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MX1 : Unstoppable Everts scores GP win 91
Round: 4 - Grand Prix of Germany
Circuit: Teutschenthal
Date: 7 May 2006
Crowd: 31000
Temp: 27ºC
Weather: Hot and Sunny
Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross team's Stefan Everts extended his run of victories at a hot and hard day of racing at the Talkessel circuit in Teutschenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany. The reigning number one boasts a perfect record this season and has now accumulated 91 career GP wins.
Everts had qualified in second position, only three tenths of a second away from pole position and used his decent pick in the start gate to make an effective start in moto1 and seized the lead on the opening lap. For the next 37 minutes the Belgian was unflinching and ignored pressure from Kevin Strijbos and his team-mate Cedric Melotte to record his fourth successive moto win.
The Talkessel mud was dry and dusty after a long and sunny weekend. Overtaking opportunities were limited away from the main fast line but Everts had little need to worry as he showed his rivals the quickest route in front of 31,000 spectators.
The second moto was a similar affair and this time Tanel Leok was the challenger but Everts proved resolute. The 33 year old has now achieved four heat wins in a row and six Grands Prix.
Cedric Melotte was unlucky not to confirm third position in the first race after holding the slot for eighteen of nineteen laps. The Belgian, who is still not 100% fit after a pre-season wrist injury, crumbled under pressure from Jonathan Barrgan and his gesture of frustration over the finish line, after losing his first top three finish five corners from the flag, aptly told the story. In the second moto he crashed on the second turn and another fall signalled the end of his afternoon.
Special mention must go to Bike it Yamaha Dixon racing's Julien Bill who scored his best ever MX1 result after only four Grands Prix in the class with seventh position. Everts has extended his lead in the Championship by thirteen points and now heads Leok by forty. Melotte is currently 12th but only ten points away from fifth place.
The Grand Prix also represented the opening round of the FIM Women's World Cup. Yamaha's Livia Lancelot claimed second position overall after winning the first race and then taking the runner-up spot in race two.
The French teenager claimed an exciting first moto of 20 minutes and 2 laps duration from main rivals Katherine Prumm and reigning Champion Stephanie Laier. Lancelot led the race from start to finish but endured bouts of sustained pressure from Laier and then Prumm. The 18 year old picked her way through backmarkers more efficiently on the last lap and took the chequered flag. Later in the day she had to follow a more ruthless Prumm but equalled the Kiwi's points total, only losing the top step due to the second race ranking.
The second and final stage of the Women's competition will take place at the Grand Prix of Sweden on July 2nd. The World Championships meanwhile will travel to Japan, Bulgaria, Italy and Great Britain before arriving in Scandinavia. The fifth round of the series will take place in two weeks time at the Sugo circuit in Sendai.
Stefan Everts: "I rode really fast today and I had to because Kevin chased me in the first moto and Tanel was right there in the second. It is better for me when I have some pressure and quick riders around. The young guys are getting better and physically stronger. They want to beat me for sure so I have to keep on working hard during the week. I am doing my best. It is good for the racing that we have these guys at the front and it makes it more interesting. The new Yamaha is so strong, not only for riding but also on the starts; I am making a lot of holeshots and this makes it so much easier to win the race."
Cedric Melotte: "The first moto was pretty good for me in comparison to the second. I took a good start and could keep the rhythm with Strijbos and Stefan. In the next race I crashed on the second corner and I tried to come back but the track was really fast. I fell again and hurt my neck. I stopped because I was not feeling too good. It is a pity because for the second GP I have made one decent moto and one bad. I am disappointed about this but I tried my best. I have to be more focussed for the next GP."
Carlo Rinadli, Team manager: "After the first moto we were optimistic of a good result for Cedric because we saw that he had the speed, even from Saturday's sessions. He was feeling good and proved it in that first moto so we were hoping for a strong result from both riders but unfortunately he crashed twice in the next race and he had to pull out. It is a pity for him because he needs some good results to get back his confidence.
On the other hand, Stefan did very well again and established his pace over the other riders. It was difficult for him because the youngsters are pushing hard. He made two good starts and was very consistent with his speed; there is not much more to say! We made hardly any changes to the bike this weekend; just a few tweaks to the suspension and carburetion but nothing major."
Race classification MX1
Round: 4 - Grand Prix of Germany
Circuit: Teutschenthal
Circuit Length: 1780
