The Palais Omnisports of Paris Bercy was full for the first night of the 18th Philishave Supercross, where Yamaha of Troy’s Justin Buckelew won the 125cc class, taking two of the three finals. French Suzuki rider Eric Sorby won the second one after the two leaders – Steve Boniface and Rodrig Thain – crashed.
In the 250cc class Team Yamaha’s David Vuillemin put on a great show, beating all his rivals in this first night. Obviously highly motivated, the Frenchman beat Mazda/Yamahah’s Jeremy McGrath in his qualifying race, and then in the first final of the night. Taking the holeshot, Vuillemin was unbeatable, and to keep the second place away from Sebastien Tortelli, McGrath had to push really hard. Team Honda’s Tortelli had suffered a poor start after qualifying through the LCQ (he had crashed in the whoops during the qualifying heat), so he’d been penalyzed with a poor gate pick.
Though McGrath lost time at the start of the first final, he was just behind Vuillemin at the first corner of the second final, while Tortelli was not in the top 10! But even with his good start, McGrath was unable to contest Vuillemin Show, and the maximum gap between the two Yamaha riders was eight seconds after 10 laps! McGrath was fortunate that Tortelli had a poor start, though the Frennchman’s comeback was impressive – especially in the whoops.
Three wins for Vuillemin, none for McGrath: How will the American react for the two other days in Bercy?
Results:
125 Final 1: 1. Buckelew (USA,Yamaha); 2.Torronteras (Spain, Kawasaki); 3. Thain (France, KTM); 4. Rodrigues (Portugal, Honda); 5. Demartis (France, Yamaha); 6. Schnell (USA, Yamaha); 7. Boniface (France, Honda); 8. Sorby (France, Honda); 9. Ristori (Switzerland, Honda); 10. Ramon (Belgium, Kawasaki).
125 Final 2: 1. Sorby; 2.Buckelew; 3. Ramon; 4. Schnell; 5. Metcalfe (Australia, KTM); 6. Leuret (France, KTM); 7. Dujaud (France, Yamaha); 8. Rodrigues; 9. Demartis; 10. Ristori.
125 Final 3: 1. Buckelew; 2. Thain; 3. Boniface; 4. Metcalfe; 5. Torronteras; 6. Ristori; 7. Ramon; 8. Sorby; 9. Rodrigues; 10. Dujaud.
250 Final 1: 1. Vuillemin (France, Yamaha); 2. McGrath (USA,Yamaha); 3. Tortelli (France, Honda); 4. Pichon (France, Suzuki); 5. Vialle (France, Yamaha); 6. Byrne (Australia, Honda); 7.Bethys (France, Honda); 8. Brown (USA, Honda); 9. Lalloz (France, Yamaha); 10. Paget (France, Honda).
250 Final 2: 1. Vuillemin; 2. McGrath; 3. Tortelli; 4. Pichon; 5. Byrne; 6. Brown; 7. Lalloz; 8. Huffman (USA,Suzuki); 9. Paget; 10. Coppins (New Zealand, Suzuki).
