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/128379
FIM World MXI/MX2 Motocross Championship STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER ile the title chase in both the MX I and MX2 classes came alive around the very difficult Talkessel circuit in Teutschenthal, Germany, a crowd of 24,000 spectators witnessed a battle royal at the fifth round of the World Motocross Championships. Heavy rain on Friday and Saturday made the circuit nearly unrideable. Although sunshine arrived on Sunday, the track was left badly rutted and onelined - difficult, to say the least. Martin Honda rider Mickael Pichon successfully reduced his large points deficit from 27 to just nine in the MX I class, as series points leader Stefan Everts spent too much time at the rear of the pack. Pichon, who had crashed hard at this race in 2004, proved he is at his best by sweeping both motos. Second place went to CAS Honda rider josh Coppins, with Suzuki factory W (left) Mickael Pichon scored his first victory of the season. The win, combined with the bad luck of Stefan Everts, puts Pichon just nine points down from first in the championship chase. Andrew Mcfarlane took his second win in a row. He now is third In points. 38 MAY 25, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS rider joel Smets completing the podium. "I have been waiting for this victory," Pichon said. "I trained really hard over the winter and, like all of us, I want to win the championship. The first few races weren't so good even if I was consistent. I like Teutschenthal a lot, and I was hoping to win this weekend. I was happy that the weather was good today even though I knew the races would still be difficult. lhe starts were important, and I got it right both times. We are working with the guys to get the bike better and better. They are trying really hard, and we made a good job this weekend - this is the best I have felt since the beginning of the year, and I was able to pull away easily. Stefan [Everts] closed some time on me in the second moto, but I could cut through the back markers quickly and control the race." Second-placed Josh Coppins didn't set the World on fire with his speed, but he did put together two solid rides. The New Zealander went 4-4, proving that consistency was the name of the game around the muddy Talkessel circuit. Having struggled through the opening • few rounds, Coppins is starting to get closer to the speed of the main contenders. "It's a good result," Coppins said, "especially because it was a tough weekend. I didn't ride so well in the first moto, but the second was much better. I was struggling on the turns in the first race, and my mechanic suggested some changes, which worked later on. I was watching the MX2 races, and I saw some people passing on a certain line. I had been way too soft in the first race and needed to be more aggressive in the afternoon, so I pushed on this line and came together with joel [Smets]. The team is working really hard, and we are