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/128218
FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 4: Montevarchi Circuit blasted out of the starting gate, and as the riders entered the uphill first corner, he was already making his break. "I got a great start," Everts said. "It was important to make a quick break and not have to get into a fight; I wanted my energy for the 250cc race. I didn't feel pressure from anyone, and I could have some fun on the bike, which is why I rode it in the first place." In second place, young Italian Davide Guarnieri was making life difficult for Andrea Bartolini, series leader De Reuver and veteran Yamaha rider Alessio Chiodi. De Reuver was in brilliant form, passing Bartolini, yet a mistake on lap six saw him drop back to seventh. Ramon, who had made a terrible start, moved into third place on lap eight and began to put serious pressure on French rider Luigi Seguy, who had worked his way past Guarnieri. (Above) Mickael Pichon had a fall in practice and another in the race, and he could only muster a fourthplace finish. It was his first loss of the season. (Left) Mickael Maschio (1) and Andrea Bartolini (16) batUed it out for third in the 125cc race. Maschio got the nod. (Below) At the start of the 250cc event, you can see that Pichon (1) didn't get the best of jumps. "I just had to fight," Ramon said. "It wasn't about racing with Stefan Everts today; he is not a threat in the World title - I just had to beat the others. Maschio was pushing hard near the end, and I was getting a little tight." In third place, Maschio was also struggling, although his fight came from a lack of conditioning. "I have not been training due to a hand injury I sustained in the earlyseason races," Maschio said. "It was hot today, and I was not feeling good. To get third place is okay. I pushed hard near the end and wanted to get to Ramon, but time ran out, and maybe I didn't have the energy anyway." As the laps closed down, Everts made a big break from the field as Ramon held on to second place, 34 JUNE 1 1 , 2003' cue I e while defending 125cc World Champion Maschio kept third. The final finishing order was Everts, Ramon, Maschio, Bartolini and De Reuver. The Italian crowd went wild at the start of the premier MotocrossGP class as local boy Claudio Federici pulled the holeshot ahead of Everts, Pichon, Smets and Chris Burnham. Before the riders entered the second lap, Everts was into the lead as Federici did his best to give Smets and Pichon heart failure. Pichon went past on lap three, and Smets followed a lap later. n e _ s Smets was not about to give Everts a chance to get away and also passed Pichon on lap three. Federici was not about to lie down in front of his countrymen, though, and bullied his way past Pichon on lap eight before crashing and taking Pichon with him. For Pichon, it was all over. "To be honest, I had nothing left," Pichon said. "I could not have passed Federici if I wanted to, I felt so tired. The week prior to the Grand Prix, we had a training day at my home, and I think I might have over-trained. I nearly killed myself a couple of times and just had to back off." Just as Everts had made a break of around three seconds, the leader also crashed. With the chance of losing his hard-fought lead, Everts took drastic action toward his countryman Smets. "I slipped over," Everts said. "I got up quickly, and before I was even on the bike, I repassed Joel - I did not