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FIM World Championship Motocross Series Round 3: Eurocircuit make the first turn after flattening the exhaust pipe in a collision as he reared out of the gate. A defective spark plug was blamed for Darryll King's early exit. Smets' hopes of a repeat win in race two ended at turn two. Bernd Eckenbach, who was eliminated by the pile-up when his exhaust front brake disc with inevitable consequences. 500GP Marnicq Bervoets snatched his third overall GP win in four years at Valkenswaard - but it was his first in the 500cc class, as the Yamaha man came out on top of a points tie with Joel Smets. The two Belgians were in devastating form, particularly in race one when their duel took them two minutes clear of third-place finisher Miska Aaltonen, and they lapped everyone outside the first six. Peter Johansson took the holeshot in race one, but his lead did not last a was flattened, said, "Let's just say Joel was being a little optimistic if he thought he could get round the corner at that speed." The series leader went down and was hit by a host of others, and he completed the first lap 23rd. Johansson had taken the holeshot again, but Bervoets was quickly past him and disappearing into the distance at the rate of five seconds a lap before KTM teammate Smets stormed past him and ran away. Within 10 minutes, Bervoets had also demoted the Swedish veteran. "It was a hard pass and we made contact, but it was fair," Johansson said. Third place seemed secure however, until a big crash five minutes later. "I jumped too far over the table top on the long straight at the back and landed in a hole," Johansson said. "I already sprained my wrist there. I was hanging off the back of the bike and couldn't shut the throttle as I hit the braking bumps and flew over the lap, as he made a good escape before Smets could pose a threat. It was simply a matter of time before Smets got to second, and at 28 minutes, he went past Johansson. But Bervoets was then 43 seconds ahead and the race was over. Or was it? The Yamaha pit crew nearly had kittens, as Bervoets nearly lost it right in front of them four laps from the track, demolishing the safety fence and causing several spectators to be treated by medical staff. Smets and Bervoets were far too involved in their duel to notice. "I knew Marnicq would be a danger here," Smets said. "He is a better sand rider than me. I had to stay on the gas all the way to keep in front." "Starts like this one - long and in (Hon). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 250ce MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Joel Smets (t 12/2 wins); 2. Mamicq Bervoets (89/1 win); 3. Darryll King (64); 4. Andrea Bartolini (61); 5. Peter Johansson (48): 6. Gert Jan Van Doom (38); 7. Miska Aaltonen (36); 8. Willie Van Wessel (32); 9. Erwin Machtlinger (30); 10. Ava Leak (29); 11. Jonte Engdahl (27); 12. (TIE) Andrew McFarlane/Chris Bumham (22); 14. (TIE) Max Bartolini/Shayne King (20); 16. Damien King (19); 17. Fabrizio Dini (17); Mickael Pichon (105/1 win); 2. Fred Bailey (72/1 win); 3. Pit Beirer (71): 4. Mickael Maschio (67); 5. Rupi WlIlkner (11). 250 O/A: 1. Fred Bolley (Hon); 2. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 3. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 4. Remy Van Rees (Kaw); 5. Josh Coppins (SOl); 6. Claudio Federici (Yam); 7. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 8. Peter Iven (Kew); 9. Justin Morris (Yam): 10. Gordon Crockard 18. James Marsh (15); 19. Michael Byrne (14); 20. Gordon Crockard (54/1); 6. Josh Coppins (52): 7. (TIE) Yves Demaria/Paul Cooper (40); 9. Claudio Federici (34); 10. Peter Iven (31); 11. Justin Morris (30); 12. Remy Van Rees (23); 13. (TIE) Ryan Hughes/Alessandro Zanni (20); 15. Marko Kovalainen (17): 16. Collin Dugmore (16); 17. (TIE) Josep Alonso/Danny Theybers/Alex Upcoming Rounds: , Round 4 - Osuna, Spain, April 23 Round 5 - Schanenstadt, Austria. May 14 Belometti (15); 20. Thierry Bethys (13). Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 - Mantova, Italy, April 30 Round 5 - Loket, Czech Republic, May 14 500 MOTO 1: 1. Joel Smets (KTM); 2. Mamicq Bervoets (Yem); 3. Miska Aaltonen (Hus); 4. Avo Leok (KTM); 5. Gert Jan Van Doorn (VOR); 6. Erwin Machtlinger (Han); 7. Jonte Engdahl (KTM); 8. Chris Burnham (VOR); 9. Damien King (KTM); 10. Neil Prince (Hon); 11. Bernd Eckenbach (Yam); 12. Mats Nilsson (Hbg); 13. James Marsh (KTM); 14. Francisco Garcia Vico (Yam); 15. Fabrizio Dini (Hus). 500 MOTO 2: 1. Mamicq Bervoets (Yam); 2. Joel Smets (KTM): 3. Willie Van Wessel (Hus); 4. Peter Johansson (KTM); 5. Andree Bartolini (Yam); 6. Darryll King (Hus); 7. Gert Jan Van Doorn (VOR); 8. Jonte Engdahl (KTM); 9. Damien King (KTM); 10. Avo Leok (KTM); 11. Mals (Above) At least Mamicq Bervoets didn't lose any more ground to Joel Smets on Sunday. Bervoets went 2-1 to take the overall win over Smets via his 1-2. The overall was given to Bervoets by virtue of the second-moto tiebreaker but Smets' points lead remains in tact. ILeft) Joel Smets is showing why he's a champion. Smets and Bervoets defeated the third-place finisher by more as he maintained fifth with three laps Eurocircuit Vaillenswaard, Holland Results: April 8, 2000 [Round 3 of 161 125 MOTO I: 1. Grant Langston (KTM); 2. James Dobb (KTM); 3. Kenneth Gundersen (KTM); 4. Carl Nunn (Yam); 5. Trampas Parker (TM); 6. Mike Brown (Han); 7. Patrick Caps (KTM); 8. Philippe Dupasquier (TM); 9. Steve Rllmon (Kaw); 10. Scott Sheak (Suz); 1,. Cedric Melotte (KTM); 12. Cristian RavagJia (5uz); 13. Stephen Sword (Han); 14. Cristian Stevanini (Hus); 15. Heikki Van den Berg than two minutes in mota one. Smets still holds a 33 point lead with 13 rounds yet to run. (KTM). 125 MOTO 2: I. Grant Langston (KTM); 2. Tramplls Parker (TM); 3. Mike Brown (Han); 4. James Dobb (KTM); 5. Kenneth Gundersen (KTM); 6. Philippe Dupasquier (TM); 7. Thomas Traversini (Hus); 8. Erik Camerlengo (Hon); 9. Stephen Sword (Hon); 10. Cristian Stevanini (Hus); 11. Johnny Aubert (Hus); 12. Jan Van Hastenberg (Yam); 13. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 14. Marc De Reuver (Suz); 15. Roche Mezenberg (Suz). started to lap the backmarkers. I got closer but we both had problems. They didn't move over for us, but as BRIEFLY••• 125 O/A: 1. Grant Langston (KTM); 2. James Dobb (KTM); 3. Trampas Parker (TM); 4. Kenneth Ryan Hughes was a non-starter. The Pamo press officer said. "When he got to Monaco on the Monday after Portugal it was discovered that he had cracked the scaphoid. He was operated on immediately and told he could try to !ide eight days later. But the pain was too much. and Gundersen (KTM); 5. Mike Brown (Hon); 6. Philippe Dupasquier (TM); 7. Carl Nunn (Yam); 8. Stephen Sword (Hon); 9. Thomas Traversini (Hus); 10. Patrick we were lapping riders in the end who were battling for top 10 points, I suppose that is understandable. I went off line to try a pass on the last lap, and it didn't work out, but there was no danger from behind." Indeed there wasn't. Miska Aaltonen finished two minutes behind in third place, and they lapped the seventh-place finisher. The race was -20 seconds faster than the previous 250. Retirements had made it easier for joined the injury list on Saturday when he too broke the scaphoid in his right hand. Caps (KTM). FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 125cc MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Grant Langston (99/1 win); 2. James Dobb (86/1 win); 3. Mike Brown (73); 4. Trampas Parker (64); 5. Carl Nunn (60/1 win); 6. Thomas Traverslni (58); 7. Kenneth Gundersen (51); 8. Patrick Caps (49); 9. Luigi Seguy (40); 10. Sandra Puzar (25); 1 I. Jeff Dement (24); 12. (TIE) Erik Camerlerrgo/Philippe Dupasquier (23); 14. Scott Sheak (17); 15. Cedric Melotte (16); 16. Cristian Stevanini (15); 17. Stephen Sword (10); 18. Cristian Ravaglia (9): 19. (TIE) Steve Ramon/Erik Eggens (7). Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 - Indaiatuba, Brazil, April 30 Round 5 - Jastrebatrsko, Croatia, May 14 the Finn, Aaltonen, to snatch his first podium for Husqvarna. Andrea Bartolini was left on the sidelines after 250 MOTO 1: 1. Fred Bolley (Hon); 2. Pit Beirer (Kaw); 3. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 4. Remy Van Rees (Kaw): 5. Mickael Maschia (Kaw); 6. Yves Demaria (Yam); 7. Josh Coppins (Suz); 8. Danny Theybers running third when his engine broke, and Willie Van Wessel didn't even I FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 500ce MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 16 rounds): I. to go. "I fell off," Bartolini spit out with frustration and a grin. eN clinging sand, are the only ones where our smaller capacity bike is a handicap," Bervoets said, "but after that I think we have the best package. I had to push hard to get to second as quickly as possible, but Joel was already five seconds in front. We were both riding at a tremendous pace. I knew my only chance was to put the pressure on him and hope that he made a mistake when we cue SmelS (KTM); 3. Gert Jan Van Doorn (VOR): 4. Miska Aaltonen (Hus); 5. Ava Leak (KTM); 6. Jonte Engdahl (KTM); 7. Willie Van Wessel ('Hus): 8. Damien King (KTM); 9. Peter Johansson (KTM); 10. Andrea Bartolini (Yam). passed late in the race by Van Wessel. "My shoulder muscles hurt like hell," Johansson said. "I couldn't move my wrist the whole race, so I had to use my arm and shoulder to control the throttle." Bartolini salvaged fifth, and Burnham had his sights on third overall, The KTM somersaulted down the APRIL 26,2000' Nlssan (Hbg); 12. Miska Aaltonen (Hus); 13. Gert Jan Boekhorst (Hus); 14. James Marsh (KTM); 15. Fabrizio Dini (Hus). 500 C/A: 1. Marnicq Bervoets (Yam); 2. Joel end, but the team newcomer stayed on and won with ease. Johansson was fourth after getting bars." 16 (KTM): 9. Justin Morris (Yam); 10. Claudio Federici (Yam); 11. Gordon Crockard (Hon); 12. Peter Iven (Kaw); 13. Collin Dugmore (KTM); 14. Oscar Vromans (Yam); 15. Alessandro Zanni (Yl'm). 250 MOTO 2: 1. Mickael Pichon (Suz); 2. Fred Bailey (Hon); 3. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 4. Claudio Federici (Yem); 5. Josh Coppins (Suz); 6. Remy Van Rees (Kaw); 7. Peter Iven (Kaw); 8. Marko Kovalainen (Hon); 9. Alex Belometti (Kew); 10. Jussi Vehvilainen (Hon): 11. Gbrdon Crockard (Hon); 12. Justin Morris (Yam); 13. Alessandro Zenni (Yam); 14. Joakim Eliasson (Yam); 15. Pit Beirer (Kaw). e n e _ OS Ryan and is now in America to recover. He hopes to race in Mantova. " Teammate Mark Jones Stefan Everts did not race either. "My next examination is in 10 days time. If I get the all clear. I will try to !ide and pemaps I can race in Spain, but I will not come back until I can race without pain. The championship is gone now anyway. The information you were given last week was not correct. The pins will slay in until the end of the year. " Kurt Nicoll will race again at Easter. The KTM team boss will fly back from the Spanish GP 10 ride in the solo support races at the Swiss sidecar GP. Kurt will ride one of Peter Johansson's bikes from last year. When asked to explain the origin of the ·single-moto-per-class" idea for next year's triple headers, FIM MX chief Wolfgang Srb answered, "The only thing that we can say for certain at the moment is that there will be 16 t!iple headers. We have been advised by marketing and TV experts that the current two-mota race format is difficult for the general public to understand. and that six races are too many to market on TV. Nothing will be decided on the race format until October. and until then we will be listening to all of the opinions. Anything could happen. All I can say is that there will be between three and six motos...