Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542351
Briefly... t t Although Eveds got the of{iriol win in Belgium, he left the opener tied in poinrs wirh Torrelli. Stefan Everts was not worried that Sebastien Tortelli beat him in the openint moto at Zolder. As you might recall, it lyas Toftelliwho was the last rider to beat Everts in a World title showdown. After winnint the previous three titles in 1995, '96 and '97. Evens lost the title in 1998 to Tortelli, who wore Everts down and won the title in rhe dying sEges ofthe final race of the final round in Greece. After wvo years of iniury Everts returned to win the titles again from 2001 to 2005. "To be hon- est, I was not surprised by his flonelli's] speed," Everts said- "l was not riding well, making a lot of mistakes. He was fast, but he was not ridingthat well. I still had the feelin8 that I could beat him, and I was iusr ridinS really bad. I was not really worried. Many people talk... I know what the truth is. We wait and see what the truth is. For sure, I don't want another season like 1998, where it was just nie and Tonelli. I tlink for the championship, it's not tood. Last year we had good races - me or Pichon or Ben lfownley], or Uoshl Coppins were winning. This year, if it stays like this, where Tortelli and I lapped many ofthe field, it will be a pity. I don't think it will stay the same. I think those otherguys are not so fit, and Zolder was reaily a tough circuit. You really had to work hard on the weekend, and the younger guys need to be fitter, but on easi- er circuits they will be better." CAS Honda rider losh Coppins pulled out of the MXI Seri€s opener in Zolder with a shoulder rngury Coppins .eme into the pre- season looking very strong, but in his very last practice s€ssion durinS th€ week before the season opener, he collided with a post on the side of the track. Coppins rode Satur- day morning practice in Zolder. but the shoulder popped out twice. "Basicalt I dis- located my shoulder atain," Coppins said. "k came out twice today, so it's over for me. I always seem to come into the season wath some rype of iniury lt is really frustmling for me; lworked six months, and now this, I mean, !o get rwo days away from the open- ine race and get hurt, that's tough to take." opsp Everts came away with his home-GP win, with 2- | results. But he did have to fight hard to get the win, thanks to the first-moto winner, KTM's Sebastien Tortelli, the last rider to ever beat Everts for the title. "l have never known my preseason to be so good, and in some ways, I came into the opening round a little nervous because of that," Everts said. "The first moto, I didn't ride so well; maybe I was putting tog much pressure on myself for the first race. I made many mistakes, and, while I did come close to [ortelli] at one stage, I couldn't get close enough. "lt's good to open the lirst GP with a win," Evers added, "and it's good for the sPonsors.'' Coming back to Europe after six sea- sons in America, the rider known a5 "Dyno" - Sebastien Tortelli - came out quick in the first moto. Tortelli led Everts easily and, despite running last year's engine setup (due to maior preseason problems with the new KTM motor), he looked super confident. "Overall, lam verT happy," Tortelli said. "The first weekend is always a little tough. The first moto was great, the sec- ond moto less - I had some problem with some lappers. we were far ahead, so we will be lapping a lot of guys. I have to get used to it. "Stefan is a good rider, of course, so it's nice to race with him,'' Tortelli added. "l fek good behind him in the second [moto]. I got caught with some lappers cYcLE NEWS . APR[. r?, 2006 25 t ) t 3 I tl a i 'I t { )e Tl. t ( I ta I L l l. r: a I $ al I @ \ I ! "7 .t Tylo Rc*roy opened the MX2-rlosg serier with lhe overqll win. t ! \ \v/ i t I I t Also looking likely to miss some races is tvvo-time World Motocross Champion Mi.kael Pichon (above). Some rumors throughout the paddock were that Pichon would be announcing his retirement from the sport soon. Pichon gave some indica- tion that his time in the sport is near-ly over- "l don't know what lwilldo," Pichon said. "l aJn happy with the team, but this might be my last season. I will tfiink about it throughoa the year- I am enjoying riding tor KTM. but I know I am alro thinkint about stopping. I have two children and a great partner I got married in the winter, connnued on poge 26 i rl t \i -/ )