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Yamaha Stefan Everts (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) rewrote the history books by winning all three classes at the final round of the
Motocross World Championships in Ernee, France today.
After securing the Motocross GP world championship in the Czech Republic two weeks ago and having entered the record books for winning two
classes in one day earlier this year, the super-fit Belgian decided to make a unique attempt at all three Grand Prix classes in one day. The three victories take Everts’ total number of GP victories to
an unprecedented 72 which, ironically, is also Everts’ race number, chosen because he was born in 1972.
Earlier in the day Everts had won the 125 and Motocross GP races with relative ease but it
was the 650 event which produced some of the best racing of the day. Riding a machine he hadn’t ridden before Saturday’s free practice sessions, Everts was forced to battle wheel-to-wheel with KTM
riders Joel Smets and Javier Garcia Vico. Such was the pace that all three riders made mistakes in the heat of the battle, but Everts was able to recover from his small crash to take the historic
treble.
In the Motocross GP event Marnicq Bervoets (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) said au revoir to the factory team, for whom he has raced with since 2000. The Belgian suffered a poor start but
rode strongly to make up places and sign off with a sixth place, moving him up to finish seventh in the overall standings.
Claudio Federici (Yamaha De Carli Team) did not enter the final GP.
Instead the Italian has undergone surgery to repair the knee he damaged last season in a bid to be fully fit for the 2004 campaign. Despite the non-score Federici finished the season in eighth place in
the championship on his YZ450F.
Stefan Everts (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team)- first (125, 650 and Motocross GP) “What a day. A great day but really, really tough! I knew that because of the changes
in the championship this would be my last chance to attempt three classes in one day, but even if that wasn’t the case I would never try it again – it has been so physically demanding. I don’t really
know what to say because the results say more than I ever could. Looking back the 650 was the toughest race of the day. I had a good battle with Garcia Vico but had a small crash and that let him
through. I sat behind him for a few laps to recover – I thought to myself maybe he would get tired! – before repassing. The whole day has been really exciting and sincerely I have to thank all my team
for their hard work this season. I couldn’t do it without them.”
Marnicq Bervoets (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) – sixth (Motocross GP) “This was my last ride for the team and I would have liked to
go out on a high note but things didn't quite work out that way. My start was not so good and this is a difficult track to pass on. I lost even more ground after a few laps as I chased after the
leaders. Vincent Turpin was getting in everybody's way and as he forced McFarlane off the track I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and nearly had to stop to avoid crashing myself.”
Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Manager of Yamaha’s European Racing Operations “Unbelievable. It has been an amazing day and a great way to end a brilliant season for Yamaha. From the one-two-three in the 125s
to Stefan’s incredible triple victory. With Stefan's Motocross GP title and two manufacturer's titles to our name we have again shown ourselves to be the leading manufacturer of four-stroke motocross
machinery and it is thanks to the hard work of our teams and riders that we have achieved such strong results. Words cannot really describe how we are all feeling today, but I do know that if Stefan
asks to enter a sidecar Grand Prix next year then my answer is definitely no!”
Yamaha won the 125cc Motocross World Championship manufacturers title in emphatic fashion by taking the first three places in the 12th and final round at Ernée in France
today.
The race was won by Motocross GP world champion Stefan Everts (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) who led from start to finish on his YZ250F. Behind him Italian rider Alessio Chiodi (Yamaha De
Carli Team) rounded off an injury plagued season with a fine second, but perhaps the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for local rider Luigi Seguy (Yamaha JK Racing) who delighted the French fans by
taking his first podium finish of the season on his two-stroke YZ125.
Everts kick-started his historic treble win with his eighth 125 victory in nine starts. Despite not entering the first
quarter of the championship, the Belgian ends the season in second place in the standings, just 15 points behind countryman Steve Ramon (KTM) who won the title with a safe fifth place in France. Andrea
Bartolini (Yamaha RZ Team) finished the championship in third place despite a difficult day. The Italian crashed on lap one but fought back to finish in tenth place.
Stefan Everts (Yamaha L&M
Motocross Team) – first “I got a good start and was able to find a good rhythm and run at my own pace, which was important as I have a busy day ahead. I had one moment when I hit a rut and almost
crashed, but other wise things were fairly straight forward.”
Alessio Chiodi (Yamaha De Carli Team) – second “It's just so frustrating for me that the season is now finished. I started with a
second place but then got injured in a training crash which has affected my performances this season. Finishing second here is very satisfying as I am still not 100 per cent. Again I got a perfect start
but Stefan came past very quickly. I watched his lines for the first few laps and that helped me to settle down. But his riding is so phenomenal at the moment that I was never going to beat him. I
settled down into a good rhythm and was pleased with my second place.”
Luigi Seguy (Yamaha JK Racing) – third
“This has been a great way to end a difficult season. The injuries I suffered last
year meant that my winter training suffered and I was not as well prepared for the season as I would like to be, and as a result my results suffered. I wanted to get on the podium and there was nowhere
better to do that than here at home. My contract this season was to race the two-stroke YZ125 and I have shown today that it is a competitive GP machine. I felt really confident today. I think I was
about eighth or ninth from the start but I was able to make passes right from the word go. Now I am looking forward to next season. I want to stay and race a YZ250F for JK Racing and Yamaha Motor France
next season. I believe that together we can be world champions.”
Andrea Bartolini (Yamaha RZ Team) – tenth “I just want to forget this weekend! I went to the start with a small chance of becoming
champion but it went wrong almost from the word go. My start was OK, but the front wheel slipped away from under me going into the fourth corner, just after the table top, and many other riders hit me.
I was last, the clutch lever was broken, and it suddenly occurred to me that even third in the championship was in danger. It gave me some heart when I saw that Maschio was not too near the front, and
eventually I was able to push through to tenth and keep my third in the series. Even my one-off ride in Motocross GP class went wrong. I made a good start, but I was too far outside and got pushed into
the earth bank at the first corner. Anyway, I'm off home now to see my twins - a boy and a girl. They were born on the Tuesday after the last GP and we have already had some sleepless nights!”
KTM KTM today celebrated their second World Championship success of 2003 when Steve Ramon finished in 5th position
at Ernee for the 125cc Acerbis Grand Prix of France; the final round of 12 in this season’s campaign. The 23 year old was the third title winner from Belgium this year and KTM’s third 125cc Champion in
the past four years, proving once again the capabilities of the SX125 machine. Stefan Everts made MX history when he became the first rider ever to win three races
in three different classes in the same day. The Belgian took the 125 race for the seventh consecutive time ahead of Alessio Chiodi and Luigi Seguy forming a Yamaha trio on the podium. Ben Townley and
Erik Eggens were both victims of a dramatic opening lap that saw several fallers, one of them Championship contender Andrea Bartolini, who was then left to fight his way through the pack and could only
take 10th. Eggens slipped off on the third turn and spent the duration of the race working his way up to 17th nursing some pain in his hand and suffering with arm-pump. Townley was more effective in his
charge and caught up to the rear of team-mate Ramon to cross the line in 6th. Ramon, who had been runner-up for the previous two seasons, earned the number one
plate by 15 points from Everts who had pushed his way up to second overall having missed three rounds at the start of the series. Eggens places fifth while the injured Marc De Reuver seals seventh but
has been absent for the last five races. Townley has to be content with 11th (but could not compete in six GPs due to injury). In the 125cc class factory KTM
riders claimed two victories, thirteen podiums and four places in the top eleven of the final 2003 classification. De Reuver and Ramon were both winners while all four collected more than one podium
result.
Two weeks ago in Loket Joel Smets gave the firm their first crown, since Jamie Dobb’s triumph in the 2001 125cc contest, when he won the 650 title. The Belgian had already confirmed the
number two plate in the MXGP category but endured a tough final GP this afternoon. A crash while second to eventual winner Everts dropped him well down the order and he had to work hard to return from
13th to cross the line seventh.
Smets was in trouble once again in the 650 contest that he has made all his own this season. This time a promising face-off with Everts was cut-short after
another fall left him 20th at the start of the third lap. Smets dutifully put his head down once more, picking off riders at a phenomenal rate and climbed to third just ahead of Cedric Melotte; which is
still his lowest result of the entire year. Javier Garcia Vico had watched his team-mate and then Everts succumb to brief mistakes and fronted the race for three circulations until Everts regained his
composure and escaped to history. Enduro ace Samuli Aro had two races crashes and ended up 25th. Steve Ramon, 5th, 125, 2003 World Champion: “My start was
good but it was a difficult race today and hard to concentrate. There were numerous crashes on the first lap so I had to be careful and avoid those because I did not want to get in a situation where the
Championship could be in danger. I was not riding like normal but it was enough for the title. Last year I was so close and for this season I wanted to be more consistent and I have managed this over
the course of the year. 2004 will be a big step up for me riding the 450 but it will also be a new challenge and I am already looking forward to it. I want to thank KTM, the team and everyone who
has helped me.”
Eric Eggens, 17th, 125: “Man, that was a bad race. I seem to have no luck at this circuit. I lost the front wheel and slipped down on the first lap and then tried to make some
positions back. In the middle of the race my rhythm went completely and my arms pumped up; I just couldn’t make any progress. I crashed yesterday and hurt my hand so it has been a tough weekend and not
really the way I wanted to finish the season.”
Ben Townley, 6th position, 125: “Bad luck again. I am mad about this race especially because Luigi took third and that has bumped me to 11th in the
Championship. I made a decent start and going up the inside I was in maybe 5th or 6th. Bartolini then crashed right in front of me and I had nowhere to go. I came back all the way back to sixth and was
riding fast but did not feel comfortable. I was always on the edge and didn’t really know if I would crash. I took a lot of time out of Steve but when I drew close he picked up the pace by maybe two
seconds a lap.”
Joel Smets, 7th in MXGP, 3rd in 650: “I am angry. After Loket I can say that I have suffered from burn-out for the first time in my career and all this gossiping and rumours has
got to me. I found myself having to lie more in the last two weeks then in my entire life and I am not happy at all with this. I have been frustrated looking at the back of my rivals all year and I
honestly felt like going home this morning. I was lucky I only had two crashes today because my mind was not on the bike. I tried to get some good feelings from this GP and I look at the situation
now in that it can only get better.”
Javier Garcia Vico, 2nd position 650: “Today the racing was good. The first ten minutes were hard for me and I thought that I would struggle to hold that pace
for the whole 40 minutes. I tried to follow Stefan after Joel went down and then he was too fast for me while I was leading. This has been a good consistent year for me and I have to be happy with
finishing on the podium at every GP but I still wanted to raise my level to challenge Joel each week; I want to be better.”
Samuli Aro, 25th, 650: “I started well and was felt good. When the
faster riders passed me I was still comfortable in fifth position. Kadlecek passed me and we had a small fight but I made a mistake and he was able to get ahead before we collided and crashed. I was
able to find the rhythm again and my physical condition was fine but I fell again after losing control on the uphill first jump, which was totally my mistake. I had to restart but when the engine is
warm it takes slightly longer. I am disappointed but still happy for the speed I had in the first part of the race. I had bad luck today because the opportunity was there to finish quite high and score
a lot of points; I am liking motocross more and more.” HRC Honda rounded off the 2003 FIM Motocross World
Championships in style at Ernee for the Acerbis Grand Prix of France today by claiming two podium positions in the twelfth and final round of the MXGP classification. Stefan Everts stole the headlines
by becoming the first rider ever to win all three motos on the same day.
The Belgian secured his ninth consecutive MXGP victory but was chased by Brian Jorgensen on the 450cc four-stroke and Josh
Coppins on the 250cc four-stroke under hot and sunny conditions in northern France. Both riders started well and were soon promoted to the top three after Joel Smets crashed once more in a GP while
holding second place. The 650 World Champion dropped down the order and left the Dane and New Zealander relatively untroubled. Coppins suffered two minor slips that blunted any chance of commencing a
scrap for the runner-up spot and had to fend off a late challenge from Patrick Caps to make sure of his second podium of the year.
Tiscali Honda rider Jorgensen took his third consecutive podium
in the MXGP class (four in total) and now finishes as the highest placed Honda representative in the Championship having confirmed his final status in fourth. Yoshitaka Atsuta passed the chequered flag
a dependable tenth and scoops that same standing in the classification having taken points in all 12 races. Gordon Crockard was once again riding injured and determinedly persisted while in obvious
discomfort to finish 12th and 11th overall despite missing five races.
Stefan Everts began a hard days work with a straightforward win in the opening race of the day, the 125cc GP. Steve Ramon
claimed KTM’s third 125cc title in four years and also completed Belgium’s clean sweep of World Championship honours this year when he finished fifth but had enough points to secure the crown. Main
contender Andrea Bartolini crashed on the first lap and could only work his way up to 10th. Despite a strong showing in yesterday’s qualification heat Thomas Traversini was Honda’s top rider in 16th.
Yamaha enjoyed a clean sweep of the podium when Alessio Chiodi gained his second top three result of the year on the four-stroke with second and Luigi Seguy tasted champagne for the first time in over a
year taking his 125cc two-stroke to third.
Cedric Melotte was denied his seventh podium of the term in the 650 class when he was passed by Joel Smets late in the moto. The Belgian went on to take
fourth after Smets recovered brilliantly from a race crash that saw him as low as 20th. Melotte takes third place overall in the class after his most successful season ever. Everts, despite a small slip
that let Javier Garcia Vico lead for several laps, went on to ink his name into another MX archive with his third triumph of the afternoon.
Brian Jorgensen, runner-up, MXGP: “I wish we could go
on for a few more GPs! I am feeling really confident right now and we made some changes to the bike after Loket that worked from the first minute of practice here. I felt that I could possibly win but
Stefan was on a mission today. I got stuck behind Turpin for some time and Everts had a large gap by the time I was through. I stayed relaxed the whole race and concentrated on finding my lines and
being smooth. When Josh was following me I did not panic and this gives me a lot of encouragement for next year when I know that I can deal with pressure from riders behind me. It has been a tough but
interesting season. It has been more or less the first time that I had to fight for something and that added pressure has really bought out the best of me. I find that I rise to the occasion and want to
ask more questions of myself. This year I had the right bike, I trained hard and put myself in the right situation to get these good results.”
Josh Coppins, 3rd position MXGP: “Of course it was
important to get a strong result to finish the year. It was a pleasing way to wrap up a bad season. I was chasing Brian quite closely in the early stages but then I crashed twice, on the same corner
different times. I had been struggling with some wheel spin and I was thinking about places on the circuit where I could gain some ground when I lost concentration and went down. The race was pretty
boring then because there was a huge gap before and after me. I had to pick up my pace in the last few laps because Patrick was getting closer. I am happy with this result and isn’t a bad level to have
reached considering that the doctor I saw in January told me that I would never ride again. At this time I still cant quite walk properly and need a small operation on my left ankle after the Nations.
Today was a nice way to park the 250 as I will be on the 450 riding for the Team New Zealand.”
Gordon Crockard, 12th position, MXGP: “I have been struggling all weekend. On Wednesday after Loket
I hurt my ribs and the pain became worse at the British Championships. I could hardly breathe and it was not at all comfortable to ride. I wanted to come here this weekend because this season has been a
disaster thanks to injury. Prior to Valkenswaard I felt great but since then it has been one problem after another and I have become so frustrated with arriving at the race not having trained or
practiced or been able to prepare in anyway. I hate this feeling and I am glad the season is over so I can get my body fixed. It should take a month for my shoulder, finger, wrist and ribs to heal up. I
did not want to always talk about injuries throughout the year but there has been little else happening and hardly any good news.”
Yoshitaka Atsuta, 10th position, MXGP: “Again qualifying was bad
and this makes the start so much harder; I must improve this for next season! I almost crashed into Bartolini at the start but came around the first corner in something like 10th. I then pushed hard and
passed some people but I needed something more. As the race went on I could not step up the pace and it was difficult to take any positions. The track was nice to ride but also very hard and bumpy. The
year has not been too bad and I have learnt a lot. The last few races have been disappointing. Now I must move up a level in terms of my performance and perhaps go for the higher results instead of just
counting the points. I have scored in every GP so I am happy with my consistency.”
Roger Harvey, Honda UK co-ordinator: “Firstly I have to say congratulations to Stefan. I think we all knew he
was capable of this achievement.
I am pleased with our efforts today. Brian Jorgensen is showing a strong level of consistency that was perhaps never his strong point in the past and it was good to
see him on the podium for third time. It was nice also to have both the 450 and the 250 in the top three. I cant say how much I admire what Josh Coppins has done. To comeback to the podium more than
once this year after the injury he had is quite incredible and sets him up nicely for next year when he will be riding the 450. I am excited to see what he can do when fully healed and fit. Yoshi kept
at his job today and I thought a final top ten position was good work considering he broke his femur last year. To score points in every GP shows that he can be consistent and this will stand him in
good stead as he learns more and improves. Gordon has only been fit for one GP and that was in Spain for round one. I think this is a year he will quickly want to forget and the plan now is that he
takes time out to heal and gets on with his training for next season quite early. Overall I’m reasonably happy with the Honda effort in 2003. Gordon and Josh both showed glimpses of what they can do
when fit and it is not unfair to say that we expected more but were sidelined by injuries and some poor luck. I think the effort and progression Brian Jorgensen has made throughout the year has been
amazing.” Dorna A record 72 Grand Prix victories, triple-crown holder, seven World Championships and now the
only rider ever to win three races in three different classes on the same day, Stefan Everts has completed an astounding season of motocross this weekend at the Acerbis Grand Prix of France.
The twelfth and final round of the 125, MXGP and 650 classifications belonged utterly to the 30 year old Belgian and new MXGP World Champ. He triumphed with ease in the 125
and MXGP races and despatched the threat from Javier Garcia Vico in equally dominant fashion in a tiring last 650 moto to become the greatest rider the sport has ever seen. The factory Yamaha rider’s CV
contains achievements that are likely to be unmatched for many, many years, perhaps never.
It began in positive fashion for Everts with a straightforward win from Alessio Chiodi and Luigi Seguy for an all-Yamaha podium under hot and sunny conditions in front
of a buoyant 15,000 crowd packed onto the hillside facing the track. Everts seized the lead on the first lap and wasn’t headed. His win set-up the treble nicely
with a composed performance but the headlines were not his just yet as Steve Ramon clinched his first World Championship by crossing the line in fifth position.
Ramon finally ditched the runner-up tag he has been carrying for the last two seasons and gave Belgium a clean sweep of Championship victors in one year (thus forming a crack Belgian team for the
forthcoming Motocross of Nations). The race had started dramatically when Ramon’s only threat Andrea Bartolini was one of several ‘crashees’ in the opening circulation. The Italian fought his way back
to tenth spot and sadly his lowest finish of the season also coincided with Everts gaining 12 more points and collecting second position that the Yamaha four-stroke rider had been holding for most of
the year. It is a testament to Everts’ feats in 2003 that his seven consecutive 125 wins and final 15 point deficit to Ramon (he missed the first three rounds) might be slightly lost in the haul of
silverware and milestones. A mention must go to Frenchman Luigi Seguy who gave the vocal crowd good reason to be throaty and scored his first podium in over a
year. Tyla Rattray finished the season on a high with fourth while Ben Townley crashed into Bartolini on the first lap but cut his way up to an impressive sixth behind his factory team-mate. Although,
the acclaim must go to the consistent Ramon (who only clocked one win but six podiums) and KTM; the Austrians are celebrating their third 125 crown in four years. The defending number one before the
race, Mickael Maschio, did not experience a happy home GP and was seventh in front of David Guarnieri and Pascal Leuret. Maschio has to be content with the number
four plate for next year while Erik Eggens will carry number five. Part two of Everts’ workload was made significantly easier when the chasing Joel Smets crashed
his KTM 450 and let his rival disappear with the MXGP win. The Championship had already been tied up of course and Smets, the absent Pichon and Brian Jorgensen could not be displaced from their
respective top four standing in the points table. After Smets’ slip the race sunk into a procession with regards to the podium slots. Jorgensen (Honda 450) held
second in front of Josh Coppins (factory Honda 250) and the Dane’s third consecutive top three result (second runner-up spot of the season) was assured when the chasing Coppins had a small crash that
planted him alone in third. Patrick Caps waited until the last race of the year to notch his highest position in the class with fourth; it was by far the quiet Belgian’s best ride since his move to the
MXGP series. A fantastic fight for fifth entertained the fans and was eventually won by Kevin Strijbos on the 250cc Suzuki who produced a sublime display of attacking and mature motocross far advanced
of his 18 years and rookie status. The Belgian beat Marnicq Bervoets and Joel Smets. A frustrated Smets passed the chequered flag in seventh in front of Kenneth Gundersen, Christophe Martin and
Yoshitaka Atsuta. The final chart shows that Everts won nine MXGPs in a row. The only other victor was Mickael Pichon who took the opening three rounds. Everts
lowest result was a ninth in Holland. Smets’ runner-up spot was mainly thanks to nine podiums in what was still a difficult and win-free campaign on the new KTM.
Jorgensen was Honda’s top rider in fourth and Gundersen beat his 250cc Kawasaki team-mate Andrew McFarlane to fifth. With Smets losing out to Everts yet again in
the MXGP class the public and paddock sensed a possible confrontation of epic proportions for the final race of the season. The 650 stage was set; Smets had only lost once on the bigger bike all year
while a tired Everts was chasing a place in MX history.
The GP almost fulfilled expectations. Everts flew into the lead on the first lap once more but Smets was in close attendance and looking considerably relaxed on his
preferential larger motorcycle. The pair circled and swapped positions briefly even leading to a loud cheer from the masses as Everts was overtaken for the first time all day. Smets then lost control of
the rear of his bike coming off a jump and slithered into the dirt. He had to restart the KTM but then embarked on a manic comeback that culminated in a fine third place finish and his 11th podium from
12 GPs. Everts could not break free immediately and the crowd were on their feet as he himself crashed at slow speed allowing Javier Garcia Vico to assume control for three laps. Everts took time to
find his rhythm and wore the Spaniard down before going on to take his third win by two seconds and throw the curtain down on his momentous 2003 season. Cedric
Melotte was fourth and pipped to the podium by Smets. The latter seemed far from happy after the race and pointed to all the speculation surrounding his future, which will be announced tomorrow, as a
disrupting influence. He can still look back on his final term with KTM and remember his fifth Championship win while Vico, who allegedly is set to leave KTM also, celebrated his 10th second position of
the year (and that spot in the final classification) by shedding his clothing on the podium. Cedric Melotte finished third overall and in the last 650 GP before the World Championship structure changes
to MX1 and MX2 for 2004.
Embracing a two moto format, the MX1 (MotocrossGP) and MX2 (125cc two-strokes and 250cc four-strokes) programme will take Motocross forward into the future. |
