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quite some distance adrift of Coppins and
Smets in second.
'Today wasn't as great as the last two
Grand Prix, but the result was still pretty good," Townley said. "I had two consistent rides, but my start in the second
moto cost me the win, because I was riding really well today. I pushed hard from
the first lap onwards, and I lost a lot of
energy to come through in that second
moto. I had trouble with the front end at
the start of the day, but we changed the
tire and a few things, and I felt much
more comfortable later on. It was a really difficult track, and in places I found it
very scary.
II
The third-placed Everts confessed that
he wasn't a fan of the fast Uddevalla circuit, and he actually fell while in deep traffic negotiating the "S" section after the
opening turn in the second moto. The
Belgian produced an excellent performance on a circuit that did not lend itself to
easy overtaking by pulling back from 18th
on the first lap to dramatically push past
Ramon with less than one circulation
remaining. His eventual scorecard read 44 for third overall.
"I blew it with my starts today, and that
has been my problem this year," Everts
said. "My riding has been good enough,
but I was tense in the first race and not
relaxed. I crashed at the start of the second one, but I was catching up and the
speed was much better. Physically I felt
very good. Josh [Coppins) is gaining a lot
of points at the moment, and this is not a
good situation. I am having a difficult time,
but there always seems to be one of these
every year, and I am sure I will turn things
around sooner or later and get back on
top. I will use the week and a half break to
go riding and try and do a bit better in
South Africa."
In the MX2 class, it was Italian charge
Antonio Cairoli who took home the win.
The Yamaha rider also went I-I, although
he did have some hurry-up from fellow
Yamaha
rider, Australian Andrew
McFarlane. The first moto was a complete shutout by Cairoli, as the Sicilian
grabbed the holeshot and proceeded to
break away from McFarlane and Carl
Nunn. As Cairoli and McFarlane
embarked on lonely but largely straightforward races (only McFarlane had a
scare when he almost ran into the advertising boards guarding the fence on the
first corner), Cedric Melotte, Mickael
Maschio and Davide Guarneri contended
the rest of the positions and ended up finishing in that order. The jostling between
Melotte and Maschio at one stage formed
the most entertaining section of a largely
processional race.
The second moto was virtually a reenactment of the first with Cairoli and
McFarlane breaking away. The 19-yearold Cairoli suffered some pain with his
hand because of the rougher track but
was able to control the cushion over
his Yamaha rival. Nunn and David
Philippaerts fought for third
after Guarneri crashed at the
end of the first lap. Melotte was
well down the order and would
just break into the top 10, taking
fifth overall. Cairoli, however, is
now excited about catching
McFarlane for the MX2 series
points lead.
"For sure this GP is the best
of the year for me," Cairoli said.
"I did not have that much confidence coming here, because I
did not race at all last weekend.
My hand is still bothering me
after Matchams Park, and I
couldn't do any decent training
this week. The track was not
that difficult because there are
not many jumps, and I could win here easily. I started both races in first place, and I
could control McFarlane. I had a lot of
motivation for today after last week, and
I really wanted to win."
McFarlane knows it is important to
stay consistent, and despite scoring a 2-2
and moving well away from his competition in the series points, he wants more.
The Aussie has never looked so determined in a Grand Prix season and is looking super smooth while others struggle.
"I am never happy unless I win, but to
take two second places here today is
good for the championship," McFarlane
said. "I fought hard, and it was a difficult
race because Antonio [Cairoli) rode well.
When he gets a start like that, it is hard
for me! I did not make many mistakes and
rode consistent lap times in both motos,
and I was pleased with that. The track
was tricky and had many square-edged
bumps, but it made for good racing. It is a
long championship, and the season has
just entered the second half. What is
important is to stay fit and injury-free and
try to take good points at each GP."
Third-place overall was Philippaerts,
another Italian rider, on the factory KTM.
Having won the previous Grand Prix in
France, Philippaerts was expected to do
well around the sandy Swedish circuit.eN
GRAND PRIX OF SWEDEN
UDDEVAUA, SWEDEN
RESULTS: JULY 3, 2005 (ROUND
Briefly...
10
OF
17)
MX I MOTO I: I. Josh Coppins (Hon); 2. Ben
Townley (KTM); 3. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 4. Stefan
Evetts (Yam); 5. Steve Ramon (KTM); 6. Tanel Leok (Kaw);
7. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 8. James Noble (Hon); 9. Pascal
Leuret (Hon); 10. Antti Pyrhonen (fM); II. Manuel Priem
(Yam); 12. Yoshi Atsuta (Suz); 13. Komel Nemeth (Suz); 14.
Danny Theybers (Suz): IS. Luigi Seguy (Yam).
MX I MOTO 2: I. Josh Coppins (Han); 2. Joel Smets
(Suz); 3. Ben Townley (KTM); -4. Stefan Everts (Yam); 5.
Steve Ramon (KTM); 6. James Noble (Hon); 7. Pascal
Leuret (Hon; 8. Danny Theybers (Suz); 9. Yoshi Atsuta
(Suz); 10. Kornel Nemeth (Suz); II. Jonathan Barragan
(KTM); 12. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); IJ. Luigi Seguy (Yam);
14. Tanel Leo!< (Kaw); 15. Andrey Safronov (KTM).
FIM WORLD MXI CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
POINTS STANDINGS (After 10 of 17 rounds): I.
Stefan Everts (411/5 Wins); 2. Josh Coppins (J66/1 win); 3.
Ben Townley (H6/3 wins); 4. Joel Smets (JIB); 5. Mickael
Pichon (299/1 win); 6. Steve Ramon (264); 7. James Nobles
(IBa); B. Pascal Leuret (IB5); 9. Ken De Dijcker (171); 10.
Brian Jorgensen (166); II. Jonathan Barragan (165); 12.
Danny Theybers (161); 13. Tanel Leok (154); 14. Antti
Pyrhonen (N/A); 15. Marvin Van Daele (136).
MX2 MOTO I: I. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Andrew
McFarlane (Yam); J. Davtd Philippaerts (KTM); 4. Cedric
Melone (Yam); 5. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 6. Davide Guarneri
(Yam); 7. Carl Nunn (KTM); B. Christophe Poun::e1 (!