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/128373
Rounds 1/1 MOTOCROSS April 3, 2005 ~ FIM World MXI/MX2 Motocross Championship Series EVERTS AND RATTIIAY WIN ATAN EXCITING OPENING ROUND STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER t has been said that the World Motocross Championship is in trouble. That statement couldn't be more wrong. In Zolder, Belgium, last weekend, around 20,000 spectators witnessed a classic Grand Prix, and with some amazing racing, it is clearly evident that motocross in Europe is in a very healthy state. Under beautiful sunshine and high temperatures, it was the master - Stefan Everts - who once again showed the best speed in the MX I class. The first stop of the 17-round series showed that there will, as the season progresses, be multiple winners in the premier MX I class. Everts led home French rival Mickael Pichon and five-time World Motocross Champion Joel Smets in one of the most exciting battles in recent GP history. Martin Honda rider Pichon opened the weekend with his usual fastest lap in qualifying, while I After finishing second to Ben Townley last year, and with Townley moving to the MXl class, Tyla Ra"ray came to Zolder ready to win. Steve Ramon once again showed his liking for the Zolder circuit by finishing a close second in the Saturday hot laps. On Sunday, though, it was Everts and Smets who won a moto each, while Pichon cruised to two runner-up finishes. The 2004 MX2 World Champion, Ben To did an amazing job to nearly fi~ moto from Everts but d Rnlshed third. Ramon finide the top 10. riding for the Rinaldi Yamaha s it's going to be a tough year ing at several riders to give him "I wasn't nervous coming into the race, just excited to get the first win that was important," Everts said. "It was really rough out there, and I just did my best. My second race was not as good as the first one. I had a bad start and couldn't do the same thing as in the first moto. When I was in fourth, I didn't have good lines and had a bad rhythm, but then I changed my lines and came back to third. When I came over the finish line, I didn't know that I won the GP. I thought that Mickael [Pichon] had caught Joel [Smets]. I just realized before the podium ceremony, when Mickael told me that he didn't win the moto." The opening MX I moto was full of battles and lead changes. Pichon took an early lead and built a big gap between himself and Everts. Townley held third, and after several laps, both Everts and Townley had caught Pichon. On lap 14 Everts took the lead, while Pichon got into a battle with Townley before Townley fell in a turn, giving Pichon room to chase down Everts. With two laps remaining, Pichon closed in on Everts as Townley charged up on the two leaders. The three crossed the line within a few feet of one another. The second MX I moto was a Smets domination. He captured a stunning victory ahead of Pichon and Everts. The Team Suzuki rider showed a lot of emotion as he crossed the finish line. It was just six months ago that Smets lay near death with a serious infection in a Belgian hospital. "This was unbelievable," Smets said. "I cannot explain my feelings. After spending days in intensive care and with all the pain in my knee, leading this race for 40 minutes on a very physical track reminds me of all the work I have put in and why I get up every day to do some more. After all that has happened in the last year, this is like winning my first GP." Runner-up rider in MX I Pichon was not happy after the weekend. He knows, however, where his speed is. It's a long season, and Pichon knows that winning is not important just yet. "I was a little disappointed with the first moto because I had such a big lead