Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Tinterim Superbike Challenge Circuit de Mettet STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER Il\ETTET, BELGIUM, OCT. 13 n a field that included six-time Superbiker winner Stephane Chambon, six-time World Motocross Champion Stefan Everts, four-time World Motocross Champion Joel Smets, Isle Of Man winner David Jefferies, double World 250cc Champion Frederic Bolley, X-Games winner Mike Metzger, Superbike hero Chris Walker, ISDE gold-medal winner David Fretigne and a host of other former World Champions, it came as a huge surprise when little-known Belgian Frederic Fiorentino came out on top at the 16th running of the Tinterim Superbiker Challenge. Under overcast skies and in front of 20,000 ~pectators, the KTMmounted Fiorentino took the lead on I 44 OCTOBER 30, 2002' cue I e (Above) Little-known Frederic Fiorentino topped the world-class field at the Tinterim Superbike Challenge in Belgium. of American Superbike legend Scott Russell. Despite his name on the coming onto the dirt section after a long straight. We had to ride around a advertising and also in the program, the American failed to arrive at the (Above right) One of those who Fiorentino beat was 500cc World Motocross Champion Stefan Everts (2). race. The Mettet weekend began with a Starbiker final, which pitted the bestknown riders together. This was without a doubt the best race of the day, as Chambon battled early with tire, and I was really trying to make the corner as short as possible, then I came in too close and hit the tire. It broke my rear-brake lever off, and that was it for me." With Smets back in the paddock, Chambon raced away for an easy win, followed by Sebastien Le Grelle and Everts, taking the final podium place. Everts had no answer for the Supermotard regulars. the opening lap and was never headed, despite a late-race challenge by Stephane Chambon. Fiorentino finished two seconds ahead of Chambon, with another Supermotard regular, Eric Delannoy, in third place. As for the stars of the weekend, Everts scored sixth place, Smets 11 th, Bolley 17th, Fretigne 22nd, Jefferies 34th, Metzger 38th, and Walker 41st. The biggest disappointment for the crowd, though, was the non-showing n • _ so Smets. Smets, showing brilliant style, latched onto the back wheel of Chambon. After six laps, though, Smets began to slow, first losing "It's been pretty slippery," Everts ground on Chambon, and then getting passed by Sebastien Le Grelle and Everts. One lap later, Smets said. "In tire selection, these guys know what to do; we are a little unsure what to use, and that makes a retired to the pits. "I felt really comfortable," Smets said. "There was one part of the track which I was really going great; it was big problem. I feel good, and third place is okay." World Superbike competitor Chris Walker produced a fourth-place fin-