Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

after a few laps," Pichon said. ':tI.fter five laps, my arms pumped up really bad and my times dropped from I minute and 46 seconds, to I minute and 49 or SO seconds. At one point I was almost thinking about stopping. It was so dangerous because I could not hold the bike. I did the best I could do. I was happy today with my starts, and the second moto was good. Joel pushed really hard in the opening laps, and after awhile I was starting to catch him, and I wanted to put some pressure on him. But then I made a few mistakes and could not get close. With around five minutes left, I slowed down a little because I did not want to crash. The track was physically very demanding. I feel that two second positions here in Belgium is a very good result." In the MX2 class, Champ KTM rider Tyla Rattray came into the 2005 season ready to take control - much like his good friend Ben Townley did in 2004 - though it wasn't all smooth sailing for Rattray. He spent the week leading up to the Grand Prix sick in bed. In the end Rattray finished first, ahead of local Belgian rider Cedric Melotte and French sensation Sebastian Pourcel. Rattray is not looking at his rivals though. "I figure I am the guy - I mean, I was second best to Ben [Townley) last year, and I can't see why I should not be the guy this year," Rattray said. "I put two good races together today. Over the whole weekend I was feeling good on the bike and confident with the track. I had two good starts and pulled away pretty quickly. I had been in a hospital bed for four days this week unable to do anything because of an infection. The motos were hard towards the end, but of course I'm happy with the win." The opening moto of the MX2 class was not all Rattray, though, as Australian Andrew McFarlane led early. The Aussie was passed on lap three by Cedric Melotte, but on lap six, Rattray took the lead, never to be challenged again. Rattray won, followed by Melotte and McFarlane, respectively. In the second mota it was again Rattray, although this time he led from start to finish, winning ahead of Melotte, again, while Sebastien Pourcel finished third. The final mota result was also the final overall positions. Runner-up the MX2 was Cedric Melotte. The Rinaldi Yamaha hero produced two consistent races, although he never had a chance against the lightningfast Rattray. "Sure, I am disappointed," Melotte said. "I mean I won the MX I class here last year, and I felt I was quick enough to win the MX2 class this year. I give credit to Rattray; he was quicker than me. I have some things to work on before the second round, but I know I can be quicker. This track was very demanding, and when you don't get a good start, you can forget about passing guys quickly. I made a charge in the second moto, but it was never going to be enough to take the overall anyway." eN GRAND PRIX OF ZOLDER ZOLDER, BELGIUM RESULTS: APRIL 3, 2005 (ROUNDS 1/1 OF 17/17) MX I MOTO I: I. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Mickael Pichon (Han); 3. Ben Townley (KTM); 4. Ken De Dijcker (Han); 5. Joel Smets (Suz); 6. Josh Coppins (Hen); 7. Kevin Strijbos (Sln); 8. Paul Cooper (Han); 9. Tanel Leok (Kaw); 10. Karel Nemeth (Suz): 11. Danny Theybers (Suz); 12. Gordon Crockard (Yam); 13. Yoshi Atsuta (Suz); 14. James Noble (Han): IS. Pascal Leuret (Han). MX I MOTO 2: I. Joel Smets (Suz): 2. Mickael Pichon (Han): 3. Stefan EvertS (Yam): 4. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 5. Ben Townley (KTM): 6. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 7. James Nobles (Han); 8. Brian Jorgensen (Yam): 9. Ken De Diicker (Han); 10. Paul Cooper (Han); I ,. Josh Coppins (Hon); 12. Steve Ramon (KTM); 13. Claudio Federici (Yam); 14. Jussi Vehvitainen (Hon); IS. Pascal leu ret (Han). MX2 MOTO I: 1. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 2. Cedric Melotte (Yam): 3. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 4. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 5. Antonio Cairo'i (Yam); 6. Sebastien Pourcel (Kaw); 7. Alessio Chiodi (Yam): 8. Patrick Caps (Han); 9. Erik Eggens (Hon); 10. Carl Nunn (KTM); II. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 12. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 13. Rui Goncalves (Yam); 14. Max Nagl (KTM); 15. David Philippaerts (KTM). MX2 MOTO 2: I. Tyla Ranray (KTM); 2. Cedric Melone (Yam); 3. Sebastien Pourcel (Kaw): 4. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 5. Mike Brown (Hon); 6. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 7. Erik Eggens (Hon); 8. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); 9. Carl Nunn (KTM); 10. Alessio Chiodi (Yam): t t. Mickael Maschio (Yam): 12. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 13. Maneo Bonini (Hon); 14. Pierre Renet (Yam); 15. Rui Goncalves (Yam). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MXI SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 17 rounds): I. Stefan Everts (45/1 win): 2. Mickael Pichon (44): 3. Joel Smets (41); Mickael Pichon knows it is a long series. He finished second in both matas for second overall. 4. Ben Townley (36); 5. Ken De Diicker (30): 6. Kevin Strijbos (29); 7. Josh Coppins (25); 8. Paul Cooper (24); 9. James Noble (21): 10. Jonathan Barragan (20); I I. Tanel leak (17): 12. Brian Jorgensen (14); 13. Danny Theybers (14): 14. Kornel Nemeth (14); IS. Steve Ramon (13). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MX2 SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 17 rounds): I. Tyla My 30 Rattray (50/1 win): 2. Cedric Melone (44); 3. Sebastien Pourcel (35); 4. Andrew McFarlane (35); 5. Antonio Cairoli (34); 6. Erik Eggens (26): 7. Alessio Chiodi (25); 8. Carl Nunn (23); 9. Stephen Sword (21); 10. Mickael Maschio (20); I I. Mike Brown (' 9); 12. Anthony Boissiere (18); 13. Rui Goncalves (14): 14. Billy Mackenzie (13); 15. Patrick Cap, (13). OWN RACE: 4th (MXI) Ben Townley In his first MX I race, Team KTM's Ben Townley finished a respectable fourth. "Everyone says I should be happy, but I feel that I should have been on the podium," Townley said. "I crashed twice today. The second one was a stupid mistake - the front wheel just went away. For the first fall, it was just a racing incident with Pichon; maybe I should have waited and taken him in a better place. I have to work on my starts; they are letting me down and making my races harder. Overall, it was a good weekend. We still need to work on a better setup. and we will progress from here." 24 6th (MXI) Kevin Strijbos Even though he finished outside the top 10, Team Suzuki's Kevin Strijbos fought for his finish. "I'm happy with today," Strijbos said. "I started well in the first race with the holeshot, but after about 10 minutes, my arms were pumping up and I lost some places. I rode my own race and finished seventh, which was good for me, and I didn't feel that tired. At the end of the second race, my light [energy] was almost out. In the last two or three laps I did not know what I was doing or where I was. I feel virtually dead now, but I am happy with my riding and that I could push for 40 minutes in both races. I didn't expect this result, and that makes it better." 11 15th (MXI) Steve Ramon Steve Ramon had some bad luck in Zolder. "I was maybe pushing a bit too hard in the first race," Ramon said. "I made a mistake and lost time to Smets, but then Coppins rode along- side in a rut on the inside of a corner. He was going flat-out towards the outside of the track and touched me with his elbow. I lost control and had a big crash, going into the public. In the second race, the track was so bumpy I could not find a good rhythm, and then I stalled the bike." 75 Mike Brown 11th (MX2) American Mike Brown struggled though the opening round. "In the first moto, I got a good start and was right up there," Brown said. "Then my arms got tight, and I must have just been a little too excited. It was not the moto I planned and I had a pretty bad finish, but everything is new and I think I was just too excited trying to win. I think the more I ride, the better I will be. The second mota was not so bad. I got up to third or fourth and started to get tight again. I tried to relax, and my arms eased up in the last 10-1 S minutes so I could get going again. There are plenty more races to come." CYCLE NEWS • APRIL 13, 2005 29

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