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Italian CH Racing Husqvarna rider Roberto Bazzurri claimed his firstever WEC win after he topped the 250cc Four-Stroke class on both days. Bergval managed to stay ahead of hard-charging countryman Gio Sala to top day one by 11 seconds and day two by 18 to give Husqvarna its only class win. "I was surprised to have finished first," Bergval said. "I was expecting Sala to be very fast today [day two], so I just pushed as hard as I could. I'm really happy to have won, not only for myself but for Husqvarna and my mechanics as well." Finishing second on both days but opening up a comfortable lead in the quarter-liter Four-Stroke Championship, Italian Giovanni Sala again found it hard to be competitive during the second day's competition. "I need a little more power," Sala said. "I'm having to use first gear in the slower corners, which is making it hard for me when the conditions get rougher. I hope I will get to ride the new KTM four-stroke soon." Italian Guiseppe Gallino claimed third on day one, while Spaniard Gerard Farres took that spot on day two. Both riders finished a considerable distance behind Sala. Repeating his double-class topping ride from the Spanish round, Vor rider Roman Michalik put his name at the top of the 450cc Four-Stroke class to close the gap on championship leader Anders Eriksson to just two points. Michalik topped day one by 40 seconds and then put 23 seconds between himself and the six-time World Champion on day two. "It's been another great weekend for me," Michalik said. "These special tests really suit me, but I struggled on day two with the flu. I pushed on the first lap, but then I rode steadily because I wasn't feeling good." Finishing second to Michalik on Roberto Bazzuri (pictured) edged out Giowani Sala both days for the 250cc Four-Stroke class win. day one before dropping to third on day two was CH Racing Husqvarna rider Anders Eriksson. Unable to compete on level terms with the Czech-born Michalik, Eriksson again struggled to find a bike setup that he was happy with. "I had no answer for Roman on day one, and I wasn't able to follow him today either," Eriksson said. "I didn't make any mistakes, but I don't have a good feeling with the bike, so it's hard for me to push." Finishing second on day two after losing two minutes on day one was KTM Racing rider Xavier Puigdemont. Third on day one was Gas Gas rider Paolo Goncalves. Claiming the win in the over 500cc Four-Stroke class on both days, Finn Salminen continued his march toward a fifth consecutive World title by extending his lead in the Over 500cc Four-Stroke class to 48 points. Despite constant pressure from Spaniard Ivan Cervantes on both days, Salminen did enough to claim another 50 WEC points, having topped day one by less than half a second and day two by just over a second. "It's been a really great battle this weekend," Salminen said. "It has been really difficult to make time on these special tests because they are very much one lined, and you can only make time when breaking." Second on both days and now second in the Over 500cc Championship, Spaniard Cervantes again impressed many, having pushed Salminen harder than anyone else during the weekend. The Farioli KTM rider, Cervantes, slipped off once on day two but still managed to take the class fight down to the very last test of the weekend. Third on both days was Vor-mounted Finn Mika Ahola. Unable to mix it with Salminen and Cervantes, Ahola, like many, failed to understand where the pair were gaining their time. "I can't work out where they are going so much faster than everybody else," Ahola said. "I tried some different lines on day two, but it didn't make any difference; they are both riding so fast." eN Greece Two-Day Kalavrita, Greece R••ults: April 12-13, 2003 IRound 21 Day One 125: J. Petri Pohjamo (GG); 2. Ml:Irc Germain (Yllm); 3. Mika Slltlrenkoski (Hus); 4. RIchard Larsson (TM); 5. Petteri Silvan (KTM); 6. Herve Versace (KTM); 7. Alessio Paoli (KTM; 8. Damien M.iquel (Hus); 9. Paul Edmondson (Yam); 10. Andre Rophoel (GG). 250: I.Stefan Merriman (Hon); 2. Sllmuli Arc (KTM); 3. Freddy Blone (KTM): 4. Helder Rodrigues (KTM); 5. Sebastian GuilJame (Hus); 6. Jani Laaksonen (GG); 7. Paul Whibley (Hus); B. Jari Mattila (GG); 9. Jarno Boano (Han): 10. Euan McConnell (Hus). 250 4/STRK: 1.Roberto Bazzurri (Hus); 2. Giovanni Sala (KTM); 3. Guiseppe Gallina (Yam); 4. Gerard Farres (KTM): 5. Daniele Tellini (Yam); 6. Vita Kuklik (KTM); 7. Oriol Tort (KTM); B. Pierre Castella (Yam); 9. Rowan Jones (Yam); 10. Patrick Hess (Yam). 450 4/STRK: 1. Roman Michalik (Vor); 2. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 3. Paolo Goncalves (GG); 4. Alessandro BOUuri (KTM); 5. Miki Arpa (Hon); 6. Martin Lind (Hbg); 7. Jordi Duran (KTM); B. Mario Rinaldi (Yam); 9. Niklas Gustafsson (KTM); 10. Olivier Samofal (KTM). 500 4/STRK: 1. Juha Salminen (KTM): 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 3. Mika Ahola (Vor); 4. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 5. Werner Muller (KTM): 6. Andreas Toressan (Hbg); 7. David Knight (Yam); B. Joan Jou (KTM); 9. Francisco Lopez (KTM); 10. Juri Simoncini (KTM). O/A: I. Juha Salminen (KTM): 2. Ivan Cervzmtes (KTM): 3. Stefan Merriman (Hon); 4. Samuli Aro (KTM); 5. Roman Michalik (Vor); 6. Mika Ahola (Vor); 7. Bjome Carlsson (Hbg); B. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 9. Freddy Blanc (KTM); 10. Petri Pohjamo (GG). Day Two 125: 1. Petri Pohjamo (GG); 2. Mtllrc Germain (Yam); 3. Petteri Silvan (KTM); 4. Mika Saarenkoski (Hus); 5. Rickard Larsson (TM); 6. Damien Miquel (Hus): 7. Herve Versace (KTM); B. Homero Diaz (KTM); 9. Valueri Salon en (KTM): 10. Ivan Boano (Hus). 250: 1. Steflln Merriman (Hon); 2. Freddy Blanc (KTM); 3. Samuli Aro (KTM): 4. Jani Laaksonen (GG); 5. Helder Rodrigues (KTM); 6. Sebastien Guillaume (Hus); 7. Paul Whibley (Hus); B. Jari Mattila (GG): 9. Euan McConnell (Hus); 10. Jamo Boano (Hon). 250 4/STRK: 1. Roberto Bazzurri (Hus); 2. Giovanni Sala (KTM): 3. Gerard Farres (KTM): 4. Guiseppe Gallina (Yam); 5. Daniele Tellini (Yam); 6. Vita Kuklik (KTM): 7. Pierre Castella (Yam); B. Rowan Jones (Yam); 9. Oriol Tort (KTM); 10. Patrick Hess (Yom). 4504/STRK: 1. Roman Michalik (Vor); 2. Xavier Puigdemont (KTM); 3. Anders Eriksson (Hus); 4. Miki Arpa (Hon); 5. Paolo Goncalves (GG); 6. AlesSllndro Botturi (KTM); 7. Jordi Duran (KTM); B. Martin Lind (Hbg); g. Morko Torkkolo (Hbg); 10. Niklos Gustafsson (KTM). 500 4/STRK: 1. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM); 3. Mika Ahola (Vor); 4. Bjorne Carlsson (Hbg); 5. David Knight (Yam); 6. Andreas Toresson (Hbg); 7. Werner Muller (KTM); B. Francisco Lopez (KTM); 9. Juri Simoncini (KTM); 10. Milan Baros (KTM). O/A: 1. Juhe Salminen (KTM); 2. Ivan Cerventes (KTM): 3. Stefan Merriman (Han); 4. Freddy Blanc (KTM); 5. Somuli Aro (KTM); 6. Miko Aholo (Vor); 7. Roman Michalik (Vor); B. Bjome Carlsson (Hbg); 9. David Knight (Vem); 10. Xavier Puigdemont (KTM). (Below left) Petri Pahjamo extended his lead in the 125cc point standings with another strong ride. (Below right) By topping both days in the 400CC Four-Stroke class, Roman Michalik (pictured) closed to within two points of Anders Eriksson in the series points standings. cue I e n e _ lIS • APRIL 30, 2003 23

