Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

I had the track sorted out. Another thing W~, I didn't have huge pressure from Ramon and De Reuver. I'm just having fun in the 125cc class." MOTOCROSSGP 'The 125cc main got under way with Andrea Bartolini (161 leading early over Erik Eggens (39), Marc de Reuver (261, Everts (72) and the rest of the \field. Everts won; de Reuver was .second. [Everts] when I got past Pichon. Slowly each lap I could close the gap. Then I got caught behind some lappers, which really messed my up race. It was a pity. I really want to win a MotocrossGP race and feel this could have been the weekend. Still, I have moved a little closer to Pichon in the points, and that is very important, more important than winning a GP." In the 125cc class, Everts controlled the complete race, taking the lead on lap four and moving away 'from Ramon and De Reuver. In fact, the interest in this race was the battle between the two young KTM riders for -.;econd and third. Ramon had held the upper hand for most of the race, although De Reuver made a pass on the last lap, taking second, with Ramon in third. Ramon continues to lead the championship with 138 points, followed by De Reuver on 136. In the 650cc class it was another walkover win by Smets. With little in the way of a challenge, Smets won, followed by Cedric Melotte and Javier Garcia. America's two-time World Motocross Champion Trampas Parker set the pace in the early going, taking the holeshot and leading the first part of the race, although with the top three passing him soon after, the 1989 and 1991 World champ finished in fourth place after a race-long battle with six-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen. By lap three, Bartolini had surrender his lead to Everts as the Italian crashed. It was at this stage that Everts took complete control of the race. Some seconds behind, Ramon and De Reuver had also moved past Bartolini, as the Italian again crashed, while Erik Eggens and Mickael Maschio moved into fourth and fifth positions. De Reuver had followed Ramon for the complete race then on the last lap passed his fellow KTM factory rider for the runner-up position. "I felt okay," De Reuver said. "The start was always going to be Bartolini's; he always gets the start. I was really tight in the first laps. Everts passed me, and then Ramon passed me. They put a lot of water on the track before our race, so I was worried about that. I was pushing Steve as hard as I could after Bartolini fell, and he stayed on the racing line. He couldn't change his lines because he knew if he did, I would pass him. It gave me the chance to try some dif- ferent lines, and I found a good line coming onto the finish straight, so that was where I passed him." Ramon, now in third place, was happy to control the runner-up place for as long as he did; he couldn't contain De Reuver long enough, though. "De Reuver was really close to me," Ramon said. "He was pushing really hard, and I could not do anything to get him off me. I didn't get nervous, but I was having trouble. He was quicker than me, and I had to just try and keep my lines. It was tough. I don't like this track, many ruts in the corner; it was the same for everyone, although I didn't like it. What is important for me is to take as many points as possible. When I saw Bartolini crashing, I thought it was now me and Marc." Everts didn't enjoy the early part of the 125cc moto. "I was really having trouble finding lines," Everts said. "Once I did, I could pull away. I think the last five minutes It was a case of catch me if you can, as Everts blasted out of the starting gate and set an amazing pace. Behind came Italian Claudio Federici, Mamkq Bervoets and Smets. Pichon was back in the pack, although he made a huge charge in the first lap. The Frenchman made an amazing pass on Gordon Crockard and Smets and tried to make a move on Everts. "I was really making some good moves," Pichon said. "I felt great, really aggressive. I knew Everts was charging and obviously wanted to push past the others. I have not been able to push the last three GPs; I can't push in training or in racing, just riding around. I have never had this feeling before. The bike is aggressive. We are looking for more power to compete with the fourstrokes, but the bike is just too aggressive now. I'm still not finished. I'm still leading the championship, although Stefan is really at his peak at the moment. We will see." It would not turn out for Pichon, though, as he began to make mistakes. In no time, Smets had worked his way past and was now the rider looking to reel in the leader. "I got past Pichon when he stalled his bike," Smets said. "I worked like crazy to get to Everts. His speed was very good, but I felt okay, and I was also finding some good lines." The race was not going anywhere up front, as Everts was in complete control; although behind him, the action was heating up, as the midfield Trampas Parker (361 got the jump on the 650cc field, while KTM World Enduro champ Juha Salminen (1341, Thierry Bethys (421 and Smets (31 gave chase. Smets won handily, while Parker was fourth, and Salminen was fifth. 125cc bnce again, Andrea Bartolini put his Yamaha 250F into the lead in the first corner of the 125cc race. The 1999 World 500cc Champion led fellow Yamaha rider Everts, and KTM youngsters De Reuver, Ramon and Stephen Sword. cycle n e _ S • JULY 23, 2003 37

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