Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

c ir I or Srefan Evens the hunt for his loth world title and Grand Prix victory num- I U.. 100 is very much going according to plan. At the Grand Prix of Japan, h freta around the magnificent Sugo circuit, Evens produced his magic yet I again, winnrnS both motos and increasing his chamPionshiP Points lead to 5l I over Tanel Leok. Nearing the halfway stage of the 2006 series, the nine-time World Champion rs enioying ridinS motocross more than ever. "l am havinS fun, the pressure is less, and I can also look forward to maybe finishing my season with another title," Everts said. ''Of course, it's too early to think about the championship, but it is going well, and I can feel that the pressure of racing all my life is now nearly over.'' The Belgian went into.lapan with one wish, and that wish was to have his competi- tion challenge him for a GP victory Having won the oPening four rounds of the series, and only losing wvo races from the l0 completed, the Yamaha factory rider was in need of a battle- Everts looked at the young guns of the series and wondered if they had the strength to lead him; to give him somethinS to think about, ''Sure I wanted to see if they could lead me, if they had something extra," said Everts 50 JUNE7,2006 . CYCLE NEWS SToRY aNo PHoros BY G:orr Msvrn lonelU At ThG I0[ of his competition. "lt's easy following somebody, it's another thing leading, and having somebody pttshing you from the back. That as when you see ifyou have what it takes and I really want to see if they can do that." Japan had been good to Everts in the past, and this occasion was no differ- ent. The 92nd win of his career came with ease. He stretched his lead in the opening moto to more than 25 seconds before slowing in the final laps, even- tually winning by 14 seconds. ln the second moto he took the win by nearly 30 seconds. lt was a fitting way to say goodbye to Japan. "l won my first Championship in Japan in 1991,andtowinhereinJapanin my final year feels very nice," Everts said. ''l have had a long career and a lot of support from many people and manufacturers, so I must say thank you to the Japanese people for the memories. We have a lot of wins now, but I am lookinS ahead, not behind, and I have to try and keep this form. I would like to win everything, so we will keep on working hard and see what happens- lt was special to win here for Yamaha. They have given us a lot of support, and it has been great to be a part of the family. I hope we can do many things together in the future." Second place in the I'4X I class went to Suzuki factory rider Steve Ramon. Ramon started the season with less than impressive results, the former l25cc World Champion struggling to come to terms with the new young guns (Davey Strijbos, Jonathon Barragan, Ken de Dycker and Tanel Leok) and lan- guished in seventh place in the championship points going into Japan. His run- ner-up finish and 4-2 results coming in didn't help too much in his quest for a top-three in the championship points, but it did 8et him back in form. "l was not so good in the first mgto start, but I made some good Positions in the first tlvo corners. My riding was not Sreat after that, because I could not get into a rhythm, and I saw that Stefan was pushinS very hard at the begin- ning," said Ramon. "l lost two places in the middle of the race, but toward the end I was improving and could close the gap to Ken lde Dycker] and Tanel [Loek], although there was no time to aftack. Fourth was okay, but it could have been better. ln the second moto, I was hanging on to second, and the whole race was tough for me. I had to work hard on the bike. To finish sec- ond overall is a good result. Stefan was too fast today, and we will try in the next GPs to beat him - but at this moment it is really difficult." CAS Honda rider Ken de Dycker, who had missed out on a podium place by iust a single point in two of the previous four GPs, finally got his first career Grand Prix podium. His speed in lapan showed that he is in fact the second MOTOCROSS Round s l ey 21, 2006 FIM World MXI/MXa Motocnoss ChampionshiP Scries I r I I I Eyerts dominotes the GP of lopon a r I { fr, ri AB{; \- @ a I I Stefon Everl6 did it ogqin in :lopon, rhe Belgion win- ning the MX'l .loss ot the strEo - Cirtlrit to furrher extend his leod in rhe.!torld 'Chompionship, a a v a I i/ ,r" I I - .t A I E !' -\. a N fi Slevo Romon ended up sccond ovcroll with his 4-2 tlly in the two motos. ) v- I I ^ -;\, l-'.J @ t iWi lt G

• Cover