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/128334
Picotte Stays Hot, Red Hot Pascal Picotte conti nued his Parts Canada Super bike Champi ons hip winning streak at Mosport Inte rnational Raceway on june 18 by co mplet ing a sweep of th e weekend Superbike doubleheader. Picone led all seven lap s o f the re started race on his Team Yamaha/Picone Pe rfo rmance Yamaha YZF-RI and finished 2.S89 seconds ahea d of the Honda Canada/Fasst Co mpany Honda CBR I ooORR ridden by jordan Szoke. Kevin Lacombe co mp lete d the podium on his Lacombe Racing Yamaha YZF-RI after making a last lap pass of the Coo rs Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzu ki GSX-R I 000 ridde n by Craig Connell. Pico n e' s victory was his fourth in succession, and he strengthened his bid for a second straight national title. He now has a com- mandi ng lead of 89 points , 259-170, over Szoke wit h three rounds remaining in the eight -race series. Picon e also swept both ends of a do ubleheader at Calgary's Race City Motorspo rt Park. "I didn't have the greatest start the first time," said Picotte after claiming his 12th career national Superbike race w in. "For the restart we had new tires, and I knew I had to get away quickly." Steve C revier crashed in the race, suffer- ing a minor concussion and bruised back in his fall and did not re -join the race. In o ther actio n at Mosport, Picone also stretched his lead in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Champ ionship with his secon d victory of the weekend on his YamahaYZF-R6. Crevier was second, 3.037 secsonds behind on a Suzuki GSX-R600 , and Con ne ll completed the podium aboard his Suzuki GSX-R6oo. Reed For Motocross des Nations The 2004 Motoc ross des Na tions, which will take place at the Lierop circuit in Holland on O ctobe r 4, is beginning to take shape . Several of the ma jor names of the sport have pledged their support of the event. Among th ose is 200 4 AMA 250cc Supercross C ham pio n Chad Reed , w ho has decided to rep resent his cou ntry - along with Andrew McFarlane and Michae l Byrne . "Riding at the des Nations is a toug h one for me ," Reed said recently. "I will be getting mar ried in O ctobe r, will race the U.S. O pe n, and also a race back home in Austra lia. T he chance to ride for your country is a huge ho no r though, and one I don 't want to miss." Another Australian who has had success this year is McFarlane, a ride r who has ridden for the Australian team in the last five or so ye ars and is excited about his cou ntry's chances in 2004 . "Wi th this team we can win for sure," McFarlane said. "It's great news that Chad w ill ride , an d I think we are all in the best form of our careers, so it' s going t o be inter - esting. I have always supported the des Nat io ns - I think it is the highest honor to ride for your co untry." Also showing gre at interest in riding in the eve nt is AMA legend Ricky Carmichae l. The mu ltiple AMA Supe rcross and Motocross cham pio n rescued the 2003 eve nt afte r winning a classic battle with Stefan Everts . For Evert s, though, it's time to get some revenge in Lie rop on O ctob er 4. "I told myself after Ricky beat me in Zo lder last yea r th at I want to do better in l.iero p,' Eve rts said. "I th ink the track will suit me better, less jumps and de e p sand. I know it' s going to be to ugh. Ca r mic hael is a great rider, but I rea lly wa nt to do bett e r than I did in Zolde r." Th e Belgian team is loo king likely to be Everts, Steve Ramon and Kevin 10 JUL 28, 2004 • CYCLE NEWS Y Strijbos, 40th Anniversary with Ramon on the KTM 250F. With joel Sme ts and Cedric Melotte out injured, the on ly ot he r candidates are Ken De Dijcker and M arnicq Bervoets . Inter est from the American riders is good , altho ugh at th is moment it is unsure if james Stewart will ride for his co untry. Former Grand Prix riders Mike Brown and Ryan Hughes have both shown interest, as has prese nt GP rider jeff Dement . Mike Brow n re ce ntly wo n a ro und of the AMA 12Scc Motocross Cha mpionship and is very much a rider w ho co uld perform at a high level at th e des Nations. New Zealand's team will also have a grea t chance of victory with josh Co ppins, Ben Town ley and Daryl King the possible three, althoug h there is some talk that America nbased Daryl Hurley o r Australian-based Co dy Cooper might be included in the line-up. King is presently dominating the Au stralian Motocross scene and w ould be a great cho ice , although he would rat he r see a young talent in the team. Other Mo tocro ss des Nat ions news is that the Dutch team will mo re than likelyconsist of Marc De Reuver, Erik Eggensand veteran rider Gert jan Van Doo rn. While Van Doo rn has not ridden in the Grand Prix scene in a lang time, his me ntal strength and know ledge of sand wou ld be a huge advantage for the local team . Van Doo rn and Eggens (who has been out injured for most of th is year) wou ld both probably end their careers at this yea r 's event. Geoff Meyers