Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Briefly... Everts Reigns at Mantova Team Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins and his management company Protac, a leading rider-representation firm headed by Douglas Gonda, has announced an affable parting. Protac helped guide Hopkins' career from his early days of AMA racing through his first three years of MotoGP. "We feel very good about the direction in which we helped guide John's career," said Protac's Doug Gonda. "He definitely had the talent, and even though some argued he didn't have the racing credentials that Stareross D inaldi Yamaha rider Stefan Everts won I'the Mantova Starcross, the first major International motocross event of the year, after posting 8-1-1 results at a very tough Mantova circuit in Italy, February 13. The Belgian legend crashed in the first moto in the second corner, ending what could have been a perfect weekend for the MXI World Champion. MX2 World champ Ben Townley had a tough day. The KTM rider lost a chain and would warrant a Grand Prix ride, we were able to convince the GP teams that john was a solid risk. He's proven to be one of retired from the first mota and then crashed in the second moto while chasing Joel Smets. Townley then decided to call it a day, sitting out the third moto after injuring his hand. Martin Honda rider Mickael Pichon was fast, but a third-moto DNF was his undoing. Pichon went 1-2 in the first two motos but crashed out of the last moto because of a huge turn-one pileup. Pichon's teammate Javier Vico Garcia ended up finishing off the day in second overall after posting 3-3-2 finishes. Suzuki's joel Smets was third overall with 2-3-3 finishes. Stefan Everts won the first major International motocross of the year in Italy. two-time World Motocross Champion clocked the quickest laps all weekend, but he was a victim of a couple of crashes. While leading the second heat, Pichon If the Mantova race is any indicator, went down and was then taken out in a turn-one crash in the third mota. Pichon the 200S MX I World Motocross Championship might wind up being an all- also crashed earlier in the semifinal. Smets, back from his knee injury, out war, as this event featured some of looked solid, posting consistent results. Smets, however, crashed out in the sec- the wildest racing in recent history. Many riders went down or were taken out, and many left the Italian venue with their pride damaged. Not even the elite riders were safe. In the opening moto, Everts crashed hard in the second corner and fought back from last place to finish eighth. After that, Everts was perfect, winning the final motos and taking the overall. The quickest rider on the track, however, was the Frenchman Pichon. The ond moto after colliding with Pichon. Despite the DNF, the tough Belgian was more than happy with his race speed and appears to be ready for the opening round of the World MX GP Series in Zolder, Belgium, in six weeks. MX2 World champ looked quick at times but struggled against the MX I elite. A hand injury, a broken chain and a couple of small crashes kept Townley from living up to his true potential. MotoGP and keeping me in MotoGP. I'm not sure I could have done it without Doug. My decision to change management is based simply on my desire to try something different." Protac wishes the best for Hopkins and is confident he will reach his around the rough Mantova circuit. He potential in the near future. could be a dark horse when the season begins in Zolder. Travis Pastrana will compete in seven Aigar Leak was also impressive. taking events of the 200S Rally America National Championship in a 200S Subaru WRX STi prepared by Vermont SportsCar. The 21year-old motocross star has a passion for rally racing, which pits drivers in a race against the clock on hundreds of miles of closed public and private roads that are usually unpaved and unforgiving. Pastrana impressed rally insiders last year by finishing third in class and fourth overall in his first race behind the wheel of a Subaru WRX STi. The Subaru-sponsored Vermont SportsCar team will support Pastrana in seven rounds of the newly formed Rally America National Championship. "This will be a serious effort for Travis and our team, and we will be looking forward to developing his driving talent gradually, with the aim of setting up his future in the sport," said Lance Smith, team manager of the Vermont SportsCar squad. "I couldn't be more excited to be involved with Subaru for the upcoming rally season," Pastrana said. "Two-wheel is my livelihood, but rally is becoming my future." Subaru participates in the Rally America National Championship through its Subaru Rally Support Program by providing contingency funding and onsite parts support to Subaru privateers. "Subaru is very pleased Travis will be driving a 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi-based rally car in the National Championship," two top-five finishes in the three heats. The young Estonian will make some seri- Jorgensen and Cedric Melotte had tough days. They both suffered crashes but should be okay for the series opener. Townley had an up-and-down day. The ous progress in the 2005 season. Look for top riders such as him to challenge for podium finishes in the MX2 class in 200S. Geoff Meyer Gaston Rahier, 1958-2005 Belgian rider Gaston Rahier, the 12Scc Motocross World Champion in 1975, 1976 and 1977, died in Paris, France. on February 3, after a battle with cancer. Rahier was S8. Rahier scored his first World Championship point in the Soocc class in 1968. He then concentrated on the 250cc class and won his first Grand Prix in 1974. As a factory Suzuki rider in 1975, he participated in the first-ever 125cc Motocross World Championship and clinched the title with eight wins. He successfully defended his title in 1976 and in 1977, with respectively eight and seven Grand Prix victories. He finished second to teammate Akira Watanabe in 1978, third in 1979, ninth in 1980 and seventh in 1981. He still holds the record for most Grand Prix victories in the 12Scc class, 29. As a member of the Belgian Motocross Team, he also won the Trophy des Nations (1974, 1975. 1976. 1978) and Motocross des Nations (1976). Rahier's motocross career came to an abrupt end in 1982 after a terrible accident in which he almost lost a hand. He recovered, and in 1983 he participated for the first time in the demanding Paris-Dakar Rally. He suffered mechanical breakdown while leading the event and did not finish, but he returned in 1984 and dominated it, becoming the first non-French rider to claim victory. He repeat- ed the feat again in i985. Rahier's Paris-Dakar and Pharahos Rally victories (1984, 1985, 1988), his professional approach toward rallies and his open personality made him a ceiebrity, known not only by fans and supporters of the motorcycle sport but also by a much wider general public. He Gaston Rahier made a tremendous contribution toward making rally racing a more widely popular sport. The FIM released an official communique assistance, contacts and skillful negotiations have been a major factor in getting me into Javier Vico Garcia, riding for the Martin Honda team, was impressive. He led Townley home in a Saturday qualification heat, finished second overall on Sunday, and generally showed very good speed Brian Other the leading up-and-coming riders in the series." After winning the AMA 7SOcc Supersport Series in 2000 and the AMA Formula Xtreme Series in 200 I with the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki squad, Protac was able to move Hopkins into a MotoGP ride with Red Bull Yamaha. He then signed with the factory Suzuki team in 2003 and will continue with Suzuki in 2005. "I would like to thank Doug and his company Protac for the work he has done in moving my career forward," Hopkins said. "His guidance, on the premature passing of Rahier, stating that his passing represents a great loss for the motorcycling fraternity. said Subaru representative James Han. "Travis has shown strong potential in recent events, and his participation adds an extra element of excitement to the series." Continued on page 9 CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 23,2005 7

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