Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

After starting in 10th position in the opening moto, Coppins made his way past Strijbos on lap seven, and then he passed fellow CAS rider Vehvilainen on lap nine. However, he could not close on Everts and Ramon, so he had to settle for third position in the race. The second moto of the MX I class was pure Everts magic. After a short battle with former World MX2 Champion Townley, and with the support of thousands of Belgian spectators, Everts took the lead and swept away with the second moto. Townley held onto second from Ramon and Coppins. Tyla Rattray won the overall in the MX2 class and showed, once again, that he is the fastest MX2 rider in the world, despite his low placing in the championship. Rattray won the opening GP of the season before being struck with injuries and missing many rounds. In his comeback race last week in England, he won, and he did it again here in Lierop. "It's good to go 2-1 and win the overall," Rattray said. "In the first moto, I got into the lead and I saw [Marc De Reuver]. When he passed me, he did two fast laps, and I could not keep up with him. In the second race, I knew I had to get a break early, and I put in some good laps, and I kept the lead, and near the end I just took it easy." before I got to second. I hit the wall and couldn't do anything." Third place was Scottish rider Billy Mackenzie. The Yamaha-mounted rider looked in great form in the deep Dutch sand. Mackenzie, who had won a Grand Prix in Japan, has been up and down in this year's MX2 class, although in Lierop he was consistent, taking 3-4 results. "I'm happy with my consistency this weekend," he said. "It was a good change to get solid results in both races." De Reuver and his CHAMP KTM teammate Rattray went to war. The opening moto proved to be one of the best races of the season. De Reuver made a very tactical race, as he led on lap one. He handed the lead to Rattray on lap two and then followed the South African for all but the last three laps. De Reuver made a pass on Rattray on lap 15 and then pulled away easily, winning from Rattray and Mackenzie. Rattray made no mistake in the second MX2 race, taking the lead early and breaking well away from De Reuver. Rattray would win from De Reuver, while back in the pack Cairoli would be crowned World Champion, as his only real contender, Andrew McFarlane, DNFed the moto. eN LJEROP CIRCUIT LIEROP, HOLlAND RESULTS: SEPTEMBER (ROUND 16 OF 4, 2005 17) MXI MOTO I: t. Stefan Evens (Yam); 2. Steve Ramon (KTM): J. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Ben Townley (KTM); 5. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 6. Jussi Vehvilainen (Hon); 7. DaIlny Theybers (Suz); 8. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 9. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 10. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); II. Antti Pyrhonen (TM); 12. Lauris Freibergs (Suz); 13. Manuel Priem (Yam); 14. Marcus Norlen (Suz): 15. Willy Van Wessels (Hon). MX I MOTO 2: I. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Ben Townley (KTM); 3. Steve Ramon (KTM); 4. Josh Coppins (Hon); 5. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 6. Manuel Priem (Yam); 7. Jussi Vehvilainen (Hon); 8. Kevin Strijbos (Suz): 9. Bas Verhoeven (Hon); 10. Danny Theybe>'s (SU2); II. Ann' Pymonen (TM); 12. Yoshi Atsuta (Suz); 13. Kenneth Gundersen (KTM); 1-1. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 15. Lauris Freibergs (Suz). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MX I SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 16 of 17 rounds): t. Stefan Everts (671f7 wins); 2. Josh Coppins (614/2 wins); 3. Ben Townley (5-15/-1 wins); -1. Steve Ramon (-165); 5. Mickael Pichon (446/2 wins); 6. Joel Smets (385); 7. Pascal Leuret (296); 8. Ken De Dijcker (292); 9. Jonathan Barragan (28-4); 10. James Noble (282); II. Tonel Leak (268); 12. Danny Theybe.. (267); 13. Brian Jorgensen (262); 14. Yoshi Atsuta (209); 15. Antti P')'honen (206). MX2 MOTO I: I. Marc De Reuver (KTM): 2. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 3. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); -1. Patrick Caps (Hon); 5. David Philippaerts (KTM); 6. Alessio Chiodi (Yam): 7. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 8. RAJi Goncalves (Yam); 9. Andrew Mcfarlane (Yam); 10. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); II. Marcus Schiffer (KTM); 12. Sebastien Pource1 (Kaw): '3. Garath Swanepoel (!

• Cover