Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

trying to get closer to Stefan [Everts] and Mickael [Pichon] and make the championship more interesting." Third in Talkessel was Belgian strongman Joel Smets, who finished with 2-8 moto scores after coming together with Coppins in the second moto. For Smets, it was a slight improvement over the previous round, where he finished fourth. As for series points leader and favorite Stefan Everts, he had a day he would rather forget. In a mistake he would later call "really stupid," Everts struggled after stalling his Yamaha in the opening moto. He dropped back to last. "This is a disappointing day for me, and I was expecting a little bit more," Everts said. "In the first race, I went down in the third corner and couldn't restart. I was going for a tear-off, and the bike just slid away. I was so far behind everybody, and the track was so tough for passing. I was completely covered in mud and my gloves were full. The first three laps were really difficult. I finally finished I Ith, and that was the best I could do." In the second moto, Everts finished second for fourth overall. In the MX2 class, Australian Andrew McFarlane etched his name into the history books. The Yamaha rider captured his third Grand Prix victory, and in doing so ':qualed the tally of wins set by fellow Australian Jeff Leisk in the I980s. Leisk is the most successful Grand Prix rider from Australia; McFarlane, however, is now just one victory away from taking over that position. Having won the previous Grand Prix in Namur a week earlier, McFarlane is now the guy to watch in the MX2 class. "I felt really strong in the first moto," McFarlane said, "and the bike was working exceptionally well, especially the suspension and engine. That is credit to Yamaha, and also Ohlins. In the second race, it was difficult to pass. It was only one line, and I had to take some risks to try and overtake lapped riders. It is frustrating on tracks like this and it was unfortunate for me because Davide [Guarneri] is not one of the easiest riders to pass. I tried some different things, but he was riding very smart. I am happy for him that he won his first Grand Prix moto. [Alessio] Chiodi was strong, but I did not want to let him through because I wanted to close as many points as possible in the championship. Anyway, I'm happy because I have won my second overall Grand Prix of the year." While McFarlane had tasted the podium champagne, his young teammate Guarneri had not. With a seventh in the opening moto, not too many people expected the Italian rider to show much more in the second outing. For Guarneri, however, riding with his two veteran teammates proved to be a blessing. ''The track was really difficult today," Guarneri said, "and when I got in the front for the second moto, I didn't want to make any mistakes. The team and the bike have been fantastic, and this result is not such a surprise for me because I worked very hard in the winter. I saw in the Italian Championships that I could run with [Antonio] Cairoli and [Alessio] Chiodi, so I knew with a little bit of luck, I could be going for a good Grand Prix result. To win in this class is never easy because there are so many decent riders, but I am always better when there is not so much mud." For Chiodi, he was extremely pleased with his results. His consistent riding has nearly netted him the points lead. "I am really happy to see the whole team on the podium," Chiodi said, "and it has been a great weekend. The only disappointment was that I could not take the red plate today - that would have made things really special for the team." The fact that Cairoli, the series leader in MX2, could only manage 2-16 moto finishes in Germany means that Chiodi is now just one point behind in the series points. McFarlane with his two victories in the last two rounds climbed to third in the points - 19 away from Cairoli. eN MXI OVERALC I. Mid"el Pkhon (Hon); 2. Josh Coppins (Hon); 3. Joel Sme" (Suz); 4. Stefan Eve'" (Yam); S. Tanel Leok (K>w); 6. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 7. Jame< Noble (Hon); 8. Ben Townley (KTM); 9. Marvin Van Daele (Hon); 10. Steve Ramon (KTM); II. Anni Pyrhooen (TM); 12. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 13. Ken De Dijcker (Han); 14. Antoine Meo (Hus); IS. Pascal Leuret (Hon). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MXI SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 or 11 rounds): I. Stefan Everts (204/3 wins); 2. Mkkael Pichon (195/1 win); 3. Joel Sme" (167); 4. Josh Coppin, (167); S. Ben Townley (148/1 win); 6. Steve Ramon (120); 7. Brian Jorgensen (104); 8. James Noble (I (4); 9. Ken De Dijcker (87); 10. Paul Cooper (81); I I. Marvin Van Daele (14); 12. Anni Pyrhonen (13); 13. Tanel Leok (11); 14. Pascalleuret (64); 15. Danny Theybe" (63). MX2 MOTa I: I. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 2. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 3. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 4. David Philippaerts (KTM); S. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 6. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 7. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 8. Tom Church (K>w); 9. Paukk Cap, (Hon); 10. Anthony Boiuiere (Yam); 11. Manuel Manni (KTM); 12. Pierre Renet (Yam); 13. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 14. Rui Gonca/'ves (Yam); IS. Christophe Poureel (Kaw). MX2 MOTa 1: I. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 2. AJessio Chiodi (Yam); 3. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 4. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); 5. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 6. David Philippaens (KTM); 1. Mkkael Maschio (Yam); 8. Aigar Leok (KTM); 9. Tom Chu'ch (K>w); 10. M", N'....e (B2); 1<. Oavtde Philippaens (81); 1S. Christophe Pourcel (66). Briefly•.. Mickael Pichon is closing in on the alltime list for Grand Prix Victories. He is one win away from Roger DeCoster's 36 wins. Also above Pichon on the list are: Torsten Hallman with 37, Eric Geboers with 39, joel Robert with 50, joel 5mets with 63 and Stefan Everts with 81. KfM factory rider Tyla Rattray successfully underwent surgery for his injured knee last week. After the operation, the doctor brought some good news to Rattray. It was initially thought that Rattray had also suffered some damage to the cartilage, but once the surgery began, Dr. Claes found that the cartilage was still perfect; it was just the ACL ligament and some meniscus that needed repairing. The South African will now spend three weeks resting the leg before starting an intense therapy program. Rattray is expected to make a full recovery. "It is behind me now," Rattray said. "I will look forward and be positive about my recovery. I will work hard on my leg and come back stronger than ever." Former 500cc Grand Prix winner Avo Leok suffered a terrible accident at round four of the MX3 World Motocross Championship. Tragically, on May 5, fate dealt him the cruelest blow. He crashed heavily during warmup for the Grand Prix at Rhenen, Holland. Leok was taken to a hospital in Utrecht, Holland, with two broken vertebrate. After operating, the doctors informed Leok that he would be paralyzed from the waist down. Leok will have to undergo another operation in a few months, followed by a long rehabilitation program'to assist him ~ith his new circum- stances. Leok is the uncle of two young Grand Prix riders, Algar and Tanel Leok. GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE TEurSCHENTHAL, GERMANY RESULTS: MAy 15, 2005 (ROUND 5 OF 17) MX I MOTO I: I. Mickael Pkhon (Han); 2. Joel Smets (Suz); 3. Ben Townley (KTM): 4. Josh Coppins (Hen); S.James Noble (Hon); 6. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 7. Tanel Look (Kaw); 8. Antoine Moo (Hus); 9. Antti Pryhonen (TN); 10. Marvin Van Daele (Hon); II. Stefan Everts (Yam); 12. Danny Theybers (5U2): 13. Pascal Leuret (Han); 14. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 15. Yosh; Atsuta (5uz). (Left) Joel Smets got on the podium with an impressive third overall in the muddy conditions. (Bottom) A crowd of roughly 25,000 spectators turned out for the event. MX I MOTO 2: I. Mickael Pichon (Han); 2. Stefan Everts (Yam); 3. Steve Ramon (KTM); 4. Josh Coppins (Han); 5. Tanel Leok (Kaw); 6. Ken De Oijc.ker (Hon); 7. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 8. Joel Smets (5uz); 9. James Nobles (Han); 10. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); II. Marvin Van Daele (Hon); 12. Manuel Priem (Yam); 13. Anni Pryhonen (TM); 14. Ben Townley (KTM); 15. Kornel Nemeth (SUI). My 8 OWN RACE Brian Jorgensen 6th (MX I) "I started I Ith in the first moto and finished sixth, which wasn't too bad because there was only one line," jorgensen said. "I was trapped behind [Antti] Pyrhonen for a long time, and the guys at the front had gone. In the second moto, I started better, but there were people all over me and I spent a lot of energy trying to protect my line. I was struggling with the lines and was riding too tense. I was really exhausted at the end, which was surprising because I never normally have a problem with my condition - I could not concentrate. It was nice to get some points. but I was hoping for more here. The track and conditions were completely different than last year." 34 Cedric Melotte 6th (MX2) "The first moto was good," Melotte said, "but I could not prove my speed because the track was so rough and one line. Again. I was stuck behind other riders and could not find the places to pass. In the second race, the track was a little bit better. I spent a lot of ener- gy behind [Alessio] Chiodi and finally got by. Then I caught up to Andrew [McFarlane] and we were close to [Davide] Guarneri, but I lost the front end and crashed. It took me some time to start the bike, and I just tried to take as many points as possible, but it was a very tough weekend." CYCLE NEWS· MAY 25,2005 39

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