Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

FIM World MXI/MX2 Motocross Championship EVERTS And CAIROll Stefan Everts battled the muddy conditions and Close In nane of the muddiest Grands Prix in recent history, Stefan Everts took his 85th Grand Prix overall with I-I results after a crushing display in the Grand Prix of Germany, the Rinaldi Yamaha rider further proving that he is still the best mud rider in the Grand Prix series and possibly the world. Heavy rain turned the Gaildorf circuit into such a complete mess that even Everts fell over near the end of the second mota. After holding a 14-second lead over Mickael Pichon and looking like an easy winner, it took Everts took several seconds to get his bike going again after the fall. As Pichon came onto the scene, he passed the Belgian - only to get stuck in the same corner, stalling his bike and allowing Everts to repass him. Tanel Leak and Josh Coppins had also closed in on Everts during the incident, and both passed Pichon and his stalled machine. Coppins, with Everts now in sight, pushed hard to pass Leak, but he had to settle for third place in the race and third overall. Naturally, Everts was overjoyed with his win and at extending his series points lead. "I was leading by a long way and riding well - I made a mistake and fell down," Everts said. "It was a really difficult position in the place I fell, and it took me some time to get going. I tried to start the bike, and on the second time the motor started. As I was trying to get going, Pichon came around, but he also had trouble there and I was really trying hard to get going. There was so much rain and the conditions were terrible. I like these type of conditions - I ride at my best when it is like this. We have three GPs to go, and I gained some points on Coppins today, so I did okay. I lost points in South Africa to Coppins, but I have them back now." Everts, who had not won a Grand Prix for two months, was excited to be back at I came out on top In the German Grand Prix. the top of the GP podium, though he never gave up hope of winning again prior to the end of the season. The Belgian showed great skills to dominate in Gaildorf, and he came away with a healthy points lead over Coppins. "It has happened before that I had a long dry spell of not winning GPs, so that is okay, but I'm very happy with this victory," Everts said. "I was very close in South Africa. It has cost a lot of effort, but at every GP I have kept on fighting to win, and that is why I'm very happy with this victory. I was a little bit worried in the second race when I got stuck in the ruts and crashed, but everything worked out CAS Honda rider Coppins finished in the end. It was also good to take some third overall, although he lost valuable points back on Coppins, and I hope to points to Everts in the race for the chamcontinue in the same way for the end of pionship. Coppins knows he faltered in the season." Gaildorf, and now he looks toward the Finishing second to Everts was former next round at the Isle of Wight, where he World 125cc World Champion Steve won the GP in 2004. Ramon, the KTM rider beginning to show "I had two good starts from the eighth signs of the form many expected from gate, so I was really pleased with that," him. With a Suzuki factory deal on the Coppins said. "The first heat was really table, it's obvious that Ramon is doing his tough for me - I got stuck two times and best to achieve a victory as the season closes. crashed two times - but I still managed to "The whole weekend was good for ----come back to fifth. I wasn't riding good. My bike was working really well on the me," Ramon said. "I had the holeshot but went a little too far to the outside and starts today, and the second heat was [Luigi] Seguy and Everts passed m~. My much better for me. I rode a lot more riding was going well, and I could try relaxed 'n the second mota, but I was some different lines behind Stefan. We quite tired at the end of the race. I have came up to a lapped rider, and at that to make something happen in Isle of moment I was faster than Stefan, so I Wight." knew it was the time to attack. I came in The swampy grass hills of Gaildorf, on a different line and could not get the some 50 miles north from Stuttgart, were bike out of the rut. From then on, the gap the perfect playground for a hungry Everts to show the world his unrivalled was too big. In the second mota, my start talent for slippery and muddy conditions. was again pOSitive, but I did not feel so With some parts of the track actually procomfortable on the bike and my riding viding grip and others almost none at all, was not smooth. I really had to fight to stay with the leaders, but overall I am riders were on a continuous search to really happy with second today." find the best balance. A 12,OOO-strong 42 AUGUST 31,2005 • CYCLE NEWS Briefly... Team Suzuki's Joel Smets ended his 200S MX I Motocross World Championship season after catching his leg in a rut during the second free practice session and dislocating his left knee. The ftve-time World Champion fell on a tight-banked left tum and was immediately grounded, screaming in pain. The practice period was momentarily halted so that the Belgian could be given medical assistance, part of which was a painkilling injection, and an immediate transfer to the nearby hospital. The 36-year-old was given an anesthetic, and the limb was clicked back into place, but further scans would be necessary to determine if there is any ligament damage and if surgery is required. The German Grand Prix has held some happy memories for the team, with World Championship success being celebrated in 1994,2001 and 2002. However, this latest incident is another unfortunate case of history repeating itself, as Mickael Pichon crashed and broke his left knee during warmup at Gaildorf, ending his chase for the MXGP title during 2003. With the weekend injuries to Joel Smets (an injured leg) and Cedric Melotte (a fractured arm), the Belgian Motocross of Nations team is in tatters. Although Stefan Everts, Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos remain as the most likely members of the team, there is also an on-form Ken De Dijcker, who's waiting for the chance to represent his country. With Everts, Ramon and Strijbos, the Belgians must still go in as equal favorites with Team USA, although only a minor injury to any of these three could cause all sorts of problems for the defending champions. With the Australian team named on the weekend, and with Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, Craig Anderson, Brett Metcalfe and several other top-line Australians not included in the team, the Aussies can likely look forward to once again finishing outside the top 10. In what is meant to be the golden era of Aussie motocross, this is somewhat of a tragedy. The Aussies will field Andrew McFarlane, Danny Ham and Lee Ellis. Obviously, the recent poor form of Mike Brown in the AMA Championship has the other teams looking at him as the weak link. While Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham will be able to run with the likes of Everts, Coppins and Pichon, many wonder if Brown can keep the paCe of the fast MX2 riders such as Antonio Cairoli, Andrew McFarlane and Tyla Rattray. The rumor mill is once again working fulltime, with several rider changes looking likely to take place. While most of the top riders have already signed for the 2006 season, there are still two or three who are yet to Sign. On this weekend, it became more obvious that Steve Ramon will sign with the Suzuki factory team, and Mickael Pichon has - once again - started negotiations with KTM. In other news, there is talk that Brian Jorgensen - unwanted from the Rinaldi Yamaha team - might return to the Martin Honda team, and Pascal Leuret is talking with some British teams about 2006. Continued on page 44

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