Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cedric Melotte finished in third with a 6-2. Cairoli felt comfortable with his victory and is now just I 2 points behind McFarlane in the series points. The Nismes circuit was difficult but enjoyable for the Italian. With five rounds left, Cairoli reduced the gap to McFarlane in provisional standings to 12 points. Alessio Chiodi, who was fifth in Nismes, is another 26 points adrift and hangs on to his third place in the standings. "Yes, it was difficult with Cedric behind me in the second moto," Cairoli said. "I never raced this track before. I like this type of soft track; also, the mud is good for me. I made up some points on the championship, and that is very important." Second was series leader McFarlane. The Aussie was consistent, although beating Cairoli is now important, and McFarlane will go to Loket next weekend with the goal of leading home his fellow Yamaha rider. He also had a battle royal with his teammate Chiodi. "I am not happy - I come to every race to win, [but] today it was not possible and his speed was good," McFarlane said. "My team is still working hard on the World Championship. Everyone wants to fight to win, and I am sure Chicco [Chiodi] wants that, also. I tried to pass him but failed; it's a shame for the championship. We lost some points today, but better to not take a big risk and just go for what I have - second overall for the day, and I am still good Briefly... 2005 in the championship." Third place went to Melotte. This race was another sign of improvement for the Rinaldi Yamaha rider after all his problems of the past. Injuries have hampered his season, and he was happy to make the podium in his home GP. eN GRAND PRIX OF WAUONIE NISMES, BELGIUM JULY 31, RfsuLJS: 2005 (ROUND 12 OF 17) MXI MOTO I: I. MKkael Pichon (Hon); 2. Josh Coppins (Hon); 3. PascaJ Leuret (Hon); -4. Brian Jorgensen (Yam): 5. Stefan Everts (Yam); 6. Steve Ramon (KTM); 7. Ben Townley (KTM); 8. Joel Smets (Suz); 9. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 10. Manuel Priem (Yam); II. Kevin Strijbos (SUI); 12. Danny Theybers (SUI); 13. Tanel leek (Kaw); I". Luigi Seguy (Yam); 15. Marvin Van Daele (Hon). MXI MOTO 2: I. Stefan Everts (Yam): 2. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 3. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Ken De Ditcker (Hon); 5. Manuel Priem (Yam); 6. Joel Smets (501.); 7. Yoshi Atsuta (Suz); 8. Steve Ramon (KTM); 9. Pascal leuret (Hon); 10. Danny Theybers (Suz); II. lauris Freibergs Mlckael Pkhon is still undecided about his short-term future plans, and he is not even sure if he will ride the Grand Prix of Czech Republic next week. "I don't know what I will do," he said. "I have to talk to some people. We have to make a decision. When I was off, I tried to get good people around me. It's not going forward, always going backward. I came back for the fans, and I want to go to Loket, but It's not up to me. I will say something on Tuesday about if I go to Loket or not." (SUI): 12. Tanel Leak (Kaw): 13. Ben Townley (KTM): 14. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 15. Kevin Strijbos (Suz). FIM MXI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MXI SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Afto, 12 of 17 'Qund.): I. Stefan Everts (~96/Swins); 2. Josh Coppins (458/2); 3. Ben Townley (390/3); 4. Joel Smets (377); 5. Mkkael Pichon (346/2): 6. Steve Ramon (JJ2): 7. PascaJ Leu,et (243): 8. James Noble (218): 9. Ken De Dljcko, (214); 10. Brian Jo.-gensen (206); II. Danny Theybe" (202); 12. Jonathan Barragan (200): 13. Tanol Leak (192): 14. Yoshl Auu.. (171): 15. An"i Pymooon (156). MX2 MOTO I: I. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. David Philippaerts (KTM); 3. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 4. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); S. Oavide Guarneri (Yam); 6. Cedric Melone (Yam); 7. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 8. Max Nag! (KTM): 9. Aigar Leak (KTM): 10. Anthony Boisslere (Yam); II. Patrick Caps (Hon); 12. Mlckael Maschlo (Yam); 13. Nicolas Aubin (Yam); 14. Rul Goncalves (Yam); 15. Matti Seis(o{a (Hon). MX2 MOTO 2: I. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 3. Alessio Chiodl (Yam): 4. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); S. Patrick Caps (Hon); 6. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 7. David Phmppa..... (KTM): 8. Algar Leak (KTM): 9. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); 10. Anthony Boissiere (Yam): II. Nicolas Aubin (Yam); 12. Pierre Renet (Yam); 13. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 14. Jason Dougan (Suz); 15. Matteo Bonini (Hon). FIM MX 2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After- 12 of 16 rounds): I. Andrew McFarlane (4 I6/t4wins); 2. Antonio Cairoli (404/3); 3. Alessio Chiodl (378/1): 4. David Phmppaerts (341/2); 5. My 3 OWN Joel Smets Cedric Melotte (321); 6. Stephen Sword (262); 7. Christophe Pourc.el (229); 8. Billy Mackenzie (228/1); 9. Mickael Haschio (222); 10. Carl Nunn (217); I I. Da,vide Guarneri (214); 12. Rul Goncalves (214); 13. Anthony Boissi.... (187): 14. Patrick Caps (179): 15. Max Nag! (142). RAce Joel Smets will not race on the factory Suzuki team in 2006. "I have no hard feelings, and I will try and give [Suzuki] some good results before the season ends," he said. "I know Joel Robert has been sick; I expect him to show up tomorrow, or give us a call in the week. I don't know if Iwill be part of the team, but I think it will be Stefan [Everts], Steve Ramon and me, I don't know." Rumors throughout the GP paddock have several major team changes in the GP series for 2006. Stefan Everts is still in talks with Yamaha, although some are saying he will race for the Suzuki team. There is also talk that Sebastien Tortelli is coming back to the Grand Prix Series, possibly for Kawasaki or Honda. Mickael Pichon had been in talks with KTM, but it looks as though that possibility has fallen through. Stefan Everts says that he is happy that the American team is coming to the Motocross of Nations, and he looks forward to racing with Ricky Carmichael. "For sure, it is good that the American team comes over:' he said~ "I will do my best to beat Ricky, and I will try to race with him. I would have liked him to come to Uerop last year. We always talked about who was the best sand rider, but that never happened. Now we go to Ernee, and that is also a good track for me." 6th (8-6) (MX I) Suzuki's Joel Smets had trouble getting mentally fired up for the Nlsmes GP and thus produced mediocre results. "That first moto was bad," the former champ said. "I was riding at 80 percent, and It felt like I was on cruise control. In every comer, I was telling myself that I could go faster, but I could not understand why I wasn't pushing. I have had this [happen] a few times this season, and I want to sort it out. I can only think that this mental block comes from being out for a year and then coming back to fight with the top guys at the age of 36. Physically, I am feeling fit, and I proved at the beginning of the season that I can do it, so it is strange that sometimes the fighting spirit isn't there." 30 Ben Townley 9th (7 - 13) (MX I) KTM's Ben Townley struggled with his starts all weekend, and it showed In the results. "'n the first race, I had a bad start but came through to fifth, I think, before I went down In a silly crash. I fought back strong and passed a lot of riders and ended up seventh, but It was a bad race because I didn't ride well at the beginning. I started badly again in the second moto and did not have a rear brake from the second comer. I went down three times because I was coming into the corners and could not stop. I mistimed the starts today, and I don't understand how, because I was doing them so well during the week." 5 Alessio Chiodi 5th (7-3) (MX2) Hanging on to third In the series, Alessio Chiodl was hoping for a better finish in Belgium. "I'm a bit disappointed with my overall result this weekend," Chiodl said. "My riding was not as confident as it should be, but I made a good improvement over my performance on Saturday, when I was only 17th In timed practice. I had a bad start in the first race, and after that it was very hard to corne back here. I finished seventh, and that was not too bad, coming from 18th. My second moto was better: I started third and kept my position. Loket has quite a strange soil, but I always have good results there, so that should be a better race for me," CYCLE NEWS • AUGUST 10, 2005 41

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