Bercy: Night 1

| November 9, 2001

French riders dominated the first night of the 19th edition of the Paris Bercy supercross, as David Vuillemin won the two 250cc finals while Rodrig Thain won the three 125cc finals. But Chad Reed, Jeremy McGrath and Stephane Roncada proved that French riders are not unbeatable in the 250cc class, and Brock Sellards and Chris Gosselaar did likewise in the 125cc division.

Despite midpack starts (fifth in the first final and eighth in the second final), Vuillemin won the two mains, but he had to push quite hard to take the lead. Reed led the first race until the 10th (of 15) lap, and McGrath led the second race until the seventh lap, but Vuillemin – supported by the French crowd – confirmed his title. But Reed (who was excellent in both races), McGrath (who fought with Reed in the second race until the Aussie touched him in a corner during the last lap, causing both to crash) and Roncada (who twice made the podium despite very bad starts) proved that they might just beat him over the next two nights.

In the 125cc class, Rodrig Thain was the fastest rider for his first race on the Yamaha YZ250F four-stroke; with very good starts, the Frenchman was leading most of the three finals, winning all of them and beating Americans Sellards and Gosselaar. With three good results (2/4/2), Sellards finished second overall, as Gosselaar lost his chances when he crashed in the first final while battling with Sellards and Edgar Torronteras for the second position.

Results:

125 Race 1: 1. Thain (FRA,Yamaha); 2. Sellards (USA,KTM); 3. Torronteras (SPA,Yamaha); 4. Demartis (FRA,Yamaha); 5. Townley (NZL,KTM); 6. Ratray (RSA,KTM); 7. Hansen (USA,Yamaha); 8. Ramon (BEL,Kawasaki); 9. Bill (SWI,KTM); 10. Bess (USA,Suzuki).

125 Race 2: 1. Thain; 2. Gosselaar (USA,Honda); 3. Tedesco (USA,Yamaha); 4. Sellards; 5. Torronteras; 6. Demartis; 7. Martin (FRA,HVA); 8. Meo (FRA,Kawasaki); 9. Bess; 10. Townley.

125 Race 3: 1. Thain; 2. Sellards; 3. Gosselaar; 4. Torronteras; 5. Townley; 6. Tedesco; 7. Demartis; 8. Bill; 9. Ristori (SWI,Yamaha); 10. Hansen.

125 O/A: 1. Thain; 2. Sellards; 3. Torronteras; 4. Demartis; 5. Townley; 6. Tedesco; 7. Gosselaar; 8. Hansen; 9. Bill; 10. Martin.

250 Race 1: 1. Vuillemin (FRA,Yamaha); 2. Reed (AUS,Kawasaki); 3. Roncada (FRA,Kawasaki); 4. McGrath (USA,Yamaha); 5. Wey (USA,Yamaha); 6. Maschio (FRA,Kawasaki); 7. Sorby (FRA,Suzuki); 8. Guidetty (FRA,KTM); 9. Thomas (USA,Honda); 10. Remacho (SPA,Yamaha); 11. Poll (FRA,Honda); 12. Kovalainen (FIN,Yamaha); 13. Lalloz (FRA,Yamaha); 14. Lewis (USA,Yamaha); 15. Edwards (GBR,Yamaha); 16. Roy (CAN,Honda).

250 Race 2: 1. Vuillemin; 2. Reed; 3. Roncada; 4. McGrath; 5. Guidetty; 6. Wey; 7. Lalloz; 8. Sorby; 9. Kovalainen; 10. Roy; 11. Thomas; 12. Poll; 13. Edwards; 14. Maschio.

O/A: 1. Vuillemin, 2pts; 2. Reed, 4; 3. Roncada, 6; 4. McGrath, 8; 5. Wey, 11; 6. Guidetty, 13; 7. Sorby, 15; 8. Lalloz, 20; 9. Thomas, 20; 10. Maschio, 20.

By Freelance