Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

/, Ga a I . I ( I I \\ a I I I I I I n- E4 t t i\ a .\*l + t- d I .H St€ve Romon (I t ), Everts (72) ond Ken de Dy.ker (91 ot the storl of the MXI tloss. ffi . i. t-,'7 E i l'; s. :1'l r. Stefan was gone. I had good speed ac the ffiff*,tr ffi! t'" had a hard time keeping up *5{*e. .:I[ only stafted riding a little while ago, 3o.l arn far lrom 100 percent frt." Coppins said. "l had problems ridinS the fast pace. The second moto I broke my goggles and got a lot of dirt in my eyes. ln the opening moto I was fighting more, so it was tougher. Ken [de Dycker] didnt want to be beaten by me in my first race back, so he pushed really hard. ln the first moto we collided - he brake-checked me - but it was okay-" ln the I'lX2 class, KTM factory rider David Philippaers doubled up from his Italian GP vicroD/ last week, moving closer to MX2 series leader Christophe fuurcel, Philippaerts, who had trouble riding under the sarne CHAMP KTM team tent as Tyla Rattray and Marc de Reuvei changd o\r'er to the oflicial KTM team a few weeks ago, and the resulB aJe already obvious. "l changed from the CHAMP team to the official KTM team recently," Philippaers said, "and I am now with good people for the bike and suspension. I arso train with Georges Jobe, plus I have a nerv engine and gearbox. I have also made changes with my mental approach, Now it'sgetting better for the championship. lt's been difllcuh this year, but now l'm staning to feel befter. fAntonio] Cairoli also has a good chance; we're friends and that's good for us to race like this." The opening moto of the MX2 class saw Kenneth Gundersen take the early lead. The Ricci Yamaha rider looked strong until he slipped up on lap rhree, handing the lead to Nicolas Aubin. By lap six, Philippaens had moved into the lead while home favorite Billy l''lackenzie followed in second. Air horns bellowed in the large crowd as it looked as though "Billy l'4ac" could pull off a victory But a fast-moving Christophe Pourcel slid into the runner-up position before the finish, leaving Mackenzie with third. ln the back of the pack, series leaders Antonio Cairoli, Tyla Rattray and Marc de Reuver fought for points. Cairoli batded Gundersen for sixth while Rattray, appar- ently havinS problems, rode to lTth with de Reuver, who ultimately retired, all the way back in 22nd. "My start was not so good in the open- ing moto," Cairoli said. "When I was riding behind Gundersen, it vr"s tough to pass him. I lost a lot of time on the front guys." ln the second MX2 moto, the ltalian duo of Philippaerts and Cairoli fought out anothe. brilliant battle, just as they had done a week earlier in the Grand Prix of Italy. They fought it out, with Philippaerts leading the opening nine laps and Cairoli leading the last l0 to take the moto win. Antonio Cairoli is starting to show bet- ter form, finishing on the podium for the second week in a row. Still without a GP win the year, Cairoli is beginning to show he is serious about the defending his title and now moves into second in points. "For sure I like racing with Davide," Cairoli said. ''l hope all the races are like today. Davide does not take too many risks and he ges the GP win. f4y position for the championship is good. I am now close to Tyla and Marc. Also, Christophe Pourcel didn't ride so good, so he lost many points - that is all Eood for me." The highlight of the iace for the British spectators was the brilliant ride by Gnnd Prix rookie Tommy Searle, Holding down third place on lap three. he held his nerve and held off Sebastien Pourcel to take third place in the moto and third overall, At one stage, Pourcel pushed his way past Searle, but the crowd went wild as "Tommy Gun" passed him right back. "l am really h+pr" Searle said. "l rode my rst G n E d Fi[+"*ilH,fl;:::t',J"# could get him back. I hope I can keep plug- ging awa),, and keep my training up, lt was good to have the fans behind me, lwanted to do it for them- I am h+py for me and the fans." Gll nglarl yeai and to fi P the r'4x class, though standr a distant 99 poirG behind Eyens in the champiorship chase. ln the flrst moto, Everts overtook Coppins to take the eart lead. leaving Coppins to battle for second with his teammate Ken de Dycker. The action b€tween the two was simpry arnazjog with both CAS riders using different lines. The battle was so close it looked as though they would take each other out before the race's end. Ultimately Coppins slipped back to third, giving de Dycker second. Striibos had his work cut out for him, working his way through the pack after staning in lSth place. He recovered nicely for founh followed by Cedric Melotte who rounded out the top five. The second moto of the l'4xl class saw an early surprise as Everts made a mistake and dropped from the lead position. "l hit a rock and my back wheel wenr out of the rut," Evefts said. Steve Ramon, Striibos, Tanel Leok and Coppins all went past before Everts recov- ered, at one moment looking as though he'd just given up rhe moto win. An aggressive pass on Coppins saw him move into fourth and then he slowly worked his way pasr the other three until he once again led the charSe, cruising to yet anoth- er victory 'Josh fCoppins] passed me.' Everts said. 'l was aggressive and passed him back and began chasing Tanel [Leok]. I was hav- ing a hard time: it was so fast and dusry and the roost made it difficult to see. I managed to pass Tanel on the finish jump and then chased down Kevin lstriibosl and Sreve [R.mon]. lam very happy, wrh this result, fthat was] some good racing." Whrle Evens was TakinS his .ecovea, rL was Ramon and Strijbos batt ing for the lead. "l was second and I was trying to pass Steve," Strijbos said. "Bur I couldn'r ger him. Then Everts came and passed me and Steve. I was then able to pass Steve, but ,llarIEREY Ba$N Cncun ,llarlEllrY gA9N, ENGTAND Rrsurrlr JU E 18, 2(X)6 lnouND 8 or l5l MXI I'lOlO OHE| l. Stefan EEn5 (Yam)i 2. K$ de q/cker (Hon)r 3. k'sh@ CoppirE (Hon)i 4. Kevin Stdibo, (s!z)i 5. cedrt l'ldotte Ctm); 6. T&d Lek (re); 7. cordon cckard (Hs): & MGo G ci. {Hon): 9. h5.ar Laret (l-lon); I0.ldi6 Bill fi&n); IL lrc lrchle (Hon): 12. lona(hn Barl?san ((Tl'1): 13. Hark Jqet (Hon): 14. stew &mon (Knl)r 15. Me0d Pr@m (Ha) HXI }IOTO TWO: I Srehn EleG Cfam): 2. Kevin snijbG (98); l. srne 8&on(suz): 4. Teel Leok (Kaw): s. lo6h6 Coppim (H6)r 6.lon thd &rr€& (l(r}l)j 7. Ken d€ Dl.k.r (l-ton); L cedrrc Meb& (ln): 9 Mem van Da.le (Hon): I 0. Vi@ Gar.ia (Hon)i I I - M,nuer Priem (YamJ: 12. Jatu NoUe (Hon): 13. Juli.n trill (Ym); la. Claudb Fedence ((d)r I s. Nwille BEdhaw (sE). HXI OYERAII- l- Stefa" E@rts (50); 2. KBin Strijbos (ao): 3. J6+ua coppnr (]5): a. Ken de Dicker (35): 5. T&.1 look (13)i 6. cedri( l',lelotte (29); 7. steve Remon i2Ai 8. loMdtr sarr4ai (2,{)i 9. vl.o Garch (24)r 10. hdE Noble(19). FIM WORLD CHAIIIPIONSHIP MX I SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Aft..8 of 15 Eund!): l. Stelan EEt! (le2l8wins): 2. Ksn $qb6 (2e3): l. TMdL@k (278);4. Ken de Dijcks (267); 5. Steve ianon (25.r); 6. lomdlan Ba.raSo (190.); 7. Pb5cl Laret (159)1 8. Cedri( l'lelotte (I4ri 9. vico Gircia (I39); I0. r'Lnuel Priem (I36). HX2 HOTO ONE: l. D.vid PnilippaEB (KTl1)t 2. chnnophe Pou.(el (Kaw): I Bilt t4&Ke.rie Clam): a. Daede Guamen fiam)r 5 KMn.th Glndeen C/am)r 6. Anlonio Grroli (Yarn): 7. Ceth Smerepod (Kaw); L Tommr sqrle (Kaw)j 9. Nicohs Aubii (KTl'l): 10. S.beitid Pourcel (Kaw): Il. Cari Nunn (KrH)r 12. Rli Gdd6 (fiM). ll. AJesio Chpdi (Yu). 14. Anrhony Bosrere (Yam); 15. r'1del Monni (Hon). ilx2 HOTO TWO| l. Antonb Caircl' (Ym):2. D id Phikpp&B (fifl)r 3. Tomm/ Sede {(aw); 4. S€banen Pourcel (Kaw)i 5. Rui Goncalver (KrM)i 6. Kenneth Gundemn (Yam): 7. Anthorry Boisierc (Yam): 8. Silry Ma

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