Bartolini To Husky, Everts To Yamaha
Source Speedvision ó The teams for 2001 are set. Only the places of Andrea Bartolini and Stefan Everts had been in doubt. Andrea Bartolini will race for the Husqvarna team in 2001 and Stefan Everts for the Yamaha factory, both will race the Open class.

Everts who rode for the Husqvarna factory in 2000, is looking forward to racing the Yamaha machines and with Marnicq Bervoets as his team mate you can count on a major Belgian assault on the 2001 championship.

Joel Smets will return to action in February and with his two fellow countrymen racing for the same team it will be fireworks one the when the three get on the track. Add Bartolini to the list and the 2001 World 500cc Motocross championship is shaping up as a great series.

Other team changes are Erik Eggens taking the place of Grant Langston in the CHAMP KTM 125 team and Englands Carl Nunn racing the Husqvarna 250cc machine, in place of Paul Cooper who has done to Yamaha.
Here are the teams for 2001

125 KTM - Jamie Dobb, Thomas Traversini, Kenneth Gundersen, Erik Eggens

125 Yamaha - Brian Jorgensen, Patrick Caps, Alessio Chiodi, Alex Belometti, Jeff Dement, Remy Van Rees

125 - Suzuki Leon Geisbers, Marc de Reuver, Scott Sheak

125 - Honda ???????

125 - Husqvarna Stephen Sword

125 - Kawasaki Steve Ramon

250 KTM - Colin Dugmore, Danny Theybers

250 Yamaha - Pit Beirer, Yves Demaria, Paul Cooper, Claudio Federici, Alex Zanni, Johhny Aubert

250 Husqvarna - Carl Nunn

250 Honda - Frederic Bolley, Ryan Hughes, Mark Jones, Gordan Crockard, Jussi Vehvilainen

250 Suzuki - Josh Coppins, Mickael Pichon

250 Kawasaki - Chad Reed, Mickael Maschio

500 KTM - Joel Smets, Peter Johansson, Shayne King

500 Yamaha - Stefan Everts, Marnicq Bervoets, Andrew McFarlane, Max Bartolini

500 VOR - Gert Jan Van Doorn, Cedric Melotte

500 Husqvarna - Andrea Bartolini

Various News and info mainly grabbed from www.mxlarge.com. Hey, is there anything these guys (Hello Bernd) do not know?

Team Suzuki World MX GP competing in the World 250cc Motocross Championship would like it be known that following consultation with it's legal  representatives in Belgium, it's rider Mickael Pichon is to formally appeal against the decision of the F.I.M.'s International Jury, to suspend his racing licence from competition for one month commencing 30th July 2000 following an incident on the same day at Grobbendonk, Belgium . 

Whilst Corona Suzuki do not condone the alleged actions of Alain Pichon, father of Mickael, against a medical official, they feel that the ban imposed on Mickael Pichon is unfair as the incident occurred outside of the race track and  involved a third party, who's actions Mickael could not be held responsible or accountable for. Corona Suzuki do not tolerate or agree with any form of abuse or violence whether it be physical, verbally or otherwise against any person. Therefore the fine of 5,000 Swiss Francs was paid immediately to the F.I.M. following the report of this incident.

Corona Suzuki and Mickael Pichon were given a five days period of notice to appeal to the F.I.M.'s decision and the appeal has now been lodged with the Federation Of International Motorcyclist in Switzerland and Suzuki now intend to enter back into competition whilst awaiting a decision on their appeal. 

Mickael Pichon suffered a high speed crash during Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix at Grobbendonk, which lead to the incident with his father. At first his shoulder injury was expected to keep him out of action for up to three weeks,  but his condition is not as bad as first reported. .....................................

So looks like he'll be at the Citadelle. But what will happen to the points he'll score?

Because of the pain experienced in Grobbendonk, there was no possibility to continue the season 2000.

A very disappointed Everts: "I regret to say that I will not be able to be present at the start of the GP at Namur. After the GP of Belgium at Grobbendonk I went to see my doctor. He decided a third operation was necessary. At Grobbendonk I tried to do my best but as you could see I wasn't well-to-do. I may be four times world-champion but now I fully realize that next year will be my last chance."
"It's important now to take the right decision, continue with riding could be very harmful to my body. Because of the operation I'll not be able to ride my bike for some four till six weeks. This means my participation in the World Championship 500 cc is coming to an end now. Also the Motocross des Nations in France on September the 10^th will pass without the participation of Stefan Everts. It's not up to me to claim a place in the team while I'm not in good condition, therefore I prefer to give another rider the honour to represent our country."

The former 125 and 250 World Champ turned down an offer from Husqvarna to race the remaining rounds of the US Nationals.

Chicco Chiodi finally got back on the bike this Sunday. The reigning title holder has been running and cycling a lot and strongly considers to race the Luxembourg GP and the last two US rounds in Binghampton and Steel City. Chicco said he should be 100% for the MXDN.

Among others to be missed from racing: Team Pamo´s Ryan Hughes and Mark Jones (both expected back in Luxemburg)

Leon Giesbers will ride no more in 2000. The Dutchman first needs to sort out his shoulder problems and has to have another operation. Ever since crashing in Spain in March, Giesbers struggled to get back to his usual speed. He will be replaced for the rest of the season by Marc de Reuver.

Talented Marc has been with Jacky Martens´ Husky team so far this year (on a Suzuki!) and will race out of the Care Innovation Suzuki truck for the remainder.

Ryan Hughes (left) considers to return to America. His Pamo Honda team looks like racing the Honda thumper next year. If Ryan gets an outdoor-only deal in the US, he might say Bye-Bye to Europe after two years with Swiss team owner Paul Kasper. Freetime Yamaha could be an option for Ryan.

Team mate Fred Bolley has come a long way since his first GP for KTM in 1990. He was right there when Stefan Everts got injured 1999 to capture the prestigious 250 title. And he has just maneuvred himself back into striking distance with series leader Mickael Pichon. World Champ 2000 or not, Fred might stay a Red Rider but build his own team.

Stefan Everts had signed a three year deal with Husqvarna late in 1999. Right now, things look like he´s bailing out of it after the first year. Stefan could ride the Honda fourstroke for Pamo or end with Kawasaki and Jan de Groot on a 250.

Current Kawasaki employee Pit Beirer has found his speed again and shown some great riding in June and last weekend in Kester. Don´t be surprised to see him on a Yamaha in 2001. Freetime wants him, but does Yamaha Japan? Remember that Pit signed a letter of intent with Rinaldi Yamaha in 1997, but stayed at Honda after he ruled the MXDN a few weeks later? Beirer could as well return to Pamo and ride the fourstroke, but prefers to stick with the 250s.

Loosing Bartolini and Bervoets would obviously leave Team Rinaldi without a top rider. Joel Smets, Peter Johansson and Shayne King will all be on a KTM. We believe Michele Rinaldi and his brother would be happy to do R&D work for Yamaha only. They run the team since the days of Rodney Smith racing the GP circuit and got World Champ with Puzar, Schmit, Moore and Bartolini.

Emberson Yamaha has landed a major outside sponsor and will run a vastly increased effort, including two big rigs.
Justin Morris will stay on the team (250), rumours do foresee Paul Cooper switch to the Yamaha squad.

Marniq Bervoets will most likely stay at Team Yamaha Rinaldi where he will have access to the exclusive factory bikes. If Marniq ends in the Top 3, his contract will extend into 2001 automatically. Things look a lot like Rinaldi will remain the official Yamaha team and that Freetime will not get works bikes, although they might sign World Champ Bartolini.

Andrea and Stefan Everts are both candidates for a ride on the Honda fourstroke, but so far nothing seems to be decided at Pamo Honda. Everything is possible on the transfer market unless the available top guys have made their moves. The rest will fall into place quickly.

Should FT Yamaha get Beirer and Everts for the 250s, Yves Demaria would be moved to the Open class.

Chicco Chiodi is rumoured to head to Honda or Pro Circuit and give his american career a fresh start. Daryll King will retire and Stefan Everts hardly stay. We´ve informed you about the Cooperman above. If all this becomes reality, who is left to ride their bikes?

Pichon's title hopes gone / injured and banned from Racing because of his father's temper. Or shall we say manner? (from mxlarge.com)

Mickael Pichon´s title hopes are likely to go down the drain after his severe crash at the Flanders GP. The Frenchman has reportedly popped out his shoulder and would not be able to race next weekend´s Namur GP. The earliest return could have been Luxembourg. Yes, could have been.

Because a deeper problem lies underneath. As Pichon´s father attacked a member of the medical staff physically after his son´s crash early in race two, a written complaint by the chief medicine officer was given to the jury. An experienced surgeon was hit hard in the face after verbal conversations were heating up.

When the jury meeting was finished at 20.30 local time, jury president Tony Skillington explained that there was no choice but to penalize the rider for what had happened.  "...according to the FIM rules, a rider is responsible for all the people around him. This is written in black and white." 

Consequently, Team Suzuki´s top rider has been banned from all racing activities by the International Jury in Grobbendonk for four weeks and further been fined a SFR 5.000 penalty.

Whatever happens next and whatever legal action Team Suzuki might undertake, July 30 will go down in the history books as a black Sunday for the  World Championship series. The intense battle between Bolley and Pichon should have provided en existing final of the GP season. Pichon´s boss Sylvain Geboers should have had reason to celebrate the Grobbendonk round after his rider´s went 1-2 in the first Moto and Josh Coppins made the overall podium. Now it´s all different.

Defending American 250cc Motocross champion, Greg Albertyn will hang up his helmet at the end of the 2001 season after several injury riddled years. The three time World Motocross champion began this season with some consistant results, then re-injured himself, something he has struggled with all of his American career.

"I won't go past 2001," Albertyn said. "I've been injured the last six years due to Supercross and thats been tough."

Albertyn will start up a training programm for younger riders, although at this stage it is unsure when the training schools will start.

Well say bye-bye to the Moto-Cross you loved. It was confirmed in Kester, next year will see 1 heat per class with a limited number of riders. The classic 40' & 2 laps will be history too. 18 laps whatever the track is is the new rule. See mxlarge.com for more details. By-bye Moto-Cross, welcome dirt-show. Will Max Biaggi switch to MX???

Version 2 of next years provisional configuration is out. As we all know by now, these are triple headers with one Moto per class. A lot has changed since the previous version. In fact, it´s much easier to name what remained untouched. 

• 16 rounds 
• Folkendange is still August 12 

The changes 

• Spain is in. The venue has to be announced. 
• Valkenswaard is very early. Bring warm shoes and a fleece cap. 
• The only overseas rounds Australia and Brazil are within seven days! 
• Spa is now scheduled to be later, Launsdorf earlier. 
• Two GPs in Belgium. Five in the Benelux triangle. 
• Two GPs in Germany. That´s a bit of a suprise. 
• Great-Britain has been moved to August. 
• Loket is out. 
• Lierop is one week later. 
• No US GP. No GP Japan. 
• August 5 is totally undetermined.
  The Motocross des Nations is late in September. Forza Italia.

Mies, June 21: 2001

Following several discussions and meetings with all the partners involved (Action Group International (AGI), Manufacturers, Motocross Industry Advisory Group (MIAG), riders and teams), also after a meeting with the Manufacturers representatives and FIM representatives including President Zerbi and CTI President Oriol Puig Bulto, recently held in Spa-Francorchamps, the CMS Bureau took the following decisions for the 2001season:

• The 3 solo classes will be maintained (125cc, 250cc, 500cc) 
• There will be 1 race per class 
• All the circuits that organise a triple event in 2001 will be re-inspected by the CMS and AGI before the next Conference Meetings (end of February 2001). The reason is that a much better infrastructure is needed for triple events. Only on the basis of this re-inspection, a new circuit licence will be issued bythe FIM/CMS. 

The new Motocross triple event standards will be issued shortly. An important request from the Manufacturers is the harmonisation between the Motocross classes and the Enduro classes. Regarding the 2000 Supercross World Championship, the rules will be adjusted according to the experience of the last season, especially the safety issues, the race format and technical rules (over175c up to 250cc 2-stroke engines and over 251cc up to 550cc 4-stroke engines), The Management Council, during its extraordinary meeting held this week-end in Geneva, ratified these decisions.

Moreover, as from 2003, motorcycles with 4-stroke engines will be allowed in the three classes as follows: 

• 125cc 2 stroke/175cc to 250cc 4-stroke 
• 250cc 2 stroke/350cc to 400cc 4-stroke
  500cc 2 stroke/450cc to 650cc 4-stroke
  ---------------------------------------------------------

CHECK ON MXLARGE FOR A POLL ON THE FANS' OPINION....

On a good way - G. Luongo Interview
by Action Group Press release
Q.: Giuseppe Luongo, three weeks after the first « Triple GP » of the Motocross history what is your reaction about this event ?

GL: It's great, because everything happened as we expected. It was  good to see that our idea was right and to see that the spectators responded very well despite a higher ticket price even if this price
was popular. The organiser doubled its tickets sales compared to the previous years. It proves that the decision to run the triple was good. Of course we now have to work on format and rules because we need to make some changes as we want the races to be more attractive. But we are definitively on the good way.

Q.: At the begining of the season your plan was to race only one heat per class. There were many discussions in Valkenswaard, and maybe your opinion has changed ?

GL: Now the discussion is not on the race format, the discussion is to have maybe one open class
instead of a 250 and a 500 class. But for sure if we keep three classes, the only format possible is to run one race per class. When you listen the « already old » riders who will retire in two or three years they don't see what will happen tomorrow, they just want to see what is today.

But we want to invest on the future and on young riders, I will never invest on grandfathers! Frankly,
we don't listen these people who only want to defend their own interest. We think for the general
interest of our sport and therefore one heat is the best decision.  You have time to work on the track,
you have time for the show, it's more attractive for the people who don't know our sport and it's better
for television. One possible option is to have an open class with two heats, as with only one class you
have all the Champions together.

The 500 GP in Holland was not really interesting, as Smets and Bervoets were so far from the rest of
the pack.... This is not good, we must have a very attractive sport with fights between riders. I think
the more you split the Champions, the less you have this possibility. Now we have to see with the manufacturers what is their position, we might need more time. We are discussing with all the partners but anyway the final decision will come from the FIM. I'm sure they will take the right decision, as always.

Q.: What's about the 125 class?

GL: It's sure that we'll open this class next year. This year is a transition period, and it was difficult to
take the best decisions. We had to limit the number of riders due to paddock problems, and for sure we can do better. Next year we'll have more riders involved in the 125 class. There may be some age
limitation and a format like Supercross with two qualifying races and one last chance race on saturday, and the final race on sunday.

We want to give the possibility to the young riders to participate and to grow up in the World
Championship. This is our view.

Q.: You always say that you don't want to take into consideration private interests. Will it be more
difficult to take good decisions, as everyone now want to give their opinion ?

GL: We are in a democracy, so everybody is free to give their opinion and to tell us what he thinks.
But the final decision will be taken by the FIM which will consider all the partners and all the talkings.
But we really don't want to care about the private interests.

We believe that the riders will earn more money with this system and that all the system will grow up.
But since four years now, we have been investing and we are still waiting for the profit and results.
And all our partners must do the same! Today more and more stressed riders see that Motocross will
be a big business, but sometimes it's too late for them. This is not my problem, this is not the problem
of teams and factories which continue to run. 

Today some people don´t want to change anything but they want more money than before! We have
no magic stick! We don't want to enter in small discussion. One rider who is fast in one heat will want
only one heat. Another one who is fast in short time will want a thirty minutes race. You cant' listen
everybody, otherwise you would have thirty different opinions for the same track! Everybody doesn't
say what is good for security or for the race, he says what is good for him!

All this rules are FIM work and FIM decision. Action Group International work is to make the
promotion of this sport. And here in Italy I had time to walk in the paddock and talk with some top
riders and Managers. I can assure you that they are completely in line with us. They know that we are
working for them, and they support us. You know that when the GPs went from two to three heats
nobody wanted this. But then, when they were back to two heats nobody wanted this either! The
most important for the FIM and Action Group in to make no mistakes, because it's time to make great
changes for Motocross. 

We must consult everybody and we must take the best decisions for this sport.

Q.: The next triple GP's will be Foxhill and Spa, what are you expecting from these events?

GL: If the weather is good I have really no worries about spectators, now that we saw what happened
in Holland. It's one of the best place for organization, but not for spectators. I just hope there will be a
good weather because if not, with the current race format, it will be difficult. We will naturally run the
event, because both FIM and Action Group International have now a good staff, but it will be very
tough for everybody !

Everything is well on plan for the GP in August. Trouble to believe it? Then keep on reading 

In the planning process, the vice-president, the secretary and the best looking member (obviously a lady) of the national federation will attend the Italian 500 GP followed by an audience with the pope in Rome. Please note that this is no April's fools joke or something of the like. It's true and it shall make clear to all critics, that the club is really dedicated to make this event a success. What can go wrong with that kind of blessing and connections? 

On the spot Chantal, Fabi and Romain (they are the lucky ones) shall pray for the soul(s) (if there's one ?) of those critics. and maybe for mine as well. 

Everts Championship Over?

Stefan Everts chances of winning another World Motocross championship are again very low. Everts who is recovering
from an injury at the Beaucaire Motocross event in February will not race in the second round of the World 500cc Motocross championships in Italy, this weekend. 
Series leader, Joel Smets is already 40 points ahead of Everts and with a possible points haul by Smets in Italy it is
very unlikely that even a rider of Everts class could regain those lost points.

Everts may also miss the next round of the championship inValkensvaard, Holland on April 9.

Here's the tentative Y2K Supercross Schedule:

10/07 Torino/Italy
10/21 France tba*
11/04 Salvador de Bahia/Brazil
11/18 tba*
11/25 Leipzig/Germany
12/02 Los Angeles/USA

* to be announced

Action Group, the promoters of the World Motocross championships have released the dates for the 2001 season. 

At the moment the Triple Grand Prix formula, which pits the 125cc/250cc and 500cc riders all at the same track on the
same weekend, runs only over five Grand Prix's, next year will see all sixteen Grand Prix's run with the triple class
format. Quite a headache for many long-time organisers........

The championship schedule for 2001 looks like this: 

April 8, Holland 
April 22, Australia 
May 6, Belgium
May 13, France
May 27, Spain
June 10, Portugal
June 17, Austria
July 1, Sweden
July 15, Brazil
July 29, England
August 12, Luxembourg
August 26, Germany 
September 2, Czech Republic 
September 9, Holland (again) 

The Motocross des Nations will run in Italy on September 16.