (169/1 win); 6. Ben and the championship. I could have Townley (125/1 win): 7. Tyla Rattray (104): 8. Jeff tried harder to win the moto, but I Dement (103) 9. Christian Stevanini (88); 10. Trampes Parker (84); 11. Stephen Sword (80) 12. Erik Eggens (76); 13. Mark De Reuver (76); 14. Luigi didn't want to risk crashing doing that. It was not worth it." eN Seguy (75): IS. Serge Guidetty (61). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 250« MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After II of 12 rounds): 1. Loketske Serpentlng Loket, Czech Republic Results: September 1, 2002 (Round 11 of 12] Mickael Pichon (263/l0wins); 2. Josh Coppins (200): 3. Pit Beirer (189): 4. James Dobb (159): 5. 125c<: GP: 1. Mickael Maschio (Kaw) 2. Steve Ramon (KTM); 3. MlIrk De Reuver (KTM); 4. Philippe Kenneth Gundersen (147/1); 6. Frederic Bolley (146); 7. Gordon Crockard (140); 8. Andrew McFarlane (119); 9. JU5si Vehvileinen (111); 10. Dupasquier (KTM): 5. Patrick Cops (KTM): 6. Alessio Chiodi (102): 11. Johnny Aubert (100); 12, Trampas Parker (KTM); 7. Billy McKenzie (Yam); 8. Paul Cooper (93); 13. Marko Kovalainen (86); 14. Alex Puzar (Hus): 9, Stephen Sword (KTM): 10. Jarratt De Jager (Kaw); 11. Erik Eggens (KTM): 12. Carl Nunn (80): 15. Christian Beggi (68). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 500cc MOTOCROSS SERIES American racer Tallon Vohland has announced his retirement. The rider who brought so much excitement to both the World Motocross Series and AMA Supercross and National Motocross Series will hang up his helmet at the Russian Grand Prix in two weeks. Vohland ended up 17th at the Czech 125cc GP and holds 20th place in the points chase; those numbers are not what Vohland is all about. The northern Califomian had rid· den strongly in his heat race to finish up third, but he found himself a casualty of first-lap crashes in Sunday's main race; although he didn't fall, he was lucky to miss an incident involving three riders off a big step-down jump involVing three riders. The Kawasaki rider found himself at the back of the pack and used all his effort to fight his way through the field. With three laps remaining, be had moved into 15th place and begun to dose in on 14th, but youngsters Tanel Leok and Tyla Rattray both got past the 30-year-old on the final lap. "My start wasn't so good," Vohland said.' There was a big crash on the first lap, which I just missed, so I was at the back. It was hard to come through because It was such a fast track, but I had some good battles - especially with Espen. I was disappointed with my final laps; I fought as hard as I could to keep those two kids behind me, but it was such a hard and fast race for me, 1just didn't have enough in me.' Vohla,nd' s final race should be the British Championship round at Polesworth on October6. 38 SEPTEMBER 1 1 • 2002' a U a • e n e _ s wIns); 3. Marnicq Bervoets (204); 4. Javier Garcia Demaria (121/1 win); 7. Romen Jelen (110); 8. Brian Jorgensen (91): 9. Donny Theybers (78): 10. Avo Leok (77): 11. (TIE) James Noble/Thierry Bethys (72): 13. Cedric Melotte (70): 14. Fabrizio Dini (65): IS. Christlan Bumham (62). Upcoming Round: Final Round - Sorochany, Russia, september 15 BRIEFLY•• • The Belgian Motocross des Nations team has been picked. with Mamicq Bervoets. Stefan Everts and Joel Smets all making the squad. With Callfomia's Competition Park circuit said to be rather fast. and the soil being based on sand and clay, the three Beigian four·stroke riders could hold an advantage over Ihe other teams. Other strong MXdN teams include Australia (with Chad Reed. Andrew McFarlane and Michael Byrne), France (with Mickael Pichon, Sebastien Tortelli and Yves Demaria), Italy (with Alessio Chiodi. Andrea Bartolini and Alex Puzar). South Africa (with Greg Albertyn. Grant Langston and Tyla Rattray). New Zealand (with Josh Coppins, Ben Townley. and Shayne King). and England (with James Dobb. James Noble and Paul Cooper). The Wortd Supercross Championship could move to Japan and Australia at the end of 2003. if the rumors in Europe hold any truth. With Geneva. Switzerland. and Amhem. Holland, beginning this year's series. it will be interesting to see how many of the top Americans line up on the gate in Europe. KTM riders Jeremy McGrath and Grant I..8ngston are already committed. and names like Chad Reed. David Vuillemin, and Mickael Pichon have been mentioned as possi· ble entranls. With the 2002 season just about over. there is talk about where Doma might hold 2003 MX rounds. Although a British Grand Prix is a possibility. the hoped·for Australian Grand Prix will not happen. The Australian promoter realized that a profit is not possible due to the cost of run· ning a Grand Prix. Doma had also been in talks with Hawkstone Park in England for a British Grand Prix, which will not happen for the same reason. but a new promoter in England (not Hawkstone) came forward at the Czech GP and had talked wilh Dorna about the possibility of a GP coming to England. Other countries still in the running are Belgium (two), Holland (two), France (two). and Germany. Buigaria. Sweden. Czech Republic. Italy and Spain (one each). The FIM is disappointed Ihat an AMA National and FIM World round will not be run on the same track on the same weekend in 2003. It seems that the FIM contacted Ihe AMA about running the two championships on Ihe same weekend and were met with something other than enthusiasm from the AMA . not surprising. when you consider thaI the AMA series is going through a very strong period of record crowds, while the FIM series is struggling for spectator attendance, Belgian 125cc rider Patrick Caps made the seemingly crazy decision of racing both the 125cc and 250cc classes in the Czech Republic, despite holding down second place in the tiddler series. with just one point separating himself from the title·chase leader Mickael Maschio. .. Because I am inside Ihe top lOin the points. we only get like 20 minutes to practice on Saturday and then again a short practice on Sunday morning." he said. "I don't feel it is enough time to get used to the track. Racing the 250cc class gave me more time on the track." Caps finished a long way back in the 250cc race; in fact. he was lapped by third-place·finisher James Dobb. Two-time champ Frederic Bolley had intended to race the Open·c1ass moto. but aher a less· than·impressive performance in the 250cc race (due to an injured ankle), he decided not to com· pete in the 500cc race. -It's dissapointing." 'Bolley said. "I wanted to do both classes. However. aher the injury. I just could not do it." It now seems the Frenchman may miss the last GP of the year. which was to be his last MX GP ever. as Bolley will switch to a roadracing career in 2003. I I: II