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/128318
On the Friday and Saturday evenings several riders had a meeting
with Youthstream president Giuseppe Luongo. The riders want a
prize money change , as it's only the top 10 who are getting paid.
Suzuki factory rider Joel Smets , for so long a crusader for the betterment of the Grand Prix scene, was (rumored) to be the head
of the strike talks. A letter was sent to Luongo asking him for a
prize money change , although no changes will be made . Top lOin
each dass are paid, and the others will receive a travel compensation for each Grand Prix. "We hada meeting with Giuseppe
Luongo on Saturday night," Smets said. "He said he cares about
the riders , but he 's investing money in other things other than the
young riders . 'There is not a lot to talk about with him; he said he
promises that he will try and create heaven on earth for
motocross, but I don't believe in the way he wants to do it. Ifit's
true that he wants to build a better motocross in Europe, then he
is doing it not the way Iwould do it, but let's see what happens."
New Zealand's Ben Townley, of the CHAMP KTMfactory team,
also tried to organize some help for the riders outside the top 10.
He feels it's all the riders who have to work together for change .
"Not much is going to happen," he said. "If you want something
to happen, you need all the riders to support it, and that is just
not going to happen ."
American Tom Carson, from Asterisk, was in Spain for the
Grand Prix. The former racer was there supplying his product to
his European agents and enjoying the weather in Spain. "I didn't
bring any wet weather gear," Carson said. "It's not the best
weather, but that's Grand Prix motocross, anyway. I'm enjoying
myself."
On the injury front, Claudio Federici crashed during practice
and was unable to race . The Italianrider could be out for some
time . Ireland's Gordon Crockard will have a major operation on
his injured knee and will miss probably more than half the season.
It didn't take long for Maschio to pass Cairoli, and
their pace."
eN
the former World I25cc Champion then commenced
CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA
to battle with De Reuver for some laps before the
BEUPUIG, SPAIN
Dutchman moved int o the lead. D e Reuver led for five
RESULTS: MARCH 28, 2004
(ROUND 2 OF 16)
laps befo re an engine failure had h im walking back to
MX2
the pits .
MOTO I : I. Ben Townley (K!l'1); 2. Tyta Rattray (K!l'1 ); 1. Slephon Sword
Maschio went on to win the second race easily over (!