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/128211
FIM Supermoto World Championship Series Round 1 : GP of Mediterranean MARSEILLE STORY AND PHOTOS By MARIO MARINI JllARSEILLE, FRANCE, APR. 13 he second edition of the youngest motorcycling world championship had its opening round in Marseille, France, for the PlaySlation 2 S1 Grand Prix of Mediterranean. More than just the riders and the machines, this '03 season introduced a new format to increase the show and the competition. Race number one and race number two (both 12 laps) now open the Sunday program, with the access to the race one grid determined by Saturday's timed practice. All the qualified riders contest both races, with the top four riders of race two then going out for SuperPole, from which the starting order of the first row is decided for the SuperFinal, which is 24 laps long. Thus, the SuperFinal is the key race, and whoever wins it is the GP winner. T Concerning the world points. the final score at every GP includes the 10 points sha red by the top ten riders of each opening heat plus the points collected in the main event, which are awarded the same as for a MXGP, with 25 points to the winner, 22 to second place, and so on to the 20th position. .. This first race under the new fo mat proved to be excellent, especially on a one-line circuit like Marseille, where races might otherwise get boring for the crowd. But the never-ending battle to get the best spot possible on the next heat's grid gave the riders the additional motivation not to accept results too easily, and the race turned out really entertaining. The best new player was German Supermoto specialist Jurgen Kunzel, who kept his eyes on the prize in the SuperFinal and, lap by lap, built on his lead to earn the victory. BRIEFLY••• Youthstream president Giuseppe Luongo announced to the press at Marseille that he is coming back into the MX universe on January 1, 2004, and will take over the AM MXGP series. Most probably the GP format will return to the two motos, and classes could perhaps be reduced to two only. .. Every decision will be taken after hearing all the motocross community operators," Luongo said... Excess of professionalism could not be the right move to keep. motocross healthy. I insisted this in the past with the idea of live TV. but our hard work and the hard work of a professional company such as Dorna didn't get the success hoped for; therefore' we have to revaluate the MXGP's potential and act consequently. I feel very positive about the future of motocross." Also, the MXdN fonmat should return to three motos and three classes starting next season. In 2004. the Supenmoto GP will add another class called 52 to include a new variety of bike engines in the series. 36 APRIL 30. 2003' c: U c: • ... nevvs