News - Orange Crush!
By Sean Lawless on 16th May 06
Double blow to KTM's MX1 title hopes
KTM's plans of dethroning MX1 king Stefan Everts suffered a killer blow last month with both of their French hired guns - signed up to deny the Belgian a record 10th world crown in his retirement year - out of action.
First two-time 250 champ Mickael Pichon was forced to withdraw indefinitely from the series with a mystery virus, then Seb Tortelli dislocated his hip in a crash at the Portuguese GP and faces a lay-off of two months.
Pichon was struggling as far back as the opening GP of the year in Zolder on April 2. The virus - which so far has not responded to antibiotics - has left him with an irregular heartbeat.
"Everything was great until a few weeks before the 2006 season started and then I fell ill with a virus," explains the 29-year-old. "I am really disappointed as this was my big chance being back in a factory team and for the MX1 crown. My health is the most important thing however and I have to be fit before starting to think about riding again."
KTM's fortunes then went from bad to critical in Portugal when Tortelli crashed heavily while chasing Everts in the second race. It will be two months before his hip ligaments have recovered sufficiently for him to race again.
"Of course on the one hand I am bitterly disappointed, especially for the team," says Tortelli. "Thanks to the unbelievable dedication of the technical staff they've always supplied me with the best possible bike. We were totally on track in Portugal and right up to my fall we were absolutely competitive."
There is, however, some good news in the KTM camp with Jonathan Barragan celebrating his first podium in Portugal and, down in MX2, Tyla Rattray taking the first three GP overalls of the season.
First two-time 250 champ Mickael Pichon was forced to withdraw indefinitely from the series with a mystery virus, then Seb Tortelli dislocated his hip in a crash at the Portuguese GP and faces a lay-off of two months.
Pichon was struggling as far back as the opening GP of the year in Zolder on April 2. The virus - which so far has not responded to antibiotics - has left him with an irregular heartbeat.
"Everything was great until a few weeks before the 2006 season started and then I fell ill with a virus," explains the 29-year-old. "I am really disappointed as this was my big chance being back in a factory team and for the MX1 crown. My health is the most important thing however and I have to be fit before starting to think about riding again."
KTM's fortunes then went from bad to critical in Portugal when Tortelli crashed heavily while chasing Everts in the second race. It will be two months before his hip ligaments have recovered sufficiently for him to race again.
"Of course on the one hand I am bitterly disappointed, especially for the team," says Tortelli. "Thanks to the unbelievable dedication of the technical staff they've always supplied me with the best possible bike. We were totally on track in Portugal and right up to my fall we were absolutely competitive."
There is, however, some good news in the KTM camp with Jonathan Barragan celebrating his first podium in Portugal and, down in MX2, Tyla Rattray taking the first three GP overalls of the season.
16 May 2006