Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

This is all anyone saw of Everts all day_ to maintain his speed to hold onto that position when the checkered flag came out after 21 laps. want him to pass me, so I took him into the fence on the next corner, and Montevarebi Circuit Montevarchi, Italy lucky for me he could not get by." eN Results: Jun. I, 2003 (Round 4 of 121 With all four of the leaders already suffering crashes, the second part of the race cooled down, although Smets continued to fight for the lead with Everts. For Smets, though, the race was done on lap six. "It was really difficult," Smets said. "I could see Stefan down and wanted to get to the front - I felt my speed was better than his, but I knew he would be tough to pass, and to be honest I lost my chance." Each lap brought Smets a little closer to Everts, and then in another incredible moment, Smets fell, handing the race to Everts. "I just fell and quickly got up," Smets said. "It was a stupid mistake. Stefan rode very well, and I'm not too disappointed. I made up some points on Pichon which is great for the championship and the supporters." Everts won ahead of Smets, Federici, Pichon and Pit Beirer. The big-bore class was a little livelier than it has been in the past. In the opening laps, Cedric Melotte and Javier Vico Garcia battled for the lead with series leader Joel Smets in third. By lap eight, Smets moved into the lead and was gone like a runaway train. The action in the back of the pack, though, continued to heat up as Roman Jelen joined the top three, passing both Garcia and Melotte and setting out after Smets. Smets turned up the heat, though, and Garcia came back to pass Jelen with two laps to 125: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Steve Ramon (KTM); 3. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 4. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 5. Marc De Reuver (KTM); 6. Luigi Se9uy (Yam); 7. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 8. David Guarnieri (KTM); 9. Jan Zaremba (KTM); 10. Nicolas Charlier (KTM); 11. Erik Eggens (KTM); 12. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 13. Stephen Sword (KTM); 14. Sebastilln Poursel (Kaw); 15. Jeremy Tarroux (Suz). ft\OTOCROSSGP: I. Stefan Everts (Yam): 2. Joel Smets (KTM); 3. Claudio Federici (Yam); 4. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 5. Pit Beirer (KTM); 6. Johnny Aubert (Yam); 7. Patrick Caps (KTM); 8. Yoshi Atsuta (Han): 9. Chris Burnham (Han); 10. Antoine Meo (Kaw); 1 I. Andrew McFarlane (Kaw); 12. Michal Kadlecek (Han); 13. Marc Ristero (KTM); 14. James Dobb (KTM): 15. Josh Coppins (Han). 650: I. Joel Smets (KTM): 2. Vico Garcia (KTM): 3. Roman Jelen (Han): 4. Cedric Melotte (Han); 5. Fabrizio Dini (Han); 6. Trampas Parker (KTM); 7. Alessandro Zanni (Han) 8. Antti Pyrhonen (Yam); 9. Danny Theybers (Hus); 10. James Noble (Han); 11. Stuart Flockhard (Han): 12. Michel Kadlecek (Yam); 13. Bernd Eckenbach (KTM); 14. Saso Kragelj (Yam); 15. Pierrick Paget (Hon). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 125 MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 12 rounds): 1. Steve Ramon (81/1win); 2. Marc De Reuver (76/1); 3. Andrea Bartolini (73): 4. Mickael Maschio (67/1); 5. Tyla Rattray (52): 6. Alessio Chiodi (47); 7. Stephen Sword (45); 8. Erik Eggens (44); 9. Luigi Seguy (43); 10. Rodrig Thain (37); 11. Ben Townley (26): 12. Stefan Everts (25/1): 13. (TIE) Davide Guarnieri/Marvin Van Daele (24); 15. David Philippaerts (20). FIM WORLD C'SHIP MOTOCROSSGP MOTO· CROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 12 rounds): 1. Mickael Pichon (93/3 wins): 2. Joel Smets (86); 3. Stefan Everts (75/1): 4. Kenneth Gundersen (51); 5. Claudio Federici (49): 6. Brian Jorgensen (47); 7. Gordon Crockard (40): 8. Andrew McFarlane (39); 9. Yoshi Alsuta (38); 10. Kevin Slrijbos (37); I I. Marc Ristero (30); 12. Pit Beirer (29): 13. (TIE) Johnny Aubert/Antoine Mea (28): 15. Chris Burnham (26). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 650 MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 12 rounds): 1. Joel Smets (IOO/4wins); 2. Vico Garcia (88); 3. Cedric Melotte (76): 4. Danny Theybers (49): 5. Trampas Parker (43): 6. Stuart Flockhard (39); 7. (TIE) Michal Kadlecek/Mark Eastwood (37): 9. (TIE) Fabrizio Dini/Antli Pyrhonen (36): 11. Bernd Eckenbach (35); 12. Pierrick Paget (32): 13. Roman Jelen (29): 14. Thierry 8ethys (24): 15. Mark Hucklebridge (23). go. Jelen finished third with Melotte fourth and Fabrizio Dini fifth. Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - Sevlievo, Bulgaria, June B Round 6 - Molbling, Austria, June 22 American Trampas Parker held sixth place on lap one and managed BRIEFLY••• Stefan Everts will race both the MotocrossGP class and 125cc class in several more rounds of the World Championships, including Sweden, Austria, and most importantly the Belgian Grand Prix at Namur. As for going for the championship in the tiddler class, the Belgian is not interested. "I think you have to leave the 125cc class to the young kids, - Everts said. -I am not really interested in taking wins just for the sake of it: I want to race the best, and that is in the 250cc class. Yamaha are also not interested in me doing the complete series in the future." A hot rumor in the Italian paddock was the possible return of Mike Brown to the Grand Prix scene. What could be interesting is the fact that Honda wants to run a GP team in the 125cc class in 2004, with the riders racing the new 250cc four-stroke. Brown on a Honda is nothing new in Europe. although this time he might just get the bike he feels capable of winning on. Former World 125cc Motocross Champion Gaston Rahier is fighting cancer. The great Belgian MX rider was diagnosed with the disease two months ago. and a fundraiser was held for Rahier in Belgium in May. Included at the fundraiser were Roger DeCoster, Georges Jobe, Andre Malherbe and many of the other great Belgian Worid Champions. American Jeff Dement did not race the Italian Grand Prix after injuring himself the week before at a British Championship round. Dement will return to racing as soon as he's healed up. KTM has requested that the MotocrossGP class be made an Open class - at ieast that was the rumor in Italy. It is also understood that the request by KTM will not be met, as Yamaha and Husqvarna have both worked hard to make competitive 450cc and 510cc machines. respectively. Honda, of course, also has a 450cc machine. Both Joel Smets and Mickael Pichon felt Stefan Everts' move to the 125cc class in Italy showed his lack of confidence, while they were not critical of Everts' move. -It's no secret Stefan (Evertsl has had trouble with his confidence," Smets said. "I think his condition is great. and it will be good for the public to see him racing twice in one day. Mickael Pichon crashed hard on Saturday._ The Suzuki rider highsided on the end of the start straight and crashed down a hillside. "The bike got sideways, and I can usually correct it, but this time I could not, and it washed all over the place. The track was very slippery, and I was all over the place. then I went over the fence and down the hill, hitting my chest really hard. I was out of it for a while." Former World Motocross Champion Bobby Moore was at the Italian Grand Prix chasing up a contact with Dutch rider Marc De Reuver. Moore. who was often seen speaking to many old friends in Italian. is always interested in looking at European talent. MI already have interest in America for Marc." Moore said... He is already known in the USA. and we are really interested in taking him over In 2004." The 2004 World Motocross Championship will see the Luxembourg Grand Prix retum to the calendar. Luxembourg will follow the Belgian Grand Prix of Namur. The two races will open the month of August, with Namur on the first weekend and Luxembourg the second weekend. Former Cycle News managing editor Chris Jonnum and regular Cycle News photo contributor Joe Bonnello were in Italy for the Grand Prix. The two Americans were invited by Sidi Boots and will also head to a round of the MotoGP in Spain. Jonnum and Bonnello were excited at the thought of catching the Motocross in Italy, as both speak perfect Italian. Jonnum's married to a local girl, and Bonnelo has Italian blood running through his veins. eye I e n e vv s JUNE 1 1. 2003 35

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