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2003 WORLD MX

R7: July 6, GP OF SWEDEN, Uddevalla

EVERTS WIN DOUBLE AGAIN - and moves up the standing to within 3 points of Mickael Pichon.

MXGP RESULT, JULY 6, 2003

• 1 Stefan Everts, Yamaha 450
• 2 Joel Smets, KTM 450
• 3 Mickael Pichon, Suzuki 250
• 4 Gordon Crockard, Honda 450
• 5 Marnicq Bervoets, Yamaha 450
• 6 Andrew McFarlane, Kawasaki 250
• 7 Jorgensen 8 Atsuta 9 Gundersen 10 Coppins 11 Dobb 12 Cooper 13 Federici 14 Strijbos 15 Kadlecek

650 RESULT:

• 1 Joel Smets, KTM
• 2 Cedric Melotte, Honda
• 3 Javier Garcia Vico, KTM
• 4 Parker 4 Salminen 6 Edberg

125 RESULT

• 1 Stefan Everts, Yamaha 250
• 2 Marc De Reuver, KTM 125
• 3 Steve Ramon, KTM 125
• 4 Erik Eggens, KTM 125
• 5 Mickael Maschio, Kawasaki 125
• 6 Tyla Rattray, KTM 125
• 7 Sword 8 Bartolini 9 Stevanini 10 Charlier 11 Van Daele 12 T Leok 13 A Leok 14 Barragan 15 Barreda

EVERTS (winner): " ... When I was 25 points down after the first three GPs, people were writing me off, but after four wins in a row it is now down to three points. It was a long chase, but the first phase of the season is now over, and I am looking forward confidently to the second half of the season. I want five more GP wins to secure the title for myself and Yamaha. ... Today was perfect until the last lap. I have struggled with my starts at times this year, but here you get a lot of wheelspin out of the gate, so I can just drop the clutch and go. I was able to control the race from the front from the word go, but I must admit I was worried on the last lap. The lapped riders just didn't get out of the way like they should. That was why Smets go so close on the final lap, and I must admit I was nervous that he might be able to take advantage of the situation. Now we go to Namur, my favourite track, and I hope to get another double in front of the Belgian fans! .."

MELOTTE (2nd in 650 race): " .. With my first ever pole position this was a good weekend for me, the team and the sponsors. I am happy but I want to work more to beat Joel! I want to fight with him at least once to actually know if the win is possible. I could see Joel away at the front today and I had a small collision with Parker trying to get through to second that damaged my exhaust pipe. I took some time over the jumps to have a look at the bike because it was making a strange noise. I could see the hole but hoped that it would be OK and I continued riding. It was hard to find a good line during the race and the bike was moving around a lot but overall this has been a pleasing GP .. "

2003 SEASON

Motocross GP
1 PICHON 153 points
2 EVERTS 150 points 3 SMETS 146 points

650 CLASS
1 SMETS 150 points
2 GARCIA VICO 130
3 MELOTTE 118 

125 CLASS
1 RAMON 118
2 BARTOLINI 115
3 DE REUVER 114

2002 WINNERS:
500: Everts; 250: Pichon; 125: Townley

2003 WORLD MOTOCROSS: GP OF SWEDEN
July 6, Round 7 of 12, Uddevalla

PRE RACE QUOTE

TEAM SUZUKI (J JOHANSSON): " ... We are happy with the way things have gone ... The start of the year was very good then things became a bit more difficult in Italy and Bulgaria as the competition picked up the pace and finally Austria was again a great weekend. We expected this season to be a tough one and to be leading at the halfway point is great: I just hope we are also in front at the end of the second half .. "

DOBB (his 2nd outing on KTM 450): " ... At the moment I am not actually testing but just riding with the 4 stroke to get used to the bike. Practising is obviously a little bit different to being at a GP but I am becoming faster and better every time; I am trying to gain a feeling with the bike and also the right lines are coming a lot easier ...  The track in Sweden is not a bad one. It is a little strange because there are some very different sections and it is quite a mix. Again I don’t think either a two-stroke or a four-stroke will have an advantage. I hope it will be third time lucky for me because I broke my collarbone there in 2001 and then the bike had trouble in 2002. I’m pretty sure that with the 450 I will be higher up the order with each GP ..

CIRCUIT:

• first race in 1958
• relatively flat circuit
• LAST YEAR'S WINNERS:
• 500cc WINNER: Stefan Everts, BEL, Yamaha
• 250cc WINNER: Mickael Pichon, FRA, Suzuki
• 125cc WINNER: 1 Ben Townley, NZ, KTM

RACE DAY SCHEDULE + FORMAT:

• 125 CLASS: Race 11.05 am (35 min & 2 laps)
• Warm up: 8.30 - 8.50 am
• Sighting lap: 10.45 am
• Motocross GP: Race 12.35 pm (35 min & 2 laps)
• Warm up: 9 - 9.20 am
• Sighting lap: 12.15 pm
• 650 CLASS: Race 2.05 pm (35 min & 2 laps)
• Warm up: 9.30 - 9.50 am
• Sighting lap: 1.45 pm

QUALIFYING: PICHON ON POLE

GRID, JULY 5, 2003 - MXGP

• 1 Mickael Pichon, Suzuki 250
• 2 Stefan Everts, Yamaha 450
• 3 Joel Smets, KTM 450
• 4 Brian Jorgensen, Honda 450
• 5 Claudio Federici, Yamaha 450
• 6 Bervoets 7 Monni 8 Gundersen 9 Caps 10 Dobb

650 GRID:

• 1 Cedric Melotte, Honda
• 2 Joel Smets, KTM
• 3 Javier Garcia Vico, KTM

125 GRID

• 1 Marc De Reuver, KTM 125
• 2 Andrea Bartolini, Yamaha 250
• 3 Steve Ramon, KTM 125
• 4 Ben Townley, KTM 125
• 5 Alessio Chiodi, Yamaha 250