Pichon Wraps It Up With South Africa GP Win
| September 27, 2004
Former World Motocross Champion Mickael Pichon won the Grand Prix of South Africa yesterday. Pichon went 1-2 on the day, while already-crowned champ Stefan Everts was forced out of the event after a collision with Pichon.
Everts, who had finished second in the opening moto behind Pichon, was holding a slight lead over Pichon in the second moto when Pichon rode into Everts. Everts took a hard crash and once on his feet went looking for Pichon. Everts stood alongside the racing line and threw his goggles at Pichon.
“Stefan Everts has ridden aggressive also this year,” Pichon said, “and on this occasion, I was the aggressive rider, but I didn’t want him to crash. I am sorry for that. The way he acted after the crash was not normal.”
The Sun City event was one of the highlights of the 2004 season, with a great track prepared and a lot of preparation going into the South African event.
Finishing second in the MX1 class was CAS Honda rider Josh Coppins, with KTM factory rider Steve Ramon in third place.
New Zealand’s Ben Townley won the MX2 class with 1-1 results, while his CHAMP KTM teammate Tyla Rattray finished second, and Antonio Cairoli took third on the De Carli Yamaha.
MX1 MOTO 1: 1. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 2. Stefan Everts (Yam); 3. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 5. Steve Ramon (KTM); 6. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); 7. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 8. James Nobles (Hon); 9. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 10. Tanel Leok (Suz); 11. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 12. Antti Pyrhonen (TM); 13. Collin Dugmore (Hon); 14. Marko Kovalianen (Hon); 15. Josef Dobes (Suz).
MX1 MOTO 2: 1. Josh Coppins (Hon); 2. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 3. Steve Ramon (KTM); 4. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 5. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 6. Greg Albertyn (Suz); 7. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 8. Marko Kovalianen (Hon); 9. Josef Dobes (Suz); 10. James Noble (Hon); 11. Chris Burnham (KTM); 12. Antti Pyrhonen ™; 13. Enrico Oddenino ™; 14. Tanel Leok (Suz); 15. Fabien Izoird (Suz).
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS MX1: 1. Stefan Everts (688/7 wins); 2. Mickael Pichon (620/6); 3. Josh Coppins (564/1); 4. Steve Ramon (475); 5. Kevin Strijbos (457); 6. Tanel Leok (356); 7. Cedric Melotte (345/1); 8. Brian Jorgensen (294/1); 9. Ken De Dijcker (259); 10. Yoshi Atsuta (224); 11. Luigi Seguy (217); 12. Chris Burnham (200); 13. Lauris Freibergs (199); 14. Marko Kovalainen (190); 15. James Noble (189)
