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/1542393
LI avint produced tlvo impressive retuks at the opening round of the 2006 World I lEnduro Championship in his rookie season, UFO Corse Yamaha rider Johnny Aubert claim€d his llrst WEC win with a victory on day two in PortuSal on May 7. That made it a perfect weekend for Yamaha, aa his teammate Stefan Merriman had won the E2 class on the lirst day. On day one, I'lerriman made up for his disappointment at the opening round ifl Sweden by finishing 19 seconds ahead of Honda's Mika Ahola and a funhe. lJ se.onds ahead of KTM's Samuli Aro. Auben ended up founh. On day wvo, Aubert made none of the mis6kes that had slowed his progress on day one, and the former motocrosser claimed his first win. Winning seven of the day's eitht special tests, Auben finished 23 seconds ahead ofAhola, with Merriman placing third. ln the E2 World Championship standints, Auben is now third - llve points behind Aro and Ahola, the pair tied at the top of the standings with 88 point3. "lt's absolutely fantastic to have had such a great weekend and to have won my lirst- ever World Championship enduro race," Aubert said "l still can't believe it. When lsaw the motocross and enduro tests. I was confident rhat I could do well, but when I saw the €xtreme test, I thought that I would really struS8le. On day one, I did find it dilficult on the extreme test, and that allected my resuh. I also had a one big crash on the enduro test, "On day two," he continued, 'l wanted to improve my extreme tests and fight for a posarion on the podium, and I did that. I felt really Sood on day tlvo - on all the special tests. Winning my llrst World Championship race in my first season of enduro is fantas- tic." KTIl's David Knight claimed lop honors on both days in the Enduro 3 class, finishing ahead of Finn Marko Tarkkala, with Sweden's Biorne Carlsson claimint third on both days. Johnny Auberl won br lhe first lime in his world Enduro cqrG€r in Portugol KTM's Mickael Pichon, who has been knocked out of this year's World Motocross Championship by a bout with mononucl€osis, sent out an e-mail this past week to inform his fans and the industry of his cu.rent situation. The e-mail reads as follows: "Beint off the track since the first Ge I feel it is time for me to step up and inform you all on my current situation and what my close future lookr like. "some friends have informed me about the stupid rumors floating around on the lnternet about my current health situation and also about my relationship with KTI'{. lt is then necessary for me to explain myself on these subie.6 to lirrt re-establish the true and also to cool down the deal. "l'm currentl,, physically diminished due to a virus (mononucleosis) that is affectin8 my physical condition and pre- venting me from keeping a retuhr phFjcal activity in time. A stronS antibiotics medication tre{rtment just had no effect at all on the virus, and it seems that the only solution for me to recover is to 80 throuth a lont period of rest. "l then have to accept it and commit to stayinS home and restinS against my own will for an undetermined peri od- lt is obvious that such a decision is affectins my momentum. l'm also especially disappointed for KTM, who had put together a Srea! effort and put a lot of hope in me. "l want to say that my relation- ship with KTM has always been 8reat, and I really want to express my gratitude to them, especially for their support oyer the difiicult pest v/eeks. I'm particularly dis+point- ed for Pit Beirer, who had don€ an inc.edible iob and provided a lot of efforts to supply me with fantastic equipment. "lf my health condition does not improve within the comangweek5, I will have to consider a lighter pro- 8ram. But in any case, it is today making more sense for me to end my GP career. The coming week will be crucial and, of course, I will be keeping you updated also through my personal website." Pichon's website can be visited at www.mickael-pichon.com. l4 MAY r7,2006 CYCLE NEWS Merriman Win in Po , rtugal bert \ ,J' f, ( 1 Y lt I Pichon Says... AMA Flat Track Schedule Changes AMA Pro RacinS announced last week that two rounds have been dropped from the Al'4A Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship. The GNC Twins round scheduled for June l0 at Ponland, lndiana's XPLEX Park and the Augus! l0 hall mile at (he Black Hillr Speedway in Rapid City, Sourh Dakota, have both been removed from the 2006 schedule. The series schedule is now as followsl ttlay 27 - lllinois State Fairgrounds, Spingfield, ll.[T/GNC Singles May 28 - lllinois State Fairgrounds, Springlield, lVlVlile/GNC lwins June ,, - New york State Fairgrounds, Syracuse. NY/Mile/GNC Twins J{no ?4-Allen County Fairqrounds, tima, otl/}lalf Mile./GNC Twins Juh | - l-96 Spe€dway, Laks odassa, MUHaI [,lilq/GNc Twins J0h I - West Virqinia Motor Spsodway, N4ineralWells. \iwl Haff Milo/GNC Twins July l5 - Virginia Motor Speedway, Saluda, VMalf l,lils/GNc Twins July 22 - Darke Counly tatgrounds, Grcenville, oH,+lalf Mile/ GNC Twins July 29 - Hegerstowa Speedway, HagerstoMl MD/Half [4ilE/ GNC Tt{ins Aug. 5 - Farley Speedway, ta ey, lry'Half Mile/GNC Twins Aug. 12 ' Casde fiock Race hr*, C"stle Roclr WA/TYGNC Singles Aug. 13'Castle ffock Race Park, Castle Focl, WAST/GNC Singles Al|g. 20 - Peoria Eace h*, Peoda, IUTI,GNC Siltsl€s Aug. 26 - Bridgepon Speedway, Bidgeport, NJHalf lVlile/GNC Twins S!0t 2 - lllinois Stars Fairgmunds, SprinqlieH, IUST/GNC Singles SoFt 3 - lllinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, lVl\4ils/GNC Twins \^r I ( t- 1 E l ... -a