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(Leftl The 250cc race heads out for Its final race of the year - and It was a good one. Mlckael PIchon (out front In the photo) chased down Joshua Coppins (already out of frame in the leacl), and when the two collided, the KIwi went down, handing Pichon his 11 th win of the season. (Above) Steve Ramon, TyIa Rattray, Patrick Caps and Maachio (from right to left) all left the line together, but Maachlo got out in front of the KTMs. Eventually, Ramon would work his way Into the lead and take the win. Garcia seemed lost in the fact that he won the GP due to his teammate slowing down. The always upbeat and very likable Spaniard laughed and smiled after the race. "I am so happy," Garcia said, "to win my first Grand Prix. I have worked hard this year and on many occasions raced alongside Smets and Everts, two of the greatest Grand Prix riders ever. I realize I can now win races, and next year, with the others moving to the 250cc class, I have a good chance for the 500cc championship." Smets, still dumbfounded at the result, continued to impress - without a doubt the four-time World 500cc Motocross Champion was the quickest Open-class rider of the year in Europe. "I think I had a good year," Smets said. "Despite not winning the championship, I proved to many people that I am the best 500cc rider. I can race with Stefan, and on many occasions I have beaten him. Today was a strange race for me. I 500cc GP time this year. But Pichon was not about to take any cheek from his rival, and within a few corners of Coppins' taking the lead, Pichon repassed the Kiwi and then moved over on him, bringing Coppins down in the move and racing away with the victory. "I gave him some room," Coppins said. "I should have blocked my line better, although he didn't need to come over as far as he did. I think he did it on purpose - he knew I was stronger than him today. I know my condition is better than his, and I really think he looked for an easy wayout." Pichon, who had only lost one GP all year (and that was due to a firstturn tumble in Germany at round three), saw it another way. "I just passed him and we collided," Pichon said. "I don't need to crash into him on purpose. My condition is not good, though. I've been taking it easy since I won the championship. Next time I come back to Russia, "II come back in lOO-percent condition and show I'm the best here." From the moment Smets and Garcia hit turn one in first and second place, there was a general feeling that something strange could happen. Smets, who had really been the master of the 500cc class this year, never appeared to be in any real danger of losing the race, while Garcia had fought off the challenge of Everts to hold down the runner-up position. Everts, who had tried in vain to attack the two KTM riders, knew early that his race was for a podium place and not a victory. "This track is very fast," Everts said. "It's really a difficult track for me - you're always on the throttle, and that's tough with my bike. In the end, I just let Garcia go, and Smets was long gone." cue I • n (Below) Joel Smeta (2) grabbed the holeshot and flat left everybody on his way to an apparent victory, until KTM ordered him aside so his teammate Javier Vico Garcia could get the win and clinch third In points. Stefan Everts (1) finished third. e _ S • SEPTEMBER 25. 2002 13