Pichon victorious after bar-banging battle.

Mickael Pichon won a thrilling duel of World Champions this afternoon in Valkenswaard, at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands, to make it a perfect two wins from two Grand Prix starts in 2003.

The Team Suzuki rider shadowed Everts for over half of the Motocross GP event, before seizing his moment to attack when the Belgian suffered a huge 'tank slapper' while carving his way through the choppy Dutch sand at high speed on his 450 Yamaha.

Pichon victorious after bar-banging battle.

Mickael Pichon won a thrilling duel of World Champions this afternoon in Valkenswaard, at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands, to make it a perfect two wins from two Grand Prix starts in 2003.

The Team Suzuki rider shadowed Everts for over half of the Motocross GP event, before seizing his moment to attack when the Belgian suffered a huge 'tank slapper' while carving his way through the choppy Dutch sand at high speed on his 450 Yamaha.

Everts held on, but the scare allowed Pichon to attempt an outside move at the following left hand sweeper - Everts tried to shut the door and the two clashed. Fortunately, both stayed on two wheels and went side by side over the following jump, before Everts pushed Pichon wide at the next left hand hairpin.

Clearly fuming at the Yamaha riders move, Pichon pinned his Suzuki around the following turns - then launched himself into an almost non-existent gap between Everts and the track fencing then outbraked Stefan into the following right hander! The RM250 rider would never looked back.

Sadly, Everts was unable to respond when the spokes began breaking on his front wheel - caused by his earlier clash with Pichon. The Belgian was forced to pull into the pits for a new wheel, before an angry Everts returned to the track and recovered 12 points for his ninth place at the flag.

Meanwhile, following a poor start, countryman Joel Smets dragged himself up to third and then inherited second on the KTM 450, when Everts pitted. Pichon's team-mate Kevin Strijbos was almost on for a dream first GP podium, but was denied in the last few laps by Kawasaki's Kenneth Gundersen, who went on to complete the top three.

Marnicq Bervoets' GP chances lasted all of a few seconds after he was trapped in the gate after stalling, while the KTM pair of Jamie Dobb and Pit Beirer both fell during the moto. Dobb managed to take 17th while Beirer smashed his machine and didn't finish.

As such, the German joined Gordon Crockard on the sidelines after the Honda man fell on the opening circulation and was immediately given an X-ray on a suspected dislocated shoulder.

All this meant Pichon and Smets repeated their podium positions from Spain and are now the first riders in the Championship standings from Gundersen in third.

"This is one of my best victories because other riders were up to my level and ready to beat me. My condition still isn't great and I am not in the shape I have been during the last two years but I am so happy to have won here," beamed Pichon.

In the 125cc class, Steve Ramon dictated proceedings in a repeat of 12 months ago, and took his second ever GP victory. The factory KTM rider led home all of his three team-mates, Erik Eggens, Marc De Reuver and Ben Townley respectively.

Ramon overtook holeshotter Alessio Chiodi after the first lap and escaped away from the pack before Eggens could force his way to second. The Dutchman, who scored an emotional victory here in 2001 could reduce the margin to 2 and a half seconds but Ramon comfortably controlled his time cushion on the track.

De Reuver rode a lonely race in third after a less than desirable start. Townley is also worthy of special praise after he took a pain killing injection in his left wrist in order to race.

Bellpuig podium finishers Alessio Chiodi and Andrea Bartolini both claimed fifth and sixth with their 250 four stroke Yamahas. Italy's David Philippaerts took his best GP finish for some time with seventh. Rui Goncalves, Martin Van Daele and Tyla Rattray completed the top ten.

World Champion, and winner in Spain, Mickael Maschio had a disastrous GP - crashing and never figuring in the top twenty, he eventually crossed the line in 21st.

In the 650cc competition, Joel Smets racked-up another splendid weekend's work with a holeshot and dominant 28 second victory.

The Belgian regurgitated his set of results from Spain and his win was only marred by the sight of team-mate Yves Demaria being lifted into an ambulance after a last lap crash while fourth. The Frenchman is undergoing a scan at the time of writing but is believed to have broken the sixth vertebrae.

Javier Garcia Vico grabbed his second consecutive runner-up position, while Cedric Melotte took his first GP podium on the Honda with third.

The third GP of the year takes place in three weeks time at Teutschenthal, Germany, on May 4th and 5th.

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