Tiscali Honda rider Mickael Pichon weathered second moto controversy in Sunday's Grand Prix of South Africa, the sixteenth and final round of the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship, to claim his sixth triumph of the 2004 season.
Pichon recorded 1st and 2nd moto finishes to take the overall at the brand new grandstand-surrounded Sun City facility, but the results hid a more complicated tale...
The Supercross nature of the track also had a hard packed and slippery terrain creating a very tough test for the riders, suited the Frenchman and he showed his speed from the moment the gate dropped for the first MX1 moto of 35 minute and 2 laps duration.
The 28-year-old led from the line to the flag while chasing World Champion Stefan Everts could not reduce a deficit of several seconds. The positions were widely split making for a slightly staid slice of action. CAS rider Josh Coppins was able to pass the chequered flag in 3rd place.
The second MX1 moto provided far better entertainment and some surprising scenes - which started when Pichon and Everts collided in the third corner of the opening lap as the former tried to move past the Yamaha man.
Everts lost control in the coming-together and hit the ground. Incensed, he then walked off the track to the adjacent turn to throw his goggles at Pichon as the pack filtered back around. The eight-times world number one then remounted and slowly cruised around the track until the leaders came to lap him, Pichon holding third at this stage.
Clearly still upset Everts blocked the line of the Honda rider and almost caused the chasing Coppins to crash. Everts retired for the first time in over a year and Pichon was sufficiently undeterred to sweep past special guest Greg Albertyn into the lead on lap three.
Four laps later however and the most successful Frenchman in GP history had a big crash in the sandy section and was relegated to sixth place by the time he returned to the track.
