~I
Motocross of Nations
Italy puts postpoaed-and-moved Motocross of Nations win in the books
By
GEOFF MEYER
PHOTOS BY MASSIMO ZANZANI
(Top) Yay! The
italian team.
consisting of
Andrea Bartolini
peft), Alex puzar
(middle) and
Alessio ChlodJ
(rightl.
outclassed the
thin Motocross
of Nations field
to win their
second title.
(Left) Bartolini
was the top
italian, finishing
second In the
malnevenL
16
NOVEMBER 6. 2002'
cue
•
_
n
__
s
BEllP(JIG, SPAIN, OCT. 20
(10 nder difficult conditions, and very
I Wmuch in the shadow of a rider
boycott, the Motocross of Nations
took place in Bellpuig, Spain. on
October 20. While the full-strength
Italian team of Andrea Bartolini,
Alessio Chiodi and Alex Puzar dominated the proceedings, it was a hollow victory.
In front of a crowd of around
10,000 people, Italy was just too
good for the remaining teams, most
of which were filled with very ordinary
riders - by Motocross of Nations standards. Italy - led by 1999 World
500cc Motocross Champion Bartolini,
and with great support by three-time
World 125cc Motocross Champion
Chiodi and former 125cc/250cc
World Motocross Champion Puzar took the win after finishing on five
points. Second place went to Belgium
(with 11) and third place went to Finland (with 12). The locally favored
Spanish team came home fourth after
