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
zolder, MOTOCROSS [and] came back a liftle better near the end. I was antic- ipating a better end than what I got, [but] being on a podium and winning a moto is very good, and that is why I came back. lt's going to be a long season. I am looking at the big picture." Third overall in the MXI class was Kawasaki factory rider Tanel Leok. The Estonian went 3-4 and showed that a recent shoulder injury was not going to get in the way of his getting a good start to the season. ln the l'4X2 class, Tyla Rattray produced his third overall win on the trot after taking the last two GP victo- ries of 2005 and the opener in zolder. lt was not all easy work for the South African, as a problem with his brake cost him a sure win in the openinS moto. ''l'4y first race, I got the holeshot - that was my first in my GP career," Rattray said. ''When I was going down the straight on the second lap, I lost the front brake. It was really difficult. lwas missing berms. lthen got arm pump. I lost a lot of energy in the first moto because of the front-brake problem. "l showed in the second moto I could get the lead, and I pulled away," Rattray continued. "Before the sec- ond race, I could see the track was getting rough, and when lggt into the lead, lcould see that I was making a good lead... I had a six-second lead. ''My goal is to win every Gf" Rattray added, "but if I can't, then lwill go for second or third. lt's Soing to be the rider who uses his head and is consistent." l'4arc De Reuver finished second overall in the lYX2 class and proved that his speed is also back after an injury-riddled two years. The "Flying Dutchman" did, however, spend a little too much time on the ground. While leading moto one, he crashed out, handing the lead and the race win to his KTI*4 team- mate David Philippaerts. 'At the beginning of the first race, I was riding good," De Reuver said. "l passed everyone and made a small gap and crashed a little; then I got arm pump. I got founh, which I was not happy about. We have many races to Eo and six months, so it will be okay- "The second race, my start was not so good, but I fol- lowed [Antonio] Cairoli, and we passed many riders, and second overall was good for me," De Reuver said. "You can only lose the championship here in the first round, not win it. For me, the MX2 class is the toughest class. You look at [how] Philippaens won the first moto and didn't do so good in the second." Third place in the MX2 class went to NorweSian Kenneth Gundersen, who spent most ofthe 2005 season on the sidelines with injuries. Gundersen produced 2-6 results for third overall. CL zoLDER CrRaun zolorR, BErcrut*,1 REsulrsi APflL 2,2006 | RoUND I or 15) Hxl HOTO li L Sebartien Toftelll (KTM) r 2. Stefan Erere (Yam):3. Ted L6k (K:w)i4. Ster Eamon (suz):5. Ken De Oitker (Hon)i 6.lonathan Bamtan (,oM)i 7. Ps.al Leu.et (Hon)r L Kevin Striibos (So2)r I Ced.ic lrelotte lYam): ,0. Stephen Sword (K!w): I I vico Gar.ia (Hon): 12. Sa Verhowen (Kaw): 13. Antti Pyrhonen (Tl'1)i 14. vLrar Avis (KTM)i 15. DannyTheybeB (suzl- MXI MOTO 2: l. Steran EwB (Yam)r2 Sebsden ToEerli(KTt4)j l. Kdh Striibos (Sur)i4. Tanel Leok (Kaw): 5. Stew Bamon (suz): 6.steph.n sword (lGw); 7. Ken oe Diiker (Hon): B. Cedri. l'1elo(e ffam)i e lonath Baras.n (KIH); 10. Pascal Leurer (Hon)r ll. James Noble (lion)i 12. ManueL Pr€h (Yrm): 13. Erian lorsemen (Hon)r 14. f1a,in van Daele (Hon)i ls. anti MXI OYERALLT I Srefan Elens (Yam): 2. Sebdtien Tortell, (KTM)i 3. Ianel Leok (K!w): 4. Steve Rahon (Suz): s Kevin s$iibo! (suz): 5. Ken De DiikEr (Hon); 7.lonathan Baftasan (KTM)I L Stephen sword (K.w)i e. Pas@l Leurer (Hon); 10. C€dri. l'lelorre lYam)r ll. laries Noble (Hon): 12. Bas V.rhoEEn (K,w)i Il. Antti Pyrhonen CrM)r l.t. Maryin Van D&le (Hon)i 15. FIM Wonld MXI/MXA Motocross ChamPionship Tortelli won lhe first MXI moto. FIt4 WORLO CHAMPIONSHIP HXI SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 15 rcund.): l. ster,n EvErts (47llwin)i 2. !.betien Toftelli (47)i 3. Tanel L&k (18)i 4 steve Ramon (341i 5. Kevin Striibd (13); 6. Kei De Oiiker (10): 7 Jonafiai Barasan (27):8. sr.phen sword (26)it. P6cal Leuret (25)i 10. Ced.ic l4elone (25)i ll.l,mEs Noble (14)i 12. Bd verheveo (14)i 13. Anro P/rhonen (la)i 1,1. f1aruin van D&le (12)i 15. Vi@ Garcia (10). i,tx2 MOTO I I l. Davd Philippaerts (KTf'l): 2. Kenneth Gunde&n (Yam)l l. Tyla Ranruy (KTtrli 4. Marr Oe R€uver (KTra); 5. Sebastien Pour..l (Kaw)i6. Ale$io Chodi (Yffi)i 7. chnrtophe Pourcel (K!w)r 8. C.r Nlnn lxTl'1)r 9. Tommy searle (Kaw); 10. Antoine l'1& (Hon); ll. Ddide Glarren Oam)i 12 Patrkk caF (Hon): I l. Rui Goncajre' (KTI'1)i I 4. Aigar L@k (Yam): I 5. Amonio Mx2 MoTo 2: l. Ty'a RaREyll(Tm)i2. AitonioCairol, [am);3. r1ar. Oe F€lver (KTM)| 4. chnstoph€ Pourcel (Kaw)i 5. Rui Gon(dvs (KTPI)i 6 Kenneth GundeEen (Ym)i 7. Antoine t1@ (Hor)i 8. Sebastien Pour.el (K:w): 9. Silly tlcKemre Clam)j l0 c r Nu.n (KIl''1)i ll. Tommy S€arle (Kaw); 12. oavide Guamen (Yam): 13. Oavid PhilippaerB (KTr'1); 14. Lui8iSeSuy flam)i 15. Aigar tlx2 OVERALL: l. Ty'a FattEy (Krlli 2. l'larc De Reuver (KrM): 3. Kenneth Gundeen (Yahli a. oavid Philippaens (fiM)i 5 Chrl$oPhe Po!rcel (raw)i 6. Seb-tien PourcEl (K!w); 7. Artonio Caircli (Yam)i 8. Antoire H& (Hon):9. Rui Gon.alv* (KIH)| r0. Cad Nunn (KTM)] ll TommySearle (K2w): 12 Davide Guamen ryam)i 13. Alesio Chiodi(Yam): 14 AiSar Leok (Yam)i 15. FII{ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MXz SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I or 15 rcunds): l.Iy'a 8.ttra/ (4s/l win)i2 Mar. oe REUve. (38):l Kenneth GundeE.n (37)i 4. oavid Philippaens (33): 5 Chrkophe Po(r.el (32)i 6.sebsri.. PourceL(29): 7. Antonio Caircli(28)i8 Antone l'le (25)r 9. Ru Go.cJvs (1{)i 10.C lNunn (?4)i Il.IommySearre(22)i 12.OdideGuamen (19)i il.AL$iochiodi(15): 14. Ai8ar Leok (ll)i r5 &lly Mackenzie (12). Continued frctn page 25 and that was a lot offun. I just have to think about if I want to spend so man),, weekends away from home." The factory KTM team went (hrough the stranSe situation of changing back to its 2005 racing motors. Due to the new '06 bike having problems with stalling and hard s6rtinS, the team decided it would be better to run its '05 entine at Zolder. As was shown by Sebastien Tortelli's oPenins-moto win, the speed of the older bikes is good enough. There's been a rumorgoing around about Sebastien Tortelli having signed with Honda to do the AMA l"lotocross Nationals, bu( fil'4's Pit geirer made it clear where Tortelli will be in 2006 and 2007. "We have a two-year contract with Sebastien," Beirer said, "the first year to race in EuroPe and next year in America. He will do what is on his contract; that I am sure ol We have spoken to him and rnade it clear." The day aller the Grand Prix, spokesmen for the zolder air. auit said they are not interested in runnin8 another Grand Prix in the near future. lt was expected last season that the Zolder circuit would concentrate more on its road-mcing facilit),; however, this year's |'4XGP went ahead anyway. It is interesting how many of today's GP riders now have former world Champions in their corners. Ofcourse, Stefan Everts has his father, Harry (a four-time World Champion)llosh Coppins has former 250cc World ChamPi- on Jacky Vimond: Sebastien Tortelliand Mickael Pichon have Georges Jobe (a llve-time World Champion); and the Suzuki team of Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon have another flve- time World Champion. Eric Geboers, in their corner. Another former l25cc World Champion, James Dobb, also does work whh Harc de Reuver and a very impressNe British youngster called Tommy Searle. Briefly... 26 APRTL 12, 2006 cYcLE NEt/vs Round I April 2, 2OO5 I \ t A t. I '1 \ u -t 'l .-"t ,f The tlD(2 c1.55 louncher ofl thc rtort line ot the Zolder Circuir. L Z lno \i {*' L: .'- : ,. l', 4 l t, lan .rS' { t