Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128208
FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 1 : Circuit de Catalunya The 2003 FIM World Championship MX Series jumped into gear in Spain, as did the new MotocrossGP class, which pits many of the top riders in one class. Evertsl Smets easy prey for the Corona Suzuki rider STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER BELLPUlG, SPAIN, MAR. 30 1m! ickael Pichon showed again just ~why he is the two-time World 250cc MX Champion following his seemingly easy win at the opening round of the FIM World Championship MX Series at the Circuit de Catalunya. Pichon, who captured his 26th career Grand Prix victory, showed Joel Smets and Stefan Everts that the 2003 season could be a long one for the former and current champions. Pichon's victory came after many predicted that Stefan Everts would put serious pressure on the Frenchman, yet when it came time to put down the wood, Pichon stood alone - all alone. "I felt nervous for sure," the Corona Suzuki rider said. "I think we all come into the first Grand Prix tight - I know I was - and I'm sure Stefan and Joel were also feeling the nerves. I am so surprised by all this; I am still recovering from my operation a few weeks ago and have not ridden as much as I would have liked, so this is a good situation for me. I know that Joel and Stefan won't just lay down now. I'm expecting them to come back in Valkensvaard in two weeks and be stronger." Some off-season questions were asked about the mental strength of Pichon, as it seemed that everyone from James Dobb to Everts looked at Pichon as weak, and with a little pushing he would collapse in a heap. While Pichon did make a small mistake on lap three of the MotocrossGP (Left) For the first time, Europe's elite - Michael Pichon, Stefan Everts and Joel Smets - all competed against one another at the same time. Pichon's winning wasn't too much of a surprise, but how easily he won was a surprise. (Right) Stefan Everts didn't have an answer for Pichon in Spain and had to settle for third. 26 APRIL 9, 2003' cue I e n e vv s moto, he proved that his sheer speed is just too much for even the likes of Smets and Everts. At least this weekend. Many expected a battle among Pichon, Everts and Smets in the new MotocrossGP class, and while the three competitors did race hard for the first five laps of the main event, it was Pichon who turned the race around with two laps of amazing speed. Pichon did it the easy way, rounding the first lap in second place before dropping back to third, then passing both Claudio Federici and Smets on lap five to take the lead. Within half a lap Pichon had opened his lead to four seconds, and by the end of the 22-lap race, he was nearly 10 second ahead of Smets. It was easy going for the Frenchman, for Pichon, it was a surprisingly easy day's work. "I was sitting back," Pichon said. "I thought, 'It's a pretty slow pace; everyone must be waiting to make a move,' but it never happened - nobody put the pressure on. I was really surprised that the first few laps were very easy. I made a small mistake on lap three,