Jake
July 8th, 2003, 06:57 AM
The following release is from Suzuki...
Team Suzuki claimed pole position today at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden, round seven of 12 in the 2003 Motocross GP World Championship. Double 250cc World Champion and the most successful French rider ever in the history of the sport, Mickael Pichon, set the fastest time in the 30 minute qualification period by almost a second over Stefan Everts. It was the first time the Le Mans resident had topped the classification since the second round at Valkenswaard and only the second occasion this season.
The 27-year-old was pushing for an even quicker effort in the last moments but encountered the back of Joel Smets' 450cc KTM, both riders clashed and hit the floor. Some words were exchanged immediately afterwards and Pichon later remarked he had valid reason to be annoyed with the Belgian who is currently third in the Championship and only 9 points away from the factory RM 250 man.
"I was trying for a lap and Joel looked around and saw me enough times. He seemed like he was only riding 90% but he did not let me pass until the last corner. I did not think this was fair from him because we have been racing together for a long time and I don't know what he was trying to do. I got a little bit mad and tried to block pass him but we ended up on the ground. I think the lap I was trying was faster than my pole time. I think we both lost out because of the incident. We are big boys and now I have to talk with him and clear the air, because we all mess up a little bit sometimes."
Pichon was the only rider to dip under the 2 minute barrier with a 1min 59sec laptime and revealed his satisfaction with the day's activities (skirmishes aside) was down to a good suspension set-up and a change in his training and physical preparation.
"I'm really happy with the bike today. We have been working hard with the suspension lately and we have some changes on the chassis; I think I am more satisfied with this than ever before. I have altered my training routine to focus not so much on endurance and it has really helped. I enjoy my riding and feel more aggressive; I am getting back to the kind of condition when I won the title and those races last season. I showed today my speed is good."
Motocross GP Qualifying
1. PICHON Mickael FRA SUZUKI 1:59.088
2. EVERTS Stefan BEL YAMAHA 2:00.056
3. SMETS Joel BEL KTM 2:00.646
4. JORGENSEN Brian DEN HONDA 2:01
5. FEDERICI Claudio ITA YAMAHA 2:01.859
Team Suzuki claimed pole position today at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden, round seven of 12 in the 2003 Motocross GP World Championship. Double 250cc World Champion and the most successful French rider ever in the history of the sport, Mickael Pichon, set the fastest time in the 30 minute qualification period by almost a second over Stefan Everts. It was the first time the Le Mans resident had topped the classification since the second round at Valkenswaard and only the second occasion this season.
The 27-year-old was pushing for an even quicker effort in the last moments but encountered the back of Joel Smets' 450cc KTM, both riders clashed and hit the floor. Some words were exchanged immediately afterwards and Pichon later remarked he had valid reason to be annoyed with the Belgian who is currently third in the Championship and only 9 points away from the factory RM 250 man.
"I was trying for a lap and Joel looked around and saw me enough times. He seemed like he was only riding 90% but he did not let me pass until the last corner. I did not think this was fair from him because we have been racing together for a long time and I don't know what he was trying to do. I got a little bit mad and tried to block pass him but we ended up on the ground. I think the lap I was trying was faster than my pole time. I think we both lost out because of the incident. We are big boys and now I have to talk with him and clear the air, because we all mess up a little bit sometimes."
Pichon was the only rider to dip under the 2 minute barrier with a 1min 59sec laptime and revealed his satisfaction with the day's activities (skirmishes aside) was down to a good suspension set-up and a change in his training and physical preparation.
"I'm really happy with the bike today. We have been working hard with the suspension lately and we have some changes on the chassis; I think I am more satisfied with this than ever before. I have altered my training routine to focus not so much on endurance and it has really helped. I enjoy my riding and feel more aggressive; I am getting back to the kind of condition when I won the title and those races last season. I showed today my speed is good."
Motocross GP Qualifying
1. PICHON Mickael FRA SUZUKI 1:59.088
2. EVERTS Stefan BEL YAMAHA 2:00.056
3. SMETS Joel BEL KTM 2:00.646
4. JORGENSEN Brian DEN HONDA 2:01
5. FEDERICI Claudio ITA YAMAHA 2:01.859