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FIM World Championship Motocross 5eries Round 5: Bulgarian Grand Prix tories are nothing too flashy, and his competition remains weak at best. eN Sevlievo Circuit Sevlievo, Bulgaria June B, 2003 [Round of 5 of 12l Marc De Reuvertook third in the 125cc class. 125: J. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 2. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 3. Marc De Reuver (KTM): 4. Stefan Everts (Yam); 5. Erik Eggens (KTM); 6. Steve Ramon (KTM); 7. Stephen Sword (KTM); 8. Josef Dobes (Yam); 9. Nicolas Charlier (KTM); 10. Rodrig Thain (Hus); 11. Antoine Lettelier (Yam) 12. Joan Barreda; 13. Max Nagl (KTM); 14. Tanel Leak (KTM) 15. Luigi Seguy (Yam). MOTOCROSS GP: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Joel Smets (KTM); 3. Brian Jorgensen (Han); 4. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 5. Andrew McFarlane (Kaw); 6. Claudio Federici (Yam); 7. Marnicq Bervoets (Yam); 8. Patrick Caps (KTM); 9. Kenneth Gundersen (Kaw); 10. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 11. Chris Burnham (Hon); 12. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 13. James Dobb (KTM); [4. Josef Dobes (Yam); 15. Carl Nunn (Kaw). 650cc GP "1 had saw Beirer up ahead of me follow him, although his speed is so in the first meters of the race," Jor- good - he is so smooth. Then Smets It's not been a pretty sight watching gensen said. "I made the mistake in came up to me and passed, so I just the 650cc class this year, and Bulgar- Italy last week looking back to the rid- settled down for third place." ia was no different. While Smets con- Pichon had worked his way back ers behind me, so this week I tried not 17 to do that. I was waiting for Everts into fourth place, finishing and the other to catch me. I tried not onds behind Everts and just three to tighten up and just ride my own seconds ahead of fifth-place Andrew lines. Everts went past, and I tried to McFarlane of Australia. sec- tinues to climb into the record books, taking his 52nd Grand Prix overall (two more than Joel Robert), his vic(Left) Fonner champ Andrea Bartolini came on strong late in the 125cc race but couldn't catch Maschio. De Reuver and Steve Ramon are now tied for the points lead. 650: 1. Joel Smets (KTM); 2. Cedric Melotte (Hon); 3. Javier Vico Garcia (KTM); 4. Fabrizio Dini (Hon); 5. Theirry Bethys (Hon); 6. Bernd Eckenbach (KTM); 7. Mickael Kadlecek (Yam); B. Mark Eastwood (Hon); 9. Christian Beggi (KTM): 10. Roman Jelen (Hon); 11. Max Zanni (Hon) 12. Peter Iven (KTM); 13. Stuart Flockhard (Hon); 14. Avo Leok (KTM); 15. Antti Pyrhonen (Hen). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 125 MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 12 rounds): 1. (TIE) Steve Ramon (96/2 wins)/Marc De Reuver (96/1 win); 3. Andrea Bartolini (95); 4. Mickael Maschio (92/2 wins); 5. Erik Eggens (60); 6. Stephen Sword (59); 7. Tyla Rattray (52); B. Luigi Seguy (49); 9. Rodrig Thain (48); 10. Alessio Chiodi (47); 11. Stefan Everts (43); 12. Nicolas Charlier (32); 13. (TIE) Marvin Van Daele/Antoine Lettelier (29); 15. Ben Townley (26). FIM WORLD C'SHIP MOTOCROSS GP MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 12 rounds): 1. Mickael Pichon (111/3 wins); 2, Joel Smets (lOB); 3. Stefan Everts (100/2 wins); 4. Brian Jorgensen (67); 5. Claudio Federici (64); 6. Kenneth Gundersen (63): 7. Andrew McFarlane (55): ·B. Yoshi Atsuta (49); 9. Kevin Strijbos (46); 10. Gordon Crockard (40); 11. Patrick Caps (38): 12. Chris Bumham (36): 13. James Dobb (34): 14. (TIE) Marnicq Bervoets/Marc Ristori (30). FIM WORLD C'SHIP 650 MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 12 rounds): 1. Joel Smets (125/5 wins); 2. Vi co Garcia (10B); 3. Cedric MeJotte (9B); 4. Fabrizio Dini (54); 5. Michal Kadlecek (51); 6. (TIE) Mark Eastwood/Bernd Eckenbach/8. Danny Theybers (50); 9. Stuart Flockhard (47); 10. Trampas Parker (43); 11. Antti Pyrhonen (42): 12. (TIE) Roman Jelen/Thi'erry Bethys (40); 14. Alessandro Zanni (33); 15. Pierre Paget (32). BRIEFLY••• German rider Pit Beirer is in serious condition following his crash in the MotocrossGP and, according to KTM. has suffered spinal cord damage and is currently paralyzed. Beirer suffered injuries to his back and lungs in the crash and was airlifted to a hospital in Sofia and then later in the night to a clinic in Germany that specializes in spinal trauma. Beirer is in stable condition, according to his team, but will remain in an induced coma with the use of respirators for the next three days to allow the lung damage to heal. Three-time World 125cc Motocross Champion Alessio Chiodi crashed out of the qualification race on Saturday. The Italian took painkillers but could not complete the last-chance race. "The pain was just too much."' Chiodi said. '·1 only did one lap, and I had to stop. I could never have finished Ihe Grand Prix on Sunday, so it was pointless trying to qualify." Ireland's Gordon Crockard failed to appear at the fifth round of the World Championship. The CAS Honda rider was nursing a broken thumb and a shoulder injury and, despite trying to com, pete in the previous GP in Italy, was brought to reality. '·1 just could not hold onto the bike in Italy." Crockard said. "I decided to miss Bulgaria and will Iry and come back for Austria on June 22."Also out of the CAS Honda team was Finland's Jussi Vehvilainen. who is suffering from a back injury. Weather conditions in Bulgaria once again played a major part in the racing. On Saturday, temperatures reached nearly gO degrees. although light rain on Sunday morning and overcast skies meant the riders were able to push a little harder than in last year's GP. The Sevlievo circuit is known for its width. The Bulgarian track was built for the World Side· car Grand Prix Series, so it features corners that are over 65 feet wide and straightaways that are almost 50 feet wide. It was reported that a crowd of 10.000 spectators altended the Bulgarian GP. though it looked to be as small as 5000. It now appears as though the Motocross des Nations circuil in Zolder. Belgium. will not be completed until a week before the race. It seems as though the promoters of this event didn't learn anything from last year's Motocross des Nations debacle. Stefan Everts was questioned about his motivation for winning a World Championship prior to the Bulgarian Grand Prix. and his answer left little doubt. .. Ask Marnicq Bervoets about my motivation about coming back from being down in the points." Everts said. "He was 71 points ahead of me in a world title a few years ago, and I caught and passed him to win the championship. I feel just the same this year. Don't ever question my motivation for winning." 16 JUNE 18, 2003' cue I e n e VII' 51;