Hawkstone Park ready to open 2002 season.
The now traditional season opening international motocross will take place on 17 February at Hawkstone Park in the British midlands, when the cream of the dirt-track world turn out to prepare for the world championship.
Organised by the Salop Motor Club, the 2002 curtain raiser already boasts an awesome international entry which includes no less than all three reigning world champions - Jamie Dobb (125cc), Mickael Pichon (250cc) and Stefan Everts (500cc).
The now traditional season opening international motocross will take place on 17 February at Hawkstone Park in the British midlands, when the cream of the dirt-track world turn out to prepare for the world championship.
Organised by the Salop Motor Club, the 2002 curtain raiser already boasts an awesome international entry which includes no less than all three reigning world champions - Jamie Dobb (125cc), Mickael Pichon (250cc) and Stefan Everts (500cc).
Gary Ford of the Salop Club has performed miracles this year to attract what is probably the best entry of any motocross event , other than a grand prix, and has succeeded in ensuring that not only is Pichon riding the Open Class races at Hawkstone, but he will also be out on the eighth-litre Suzuki in the 125cc races.
The Frenchman, who dominated the 2001 world 250cc series, has made no secret of the fact that this year he wants to contest both the 250cc and 125cc world series - a move made possible by rule changes already been announced by the FIM which will this year permit any rider to compete in more than one class. Pichon's ride at Hawkstone will see the foundation stones laid for this unique dual-class assault.
In addition to the three world champions on show, the Hawkstone starting line-up includes other celebrated names such as former world 250cc champion Fred Bolley in the Open Class, where he will be joined by stars such as Marnicq Bervoets, Gordon Crockard, Jussi Vehvilainen, Leon Giesbers, Peter Iven, Avo Leok and Mark Jones.
The 125cc Class is equally impressive with Pichon being joined by Stephen Sword, Marc de Reuver, Eric Sorby, Kevin Strijbos, Tallon Vohland, Darryl Atkins, Wyatt Avis, Antti Pyrhonen and Antti Kallonen.
In addition to these names there is a string of home riders entered, including Billy MacKenzie, Matt Winstanley, James Noble and Craig Pratley.
The race programme will include two 125cc international races and two Open Class international races, as well as two Expert Support races. The top sixteen from the 125cc international and the top twenty from the Open Class international, along with four promoters choice riders, will then compete in a combined class International Grand Final at the end of the race programme.
Whatever else you may have had planned for Sunday, February 17th, then now is the time to change those plans. Hawkstone Park will be the only place to be that weekend, or else risk missing what will be the greatest motocross spectacle in the UK in 2002.
The Hawkstone Park circuit is situated ten miles north of Shrewsbury and is sign posted off the A49 Shrewsbury to Whitchurch road, the A53 Shrewsbury to Market Drayton road and junction five of the M54 at Telford.
Open class international - entry list (25 minutes + 2 laps)
1. Mickael Pichon France Suzuki 250 GRP
01. Stefan Everts Belgium Yamaha 500 Rinaldi Yamaha
3. Gordon Crockard Ireland KTM 250 KTM Austria
03. Marnicq Bervoets Belgium Yamaha 500 Rinaldi Yamaha
5. Jussi Vehvilainen Finland Honda 250 CAS Honda
7. Frederic Bolley France Yamaha 250 Rinaldi Yamaha
9. Mark Jones Britain Honda 450 RWJ Honda
10. Collin Dugmore South Africa KTM 250 Millennium
11. Peter Iven Belgium KTM 570 Cinti
15. Leon Giesbers Holland Honda 450 Care Tumic
20. James Noble Britain Honda 450 RWJ Honda
21. David Campbell Britain Honda 450 CAS Honda
24. Willie van Wessel Holland Honda 450 Care Tumic
25. David Willett Britain KTM 520 CW/Tech One
27. Jason Higgs Britain Yamaha 250 Yamaha UK
31. Chris Lillywhite Britain KTM 540 Chambers
33. Ed Bradley Britain Honda 450 H+H Distribution
35. Barry Morris Britain Honda 450 Quick Drill
37. Jamie Breedon Britain Honda 250 Rider
39. Craig Pratley Britain KTM 520 Chambers
41. Paul Tett Britain Honda 450 Brian Hill/CNC
43. Richard Du-Feu Britain Honda 250 DK/One Eleven
45. Ricky Higgs Britain Husqvarna 250 Rider
47. Robert Gold Britain Husaberg 470 Dave Clarke
49. Paul Coward Britain Honda 450 CAS Honda
50. Kristen Vangsbakken Norway Yamaha 250 Rider
51. Brad Anderson Britain Yamaha 250 Bikesport
53. Jonathan Pettitt Britain TM 250 TM UK
54. Gary Davies Britain Kawasaki 250 Cradley Kawasaki
55. Mark Hucklebridge Britain VOR 530 VOR Motori UK
57. Glen Phillips Britain KTM 520 Wildmoor/DSC
60. Matthieu Lalloz France Yamaha 250 PSM Yamaha
61. Sven Breugelmans Belgium Suzuki 250 GRP
64. Jamie Dobb Britain KTM 250 KTM Austria
70. Avo Leok Estonia Honda 450 Sarholz
71. Justin Morris Britain Yamaha 250 Yamaha UK
72. Danny Theybers Belgium KTM 570 Cinti
77. Jonathan White Britain Suzuki 440 KAIS Racing
81. Stuart Flockhart Britain Honda 450 RWJ Honda
86. Jimmy Huysmans Belgium KTM 540 Rider
111. Yoshitaka Atsuta Japan Honda 250 CAS Honda
125cc international - entry list (25 minutes + 2 laps)
1. Mickael Pichon France Suzuki GRP
2. Stephen Sword Britain Husqvarna Motorex
4. Billy MacKenzie Britain Yamaha Yamaha UK
6. Patrick Caps Belgium KTM Millennium
8. Marc de Reuver Holland Yamaha Eggens Yamaha
12. Wayne Smith Britain Yamaha Y Bike
14. Matt Winstanley Britain KTM Albion KTM
16. Marko Dorsch Germany KTM Millennium
17. Eric Sorby France Honda Care Tumic
18. Antti Kallonen Finland KTM Albion KTM
19. Kevin Strijbos Belgium Yamaha Bonenberg
22. Kjetil Gundersen Norway Yamaha Rider
23. Antti Pyrhonen Finland Honda Care Tumic
26. Aston Bird Britain KTM Phoneparts
28. Wyatt Avis South Africa Suzuki Bonenberg
29. Brett Metcalfe Australia KTM Millennium
30. Adam Lyons Ireland TM TM UK
32. Jordan Rose Britain TM TM UK
34. Kim Ashkenazi Australia KTM Bott Motovision.com
36. Neil Flockhart Britain Honda Wiseco Pistons
38. Danny Tollet Britain Yamaha Platinum Motorsport/NMA
40. Bryan MacKenzie Britain Kawasaki Team Green
44. Graeme Gowland Britain Honda Bikesport
46. Nick Tuin Holland Suzuki Bonenberg
52. Ben Saunders Britain KTM Rider
54. David Coates Britain tbc Rider
56. Christophe Nambotin France Yamaha Normandie Challenge 1
58. Graeme Vigors Britain Yamaha Huttys Off Road Yamaha
64. David Dibble Britain KTM Rider
68. Tom Church Britain KTM Bott Motovision.com
72. Danny Smyth Britain Yamaha KPS Motovision
76. Tallon Vohland USA Kawasaki MJ Church
78. Darryll Atkins New Zealand Kawasaki MJ Church
82. Phil Mercer Britain KTM Phoneparts
88. Paul Teasdale Britain KTM Phoneparts
92. Jamie Law Britain Kawasaki Team Green
94. Owen Delaney Britain Suzuki Eurolift
98. Jim Murro Britain Honda CAS Honda
100. Neil Prince Britain Honda CAS Honda
102. Alex Rach Britain KTM Phoneparts
122. Mark Milward Britain Yamaha DK Yamaha
