Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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MOTOCROSS Stefan Everts won a thrlll.r in Japan. - Round 6 May 28-29, 2005 FIM World MXI/MX2 Motocross Championship STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER Everts Wins a [Iasslc British youngster BiliV Mackenzie wins MH2 Billy Mackenzie pulled of a surprising win in the MX2 class. n front of 25,000 screaming Japanese fans, defending champion and series front-runner 5tefan Everts won his fourth race of the season at the Sugo Circuit for the Grand Prix of Japan. The reigning champ stretched his lead in the standings by two more points over main title rival Mickael Pichon. Everts now leads Pichon by I I points, but there are still I I rounds on tap. The victory was also Everts' 83rd of I his career. The talk of the day was the magnificent second moto of the MX I class. Five riders locked together in a battle of survival, making it everything the large crowd had hoped for. And good weather made things just that much better. For Everts, Japan has also become a happy hunting ground. "I won my first title in Japan in 1991," Everts said. "I also won the last GP here in 1995 at Suzuka, and now I have won this year. I am so happy for Yamaha because I think this is one of the most important days of the year for them, and to win it in such a spectacular way is great. The fans won't forget this Grand Prix in a hurry. 36 "In one way, I was a little bit relieved that Mickael [Pichon] won the first moto," Everts added, "because I was ready to see what would happen in the second race. I tried really hard to turn things around in the first heat, but I couldn't catch Mickael, who was riding really well and had some good lines. I had to be satisfied with second place. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and that was the case in the first moto. I knew what I had to do later in the afternoon and kept the pressure on Mickael from the first lap and, at one point, managed to pass him." In the first MX I moto, Everts passed L&M teammate Brian Jorgensen in the second corner and led for half of the opening lap before engaging in a brief tussle with Pichon. The Frenchman was able to pull away at the front despite the best efforts of the World Champion, and the Belgian completed a lonely ride in second spot, ahead of KTM's Ben Townley. Jorgensen dropped back to eighth, fighting the debilitating effects of arm pump, but he rallied to pass Suzuki's Danny Theybers for seventh fIVe laps before the flag. JUNE 8, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS The second moto was easily the best of the season and perhaps the best in the last few years. Everts was part of a five-rider group that circulated the track all within three seconds of one another, and he had to fight for the lead with Pichon and Townley. Fronting the jostling pack and doing his best to resist the desperate attacks by Townley entering the last five laps, Everts was afforded a break when the KTM's engine expired. Everts then stretched his advantage over Pichon and Suzuki's Joel Smets to several seconds. Coupled with his second place in race one, it was enough for yet another Everts victory. The Martin Honda-mounted Pichon finished second for his fourth podium finish of the six races held so far. "The first race was great, even though my start was not as good as the second race," Pichon said. "I came through quickly and had a good lead. I then just had to ride smoothly and guard the space between me and Stefan [Everts]. In the second moto, I had the holeshot and was leading again, but I could feel Stefan pushing really hard right behind me. It was a tough race, and I tried everything I could, and then Smets passed me near the end, which was disappointing for me, as I lost more points on Stefan." Taking third place and showing great spirit was GP veteran Smets, of the Suzuki factory team. At 36 years old, Smets continues to show good speed. His end-of-race pass on Pichon in the second moto showed that he is indeed still a serious threat. "I have a hard time to keep up the confidence," Smets said. "I am struggling to find the best setup, and we are still trying to improve. Sometimes that works on my confidence, but the first 10 minutes of the first heat, I was struggling and could not hold onto the bike. I knew my speed was better than in the first heat. I am so happy with my result in the second heat." In the MX2 class, it was another Yamaha rider, Billy Mackenzie, who won. It was his best-ever race result. The 21year-old Scot went 2-1 to win and became the first British rider to win an overall GP for more than a year. The victory was well-timed ahead of the eagerly awaited British Grand Prix at Matchams Park, June 4-5. Mackenzie was in top form and won with two impressive rides, putting Yamaha on top of both the MX I and MX2 categories in front of senior