Everts shut-out in Japan maintains dominant streak
By TMX Archives on 21st May 06
MX1 : Round: 5 - 2006 GP of Sugo, JapanStefan Everts collected his fifth win in a row after pole position, two holeshots and two complete victories in front of 17,400 spectators this afternoon at a sun-bathed Sugo circuit for the Grand Prix of Japan and the fifth round of the 2006 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship. The Belgian guided his YZ450FM to both chequered flags to extend his 100% record this season and walked away with a 92nd career success.
Circuit: Sugo Date: 21 May 2006 Crowd: 17400 Temp: 25oC Weather: Sunny
After his seventh consecutive moto triumph Everts is now controlling the series by 61 points at the top of the standings.
The Sugo circuit had been meticulously prepared; the natural terrain was carefully mixed with sandy soil and wood chippings to maintain a soft texture. The surface created various racing lines but became rough and bumpy very quickly, meaning that the smallest of errors would prove costly.
The 33 year old gained his second pole position of the season on Saturday with a lap-time a second faster than Kawasaki's Tanel Leok. Fine weather conditions blessed raceday for the fourth consecutive Grand Prix.
Everts blasted out of the gate for the first moto of 35 minutes and two laps duration and the potency of the YZ450FM was again apparent as he gained the holeshot and had a lead of almost five seconds after three laps. The World Champion was on cruise control from that point and led the pack until the chequered flag for his second consecutive Japanese moto triumph after owning the second sprint last year. For nine circulations (from 21) the Yamaha Intur Sports team flew in formation as Cedric Melotte held second spot. The Belgian eventually fell back into a frantic scrap for podium positions with Ken De Dycker, Steve Ramon and Tanel Leok. A mistake on the final lap demoted the disappointed number '4' to sixth.
Everts re-enacted his authoritative performance in race two for a clear victory ahead of Steve Ramon, who clinched second spot on the podium. A holeshot and rapid few opening laps was the main difference in one of the Champion's more straight-forward Grand Prix. He deservingly went on a lap of honour to acknowledge the support and cheers of the Japanese public.
Former AMA competitor and now contesting the Japanese Championship, Akira Narita was 11th on his YZ450FM and finished in the top ten with ninth in the second moto after a decent race fighting with some of Europe's fastest riders. Reigning national champion Takeshi Koikeda was 22nd with the YZ250.
Yamaha now hold a 41 point lead in the Constructors Championship. In two weeks time round six will take place at the Sevlievo circuit in Bulgaria.
Stefan Everts, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team:
"I won my first Championship in 1991 and to win here in Japan in my final year feels very nice. I have had a long career and a lot of support from many people and manufacturers so I must say thank you to the Japanese people for the memories. We have a lot of wins now but I am looking ahead, not behind, and I have to try and keep this form. I would like to win everything so we will keep on working hard and see what happens. It was special to win here for Yamaha. They have given us a lot of support and it has been great to be a part of the family; I hope we can do many things together in the future."
Cedric Melotte, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team:
"I always seem to start well but cannot carry the speed. It was better at the beginning of the season. Last week I made a blood test and I am missing some iron and vitamins. I took some tablets for this GP but after the first 15 minutes of each moto I felt empty. I was light-headed and my muscles were heavy. It is frustrating and I don't know what is wrong. This has been a bad weekend."
Carlo Rinaldi, Team manager:
"It has been another great victory; Stefan was just perfect and there is not much more that we can say. The bike was great and the rider was great so that is excellent for us. The distance over the others was big because Stefan was so strong. Cedric had the speed to compete with the top riders but not the physical condition and at this stage it is a bit of a mystery. He is working hard and has satisfied many physical tests but the results say that something is wrong. We are in Japan but there was not more pressure on us because the preparation and organisation was very good. It was like racing at home because the Japanese people helped us so much, they fulfilled all of our requests and then some more."
Laurens Klein Koerkamp:
"In 2005 we won both MX1 and MX2 in the first Japanese GP for ten years in Yamaha-land so we thought that it would not be easy to do it again this time. To win all four heats at this GP was amazing and very good for Yamaha. We have always said the standard of the motorcycles was already very high, obviously there are some small changes for top level racing but the decent base is there and this is the best thing we can give to the Yamaha guys."
Race classification MX1 Round: 5 - 2006 GP of Sugo, Japan
Circuit: Sugo
Circuit Length: 3737
Race: 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 S. Everts Yamaha BEL 40' 42.166
2 K. De Dycker Honda BEL +14.150
3 T. Leok Kawasaki EST +15.944
4 S. Ramon Suzuki BEL +23.606
5 B. Jorgensen Honda DNK +29.783
6 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL +42.607
7 J. Noble Honda GBR +48.686
8 J. Barragan KTM ESP +54.238
9 M. Priem Yamaha BEL +55.718
10 M. Van Daele Honda BEL +57.720
11 J. Bill Yamaha GBR +1' 9.842
12 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL +1' 14.101
13 D. Theybers Suzuki BEL +1' 15.622
14 A. Narita Yamaha JPN +1' 30.186
15 A. Pyrhonen TM FIN +1' 34.744
16 J. Lindhe KTM SWE +1' 44.269
17 K. Masuda Honda JPN +1 lap(s)
18 J. Garcia Vico Honda ESP +1 lap(s)
19 K. Kaga Suzuki JPN +1 lap(s)
20 T. Koikeda Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
Race 2: 21 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 S. Everts Yamaha BEL 39' 44.664
2 S. Ramon Suzuki BEL +23.136
3 J. Barragan KTM ESP +30.861
4 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL +37.393
5 M. Van Daele Honda BEL +40.505
6 M. Priem Yamaha BEL +46.230
7 J. Noble Honda GBR +49.265
8 K. De Dycker Honda BEL +54.644
9 A. Narita Yamaha JPN +58.827
10 D. Theybers Suzuki BEL +1' 2.228
11 K. Kaga Suzuki JPN +1' 7.661
12 T. Leok Kawasaki EST +1' 14.840
13 A. Pyrhonen TM FIN +1' 20.349
14 K. Masuda Honda JPN +1' 21.317
15 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL +1' 39.598
16 S. Idehara Yamaha JPN +1' 44.791
17 J. Lindhe KTM SWE +1 lap(s)
18 K. Ohkawara Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
19 T. Koikeda Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
20 M. Hiratsuka Kawasaki JPN +1 lap(s)
Championship standings MX1
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Stefan Everts Yamaha BEL 242
2 Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 181
3 Ken De Dycker Honda BEL 168
4 Kevin Strijbos Suzuki BEL 165
5 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 151
6 Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 150
7 Cedric Melotte Yamaha BEL 105
8 Manuel Priem Yamaha BEL 99
9 Sebastien Tortelli KTM FRA 99
10 Pascal Leuret Honda FRA 93
11 Julien Bill Yamaha GBR 77
12 Marvin Van Daele Honda BEL 77
13 James Noble Honda GBR 77
14 Antti Pyrhonen TM FIN 69
15 Brian Jorgensen Honda DNK 68
16 Javier Garcia Vico Honda ESP 60
17 Danny Theybers Suzuki BEL 58
18 Stephen Sword Kawasaki GBR 40
19 Johnny Lindhe KTM SWE 23
20 Aigar Bobkovs Honda LVA 21
Manufacturers standings MX1
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1 Yamaha 242
2 Suzuki 201
3 Kawasaki 181
4 KTM 180
5 Honda 171
6 TM 69
MX2 : Mackenzie repeats Japanese success at Sugo
Round: 5 - 2006 GP of Sugo, Japan
Circuit: Sugo
Date: 21 May 2006
Crowd: 17400
Temp: 25oC
Weather: Sunny
Bike it Yamaha UK Dixon Racing rider Billy Mackenzie remains undefeated at the Japanese Sugo circuit as the Scot went 1-3 on his YZ250FM in the two MX2 motos to claim his second career Grand Prix success and Yamaha's first of 2006. The second race was won by World Champion Antonio Cairoli to give manufacturer a perfect 4-from-4 score at their home event.
The track was dry, bumpy and technical as the organisers at the Sugo circuit again excelled in presenting a tough and interesting layout for the riders. The warm conditions aided towards a hard day's work for the stars of the MX2 class as 17, 400 spectators looked on.
22 year old Mackenzie, who celebrated his maiden triumph at Sugo in 2005, passed Ricci Racing's Kenneth Gundersen on the second lap of the first race to control the rest of the pack. Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel was closing at one stage but 'Mac' kept a steady three second advantage to notch his first 25 point haul of the season and the fourth of his career.
Cairoli had ended the first lap in the lead but crashed in an incident that also involved Marc de Reuver. The Italian had to fight hard to gain fourth place while Gundersen was not content with the set-up on his machine and crossed the finish line in ninth, taking 11th later in the day for a lacklustre eigth overall.
Cairoli was strong off the start in the second moto and his holeshot was swiftly converted into a sizzling series of laps that dragged him away from Mackenzie and the pursuing de Reuver. Mackenzie was demoted to third from that position he kept a small distance over Gareth Swanepoel to ensure overall victory. Cairoli was alone at the front and his win marked the third of the season and fifth from ten motos for Yamaha.
Ricci Racing's Alessio Chiodi struggled through the weekend after crashing and injuring his right knee during the second practice session. The Italian was taken for a scan that revealed that nothing was broken but the former Champion was in a lot of pain. He manfully tried to complete the qualification heat but withdrew after a few laps. Thanks to only 30 riders contesting the MX2 class Chiodi was also able to discount the Last Chance session and took to the gate in last place to bravely aim for some points. He managed to score 5 for 16th in race one and repeated the position in race two despite a small spill just before the finish line.
The World Championship picture now looks more interesting as series leader Tyla Rattray crashed and could not pick up any points from Moto2. Cairoli is currently fourth and 32 points behind new number one Christophe Pourcel while Mackenzie is only 12 points behind his Yamaha compatriot in fifth.
The teams and riders now start the long journey back to Europe before beginning to prepare for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria, due to take place at the Sevlievo circuit in two weeks.
Billy Mackenzie, Bike it Yamaha UK Dixon Racing:
"I always like coming to Japan! To leave here with a win is incredible and everything that I could have asked for. We have been working hard on the bike and we had some new parts supplied by Rinaldi this weekend and they really helped. The bike had a little bit more bottom-end which is what I needed. The track was really nice. I have to get my starts sorted but when that happens I'm sure I will be upfront more often. Last year I had some good races but also some bad ones so I have been working on being more consistent this season. There are still many GP's left and I am confident that we can move up the championship standings still."
Antonio Cairoli, De Carli Yamaha:
"We changed the bike last week and I practiced my starts and it really helped today. I took the holeshot twice and the situation is better now off the line. In the first moto Marc passed me after the whoops for the lead but I stayed close to him and when he went down after hitting some wet mud I fell also. I was fast but I lost a lot of time because I crashed again and it meant that I was always fighting back. Now I must work a little bit more on my condition and hope for some more luck!"
Alessio Chiodi, Ricci Racing:
"I had some bad luck yesterday because I had a good feeling with the track in practice but I crashed in next session when I lost the rear end of the bike. I'm not sure if it was my mistake but right afterwards my knee was hurting so much I was sure something was broken. The doctor said the bone was OK but now I need to get the ligaments checked out. Ten points today is better than nothing and a big injury."
Kenneth Gundersen, Ricci Racing:
"It was a hard day. In the first race I had a good start and was leading for a lap or two but then I crashed and finished ninth. In the last race I had a really bad start and I was struggling. We had some set-up problems. It wasn't a good weekend for me and will hopefully be better next time."
Race classification MX2 Round: 5 - 2006 GP of Sugo, Japan
Circuit: Sugo
Circuit Length: 3737
Race: 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 B. MacKenzie Yamaha GBR 40' 27.246
2 C. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +12.249
3 M. De Reuver KTM NED +22.606
4 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA +26.790
5 D. Philippaerts KTM ITA +28.677
6 T. Rattray KTM RSA +38.296
7 G. Swanepoel Kawasaki RSA +41.888
8 T. Searle Kawasaki GBR +52.492
9 K. Gundersen Yamaha NOR +54.515
10 S. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +55.594
11 A. Boissiere Yamaha FRA +57.845
12 C. Nunn KTM GBR +1' 0.655
13 R. Goncalves KTM POR +1' 2.793
14 M. Nagl KTM GER +1' 24.448
15 L. Seguy Yamaha FRA +1' 43.036
16 A. Chiodi Yamaha ITA +1' 51.859
17 Y. Kojima Suzuki JPN +1' 57.798
18 M. Monni KTM ITA +1 lap(s)
19 Y. Ozaki Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
20 M. Watanabe Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
Race 2: 21 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA 40' 1.774
2 M. De Reuver KTM NED +5.927
3 B. MacKenzie Yamaha GBR +10.002
4 G. Swanepoel Kawasaki RSA +13.618
5 C. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +33.536
6 C. Nunn KTM GBR +36.838
7 T. Searle Kawasaki GBR +41.246
8 A. Leok Yamaha EST +43.951
9 R. Goncalves KTM POR +44.995
10 D. Guarneri Yamaha ITA +54.406
11 K. Gundersen Yamaha NOR +54.586
12 M. Nagl KTM GER +1' 6.943
13 M. Monni KTM ITA +1' 26.580
14 S. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +1' 42.911
15 L. Seguy Yamaha FRA +1' 44.950
16 A. Chiodi Yamaha ITA +1' 51.338
17 D. Philippaerts KTM ITA +2' 9.160
18 M. Watanabe Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
19 K. Fukaya Honda JPN +1 lap(s)
20 Y. Ozaki Yamaha JPN +1 lap(s)
Championship standings MX2
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Christophe Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 196
2 Marc De Reuver KTM NED 194
3 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA 181
4 Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA 162
5 Billy MacKenzie Yamaha GBR 150
6 David Philippaerts KTM ITA 120
7 Carl Nunn KTM GBR 119
8 Alessio Chiodi Yamaha ITA 111
9 Kenneth Gundersen Yamaha NOR 111
10 Tommy Searle Kawasaki GBR 105
11 Rui Goncalves KTM POR 90
12 Gareth Swanepoel Kawasaki RSA 87
13 Sebastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 70
14 Davide Guarneri Yamaha ITA 64
15 Luigi Seguy Yamaha FRA 63
16 Anthony Boissiere Yamaha FRA 50
17 Aigar Leok Yamaha EST 46
18 Patrick Caps Honda BEL 46
19 Maximilian Nagl KTM GER 45
20 Manuel Monni KTM ITA 42
Manufacturers standings MX2
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1 Yamaha 225
2 KTM 223
3 Kawasaki 200
4 Honda 81
5 Suzuki 6