Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2003 04 23

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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some energy," Smets added. "I didn't see that Everts went in, but my pit board told me, and that was good for me. I have been impressed with Pichon for five year now, so I know this win was no fluke. He has incredible speed, and he has shown that he is the one to beat this year." In the 125cc race, Belgian Steve Ramon captured the win after passing early leader Alessio Chiodi. Erik Eggens, Ramon's CHAMP KTM teammate, finished second, with another CHAMP KTM rider Marc De Reuver rounding out the podium places. For Ramon it was a tough race. "I had to get past Chiodi rather fast," Ramon said. "He was a little slower but difficult to pass, then I could set a good tempo. The track is not so rough for the 125s, and I didn't have any problems at all. I've won here twice before, so to win at Valkensvaard is great. Also, this race is the home GP for the team, so our sponsors are all here to watch." Smets swept to victory in the 650cc class, leading home Javier Vico Garcia and Cedric Melotte. For Smets it was an exceptionally easy race, taking the lead on lap one and moving away to win by 30 seconds. As for the others, this race was a race among the no-names of the GP series. American Trampas Parker just about upset the applecart as he held fourth place in the early going, finally dropping back to finish in eighth place. Still, the former World 125 and 250cc Motocross Champion holds fourth place in the World 650cc points, his best position in the GP series since the 1990s. Reuver and Townley rode past and began an orange squash of the smallliter class. By lap five Andrea Bartolini had pushed his way into sixth place and was putting a little pressure on Chiodi, although both Italians could make little impression on the front four riders. While Eggens did make up some ground on Ramon, the race belonged to the 2003 World 125cc runner-up. "I felt really good, and today my start was perfect," Ramon said. "I didn't know the others were having trouble with passing the four-strokes. I got them in the first lap, and it wasn't a problem; that was my plan to get a quick lead and get ahead of the others quickly. I felt a little pressure; this is our home GP. For a little while Eggens pushed me, and that was tough, but I held on. For that I am very happy." Second-placed Erik Eggens was happy to be back on a bike he could trust and also glad to finish on the The 125cc class leaves the start line at the Eurocircuit track in Holland. podium. The Dutchman had not finished on a podium for nearly a year after injuring himself early in the 2002 season. "Spain was really difficult," Eggens said. "I want to thank KTM for letting me ride the two-stroke again. My race was okay. I pushed to catch Ramon, but it was impossible. It took me too long to overtake the Italians [Bartolini and Chiodi]; that really cost me any chance of catching Ramon. It's been nearly a year since I made the top three, so this is a good point to begin my challenge on the championship." Another Dutchman, Marc De Reuver, claimed third place and, like his countryman, is looking at the big picture in the World 125cc Championship. "I got caught behind Bartolini and Chiodi for a while," de Reuver said. "The guys are old masters and know how to block. I passed them, and my arms pumped up, and I crashed, but third place is okay. The track is really quick here; you're really working hard. We have nine races to go, and I feel pretty good about the place I'm in." Back in the pack the winner of the opening round in Spain, Mickael Maschio, was having a nightmare, as his series lead disappeared in the Dutch sand. "I had a bad start," Maschio said. "Then I crashed and made up some time to get into 15th place on lap five, then I crashed again and was in last place. I fought back to 20th place but lost a place on the last lap." Steve Ramon worked hard for his win In the 125cc GP. 125cc GP The 125cc race began with former World 125cc Motocross Champion Chiodi getting a flying start. It was not long though before the KTM freight train of Ramon, Eggens, de eye I e n e _ 50 • APRIL 23, 2003 21

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