Subscription

Car Racing

Motorcycle Racing

Racing in Oz

Shop

2004 WORLD MX

2004 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP:
R4, April 25, GP of Netherlands - Valkenswaard

• Euro-circuit, Valkenswaard
• Deep sandy track; fast and technical
• First world MX held in 1974
• 2003 WINNERS:
• GP CLASS: Mickael Pichon, Suzuki 250 2 ST
• 650 CLASS: Joel Smets, KTM
• 125 CLASS: Steve Ramon, KTM 125

RACE RESULT, APR 25, 2004

MX1 RACE

EVERTS (YAMAHA) WINNER: "... Today’s race was very, very demanding. I had to dig deep to take the win, but it was fulfilling to be on the top after all the hard work. Cédric was just amazing today, even when taking the lead in the second race he was going for a faster pace. I was very close to my maximum speed, but I knew I had to stay with him until he would tire. In the championship, everything is going according to plan for me but I know it will be a hard and long season. Getting some rest in between the GPs will be crucial.”

• RACE 1
• 1 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL
  2 S. Everts Yamaha YZ450FM BEL +10
  3 J. Smets Suzuki BEL+16.1
  4 M. Pichon Honda FRA CRF450R FRA
  5 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL
  6 K. De Dijcker Honda BEL
• RACE 2
• 1 S. Everts Yamaha YZ450FM BEL
  2 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL +1.3
  3 J. Smets Suzuki BEL +1.7
  4 M. Pichon Honda FRA CRF450R FRA
  5 J. Coppins Honda NZ
  6 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL

MX2 RACE

TOWNLEY (KTM) WINNER: "... I am very, very happy today. Everything went to plan especially after last weekend when I injured my ankle and was on crutches, I thought the Championship was over so I am so pumped to win both motos today. Bad luck for Marc we were both pushing and had a nice fight so it was a shame his bike had some mechanical problems.” (read Townley & Coppins Press Release)

• RACE 1
• 1 TOWNLEY Ben NZ KTM
  2 RATTRAY RSA KTM
  3 CAIROLI ITA YAMAHA
  4 SWORD UK KAWASAKI
  5 MCFARLANE AUS YAMAHA
  6 FEDERICI ITA YAMAHA
• RACE 2
• 1 TOWNLEY Ben NZ KTM
  2 RATTRAY RSA KTM +9
  3 CHIODI ITA YAMAHA +12.2
  4 DE REUVER NED KTM
  5 NUNN UK HONDA
  6 SWORD UK KAWASAKI

QUALIFYING

STRIJBOS (SUZUKI) 2ND: "... I have been in the top seven all day and people know that I like the sand, so I think a good result is possible tomorrow. My physical condition is OK after being ill last week. I set a fast lap early in the qualifying and then managed a few more. I was pleased to see that I stayed second and this gives me a lot of hope for the motos"

SMETS (SUZUKI) 6TH: ".... I've been struggling a little bit because my knee was swollen and in some pain after the races over Easter, and I arrived at the track yesterday with a headache that I couldn't shake off. My riding today was good and although I do not look so much at the times, I can see that I will not have a problem with the race pace tomorrow."

MX1 CLASS

• 1 M. Pichon Honda FRA CRF450R FRA 1m 51.833
  2 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL 1m 52.89
  3 K. Gundersen KTM NOR 1m 52.984
  4 S. Everts Yamaha YZ450FM BEL
  5 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL
  6 J Smets Suzuki BEL
  7 DE DIJCKER 8 RAMON 9 COPPINS 10 PYRHONEN

MX2 CLASS

• Q1
• 1 TOWNLEY Ben NZ KTM
  2 SWORD UK KAWASAKI
  3 RATTRAY RSA KTM
  4 GONCALVES POR YAMAHA
  5 LEOK EST KTM
  6 MCFARLANE AUS YAMAHA
• Q2
• 1 DE REUVER Marc NED KTM
  2 CAIROLI ITA YAMAHA
  3 CHIODI ITA YAMAHA
  4 POURCEL FRA KAWASAKI
  5 CAPS BEL YAMAHA
  6 BARTOLINI ITA YAMAHA

PRE RACE QUOTES:

• SMETS (SUZUKI RM-Z450): "... Valkenswaard is more of a home GP to me than somewhere like Namur for example that is over 100KM from where I live ... Even though it is a Dutch GP and I am Belgian I admit that it is an important race simply because it is so close and I get good support from the fans in the neighbourhood. The track itself is not a favourite and I am not one of those riders who are stronger in the sand or on hard tracks. I do not prefer the sand compared to any other circuit but the atmosphere is always good at Valkenswaard and it is a special race.”
• McFARLANE (YAMAHA YZ250F): "... Round 3 in Portugal was disappointing for my title challenge, but I want to have my revenge in Valkenswaard ... Last weekend was an ideal tune-up ... I’m certainly confident that I’m about ready to peak"

RACE SCHEDULE:

• Saturday, Apr 24, 2004
  10 am: MX2 Free Practice 1: max 50 riders
  11 am: MX1 Free Practice 1: max 30 riders + 2 reserve riders
  12 am: MX2 Time Practice: max. 50 riders to decide grid for Qualifying Races
  2 pm: MX1 Free Practice 2: max 30 riders + 2 FMNR reserve riders
  3 pm: MX2 Qualifying Race 1: max 25 riders ; 20 minutes + 2 laps
  3.45 pm: MX2 Qualifying Race 2: max 25 riders ; 20 minutes + 2 laps
  4.30 pm: MX1 Time Practice: max 30 riders
  5.15 pm: MX2 Last Chance Qualifying: max 26 riders ; 30 minutes

• Sunday, Apr 25, 2004
  9.30 am: MX2 Warm-Up: max 30 qualified riders + 2 reserve riders
  10.30 am: MX1 Warm-Up: max 30 riders + 2 reserve riders

• RACE:
  12.05 pm: MX2 Grand Prix, Race 1: max 30 riders ; 35 minutes + 2 laps
  1.05 pm: MX1 Grand Prix, Race 1: max 30 riders ; 35 minutes + 2 laps
  3.05 pm: MX2 Grand Prix, Race 2: max 30 riders ; 35 minutes + 2 laps
  4.05 pm: MX1 Grand Prix, Race 2: max 30 riders ; 35 minutes + 2 laps