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
"I crashed once on day one and made one mistake on day two," Bergvall said. "Apart from that, everything went really well. If I hadn't have crashed on day one, I'd possibly have placed fifth in the scratch." Sala, who finished second both days, again struggled with a lack of horsepower on his KTM despite giving his usual I OO-percent effort. "I just don't have enough power," Sala said. "I'm not so disappointed, because although I didn't win, I'm not so far behind in the championship. It's a very long series, and hopefully the new bike will arrive from KTM soon." Third overall in the 250cc FourStroke class at the end of the weekend as well as on day one, Italian Roberto Buzzurri crashed too many times to make it two podium finishes despite showing good speed in his first year in the quarter-liter FourStroke class. Vor rider Roman Michalik, who topped the 450cc Four-Stroke class on both days, added 50 points to his already healthy championship tally, getting the upper hand on Italian Alex Zanni on day one and six-time World Champion Anders Eriksson on day two. Michalik, one of a number of riders who didn't like the course, finished nine seconds clear on day one and seven on day two. "I'm really pleased," Michalik said. "The flat grassy special test really suited me this weekend, and I only made one mistake on day two." Husqvarna rider Anders Eriksson, who finished third on day one, improved to second on day two, having pushed too hard to make up for some disappointing opening-test times on day one. He is still not 100-percent happy with the setup of his new bike, but Eriksson again proved that he has what it takes to ride a bike other than an over 500cc four-stroke. "I pushed too hard on day one after I saw that I wasn't so fast," Eriksson said. "I was struggling a little bit with my bike setup, as well, but day two was better." Third was KTM-mounted Italian Alessandro Botturi, who posted some impressively quick test times on day two. In the Over 500cc Four-Stroke class, Salminen again topped the class with ease despite feeling "sleepy" on day one. He said that his only other problem on day one had been the fact that he'd shredded the rear tire on his 525cc factory KTM. Salminen, as is now expected, produced two near flawless performances to finish comfortably ahead of Yamaha-mounted David Knight on day one and Spaniard Ivan Cervantes on day two. "I felt really sleepy on day one; maybe I ate too much," Salminen joked. "I didn't feel 100 percent, but I had no problems or crashes, which was important. I don't know if it was because of the power of the 500cc four-stroke or because I have very hard suspension, but my rear tire was completely finished at the end of day Peter Bergvall (shown) beat Giovanni Sala both days to take top honors in the 250cc Four-Stroke class. one. I tried to ride a little more conservatively today, which seemed to help." Marc Germain topped the 125cc class and showed that on flat, grassy tests, he's every bit as fast as his Scandinavian classmates and, on this occasion at least, much more consistent. Germain, who placed his Yamaha at the front of the class on day one by 24 seconds, found himself in second on day two, 17 seconds behind Gas Gas rider Petri Pohjamo. "I'm really happy," Germain said. "The flat, grassy tests are very good for me, and everything went well this weekend." Finn Pohjamo, second in class, probably would have topped day one, as well, had he not spent much of Saturday crashing. Every bit as fast as Germain, the hard-charging Pohjamo made too many small mistakes to challenge for the win. "My speed was good on day one, but I made too many mistakes," Pohjamo said. "Today was better." Pohjamo finished in 12th overall in the scratch on the day. For reigning 125cc World Champion Petri Silvan, the second round of the WEC series didn't go as planned, as the Finn struggled with an under, powered bike on day one. "I don't really know what the problem was, but the bike had no power above the midrange," Silvan said. "We changed a few things on the bike that made it better, but it wasn't perfect. " Silvan also lost a further 20 seconds when he overshot a corner in one of day two's seven tests. "I had to turn around and enter the test in the same place that I went out, so I lost some more time," Silvan said. "But I'm not too disappointed because now the series starts to head north, which is better for me." eN Sp.oin Two-Doys S.lomonca, Spoin RoIUIts: Mon:h 22-23, 2DD3 (Round 21 Day One 125: 1. Mere Germain (Yam); 2. Petteri Silvlln (KTM); 3. Mikll Sllllrenkoski (Hus); 4. Petri Pohjllmo (GG); 5. Homero Dial (KTM). 250: 1. Samuli Arc (KTM); 2. Stefan Merriman (Hon); 3. Jani Lo.ksonen (GG); 4. Jari Mattila (GG); 5. Seblllstizln Guillaume (Hus). 250 4-STRK: I. Peter Bergvall (Vern); 2. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 3. Roberto Buzzurrf (Hus); 4. (Left to right) Marc Germain, Roman Michalik, Peter Bergvall, Juha Salminen and Samuli Aro celebrate on the podium after day one, Mario Petreo (Yam): 5. Bartosz Obluckl (TM). 450 4·STRK: I. Roman Michalik (Vor); 2. Alex Zllnni (Han); 3. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 4. Alessandro Botturi (KTM). 500 4-STRK: 1. Juha S~lminen (KTM); 2. David Knight (Yam); 3. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 4. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 5. Mika Ahola (Vor). O/A: I. Samuli Aro (KTM); 2, Juha Salminen (KTM); 3. Stefan Merriman (Han): 4, Roman Michalik (Vor); 5. Alex Zanni (Han); 6. David Knight (Yam); 7. Peter Bergvall (Yam); 8. Jani u,aksonen (GG); 9. BJome Carlsson (Hbg); to. Anders Eriksson (Hus). Day Two 125: t. Petri Pohjamo (GG); 2. Marc Germllin (Yem); 3. Petteri Silvan (KTM); 4. Richard ursson (TM); 5. Mika Saarenkoski (Hus). 250: 1. SlImuli Aro (KTM); 2. Stefan Merriman (Hon); 3. Ja:ni Laaksonen (GG); 4. Sebllstian Guillaume (GG); 5. Helder Rodrigues (KTM). 250 4·STRK: I. Peter Bergvall (Yam); 2. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 3. Daniele Tellini (Yam); 4. Gerard Ferres (KTM); 5. Roberto Buuurri (Hus). 450 4·STRK: I. Roman Michalik (Vor); 2. Anders Eriksson (Hus): 3. Xavier Puigdemont (KTM); 4. Alessandro Botturi (KTM); 5. Marko Tarkkala (Hbg). 500 4-STRK: 1. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 3. Bjome Carlsson (Hbg); 4. David Knight (Yem); 5. Andreas Toresson (Hbg). O/A: l. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Samuli Aro (KTM); 3. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 4. Stefan Merriman (Hon); 5. Roman Michalik (Vor); 6. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 7. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 8. David Knight (Yam); 9. Jani Laaksonen (GG); 10. Peter Bergvall (Yam). WORLD ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDING: 125: 1. Petri Pohjamo (83); 2. Petri Silvan; 3. Marc Germain (67); 4. Rickard Larsson (45); 5. Homero Diaz (39). 250: 1. (TIE) Samuli Aro/Stefan Merriman (95): 3. Jani Laaksonen (61); 4. Helder Rodrigues (46); 5. Jari Mattila (44). 250 4-STRK: I. Peter BergvllllI (95); 2. Giovanni Sala (85); 3. Ro~rto Buuurri (48); 4. Gerard FlIrres (43); 5. Mario Patrao (41). 4504·STRK: 1. Anders Eriksson (86); 2. Roman Michalik (70); 3. Marko Tlirkkaill (57): 4. Xli vier Puigdemont (48). 500 4·STRK: 1. Juha Salminen (100); 2. David Knight (69): 3. IVlln Cervantes (62); 4. Bjorne Carlsson (55); 5. Mik. Ahola (52). O/A: 1. Juha SlIlminen (90); 2. Samuli Aro (83); 3. Stefan Merriman (60); 4. David Knight (47); 5. Anders Eriksson (34): 6. (TIE) IVlIn Cervantes/ Roman Michalik (32): 8. Jani Laaksonen (25); 9. (TIE) Mike Ahola/Bjorne Carlsson (24); 11. Petri Pohjamo (20); 12. Peter Bergvall (17): 13. Helder Rodrigues (16); 14 Alex ZlInni (11); 15. Rickard Larsson (8). BRIEFLY••• Farioh KTM mechanic Juliano Cecconi had a day to forget on the Thursday before the Spain round. The team's Mercedes service van that he was driving was stolen from a gas station less than a mile from the paddock. Having stopped to refuel the van. which contained the factory KTM 125cc race bike of injured Italian Simone Albergoni as well as the training bike of team man· ager FabiO Farioli and a sizeable amount of spares. Juliano watched helplessly as the thieves drove it away from the forecourt. The van was later found at a nearby gypsy camp empty and still smoldering. having been torched by those who stole it. Needless to say. Cecconi. one of the WEC's longest-standing mechanics. was absolutely gutted. All but one of the WEC teams and a handful of privateers signed a letter stating that they don't want to go to the third round of the WEC series in Morocco due to fears that once there, they might not be able to return. 'It has been decided that due to the events and problems of the recent war, we think that it is better for the security of all the teams that we don't go to the third race of the '03 World Enduro Championship,' read the letter addressed to the FIM. With Morocco being a Muslim country, fears that teams might either not be welcome or find it hard to leave once in the country were rejected by the FIM with the sport's governing body saying that the competition will go ahead as planned. Yamaha-mounted British rider Paul Edmondson saw his 125cc World Championship aspira· tions take a serious setback the Tuesday before the second round of the WEC series when the former three-time World Champion fell. breaking his left collarbone. Determined to race and knowing that the third round of the series in Morocco might be cancelled. Edmondson flew back to England to undergo surgery to fix the broken bone. Returning to Spain midday on the Friday before the race, Edmondson finished 12th in ciass on day one but was unable to finish day two due to extreme discomfort from his ribs. 'I didn't realize that I hurt my ribs so badly,' Edmondson said. 'My collarbone wasn't too bad. but the pain from my ribs just got too much." Edmondson is the second 125cc class rider to break his collarbone in as many weeks, following Italian Simone Albergoni" s accident in Portugal before round one of the series. KTM Racing teammates Juha Salminen and Samuli Aro confirmed in Spain that they will compete in this year's World Motocross Championship, but not until after the World Enduro Championship has finished. The two Finnish riders, both of whom competed in selected rounds of the '02 MX GP series, will race aboard the Austrian marque's Open·ciass four-strokes. As two of the world's fastest enduro riders, the fact that they are planning on spending more time compet· ing on the MX GP circuit can only mean one thing - come the start of '04 they will be even faster! "I don't have so many things that motivate me in enduro anymore," Aro said. 'To try and score Grand Prix points is something that motivates me and keeps me on a bike after the WEC has fin· ished. " The end of the first day's competition saw the top five overall finishers awarded with trophies and champagne less than half an hour after the race. Awards were handed out from a podium in the paddock; the ceremony attracted a large crowd and was the latest attempt to improve the professionalism of the World Enduro Championship. No such ceremony has taken place after the first day's competition in a WEC event before. cue I e n e _ S • APRIL 9, 2003 59