Pichon: I was struggling to hold on.

The remarkable 12 race-winning run of Mickael Pichon came to an end yesterday after the Team Suzuki rider claimed fourth position in a race of survival at Montevarchi, Italy.

The Frenchman had won the opening three races of the year but suffered with tiredness and also an early race collision with Italian Yamaha rider Claudio Federici in the formative stages of the moto.

The exhaust pipe on the factory RM 250 was dented in the spill on lap three and Pichon was also feeling the affects of a tough physical training routine over the last week that left him short of energy and missing the podium for only the third time in
three years.

Yamaha's Stefan Everts won the race, ahead of Joel Smets and Claudio Federici.

"I suffered this weekend with tiredness and I think I trained too much over the last week or two. I did not sleep well last night and I could sense in practice that I might only be able to put a handful of laps together at the speed I would have liked," confessed Mickael.

"To be honest I was 'gone' after the first three laps of the race. At first I thought I could possibly go a little faster but then I was struggling to hold on. I was sitting down a lot and not able to handle the bike as usual. It was like I was riding a 500! When Federici crashed it was another example of how my body had given up," he continued. "I would have felt confident of being able to dodge around his bike but my reactions were not quick enough and I had to launch off it.

"After the race the team showed me the exhaust pipe and it had crushed slightly in the impact, but I'm not sure I would have been able to use the extra power anyway. Towards the end I had to look for people catching me. I almost lost it again several times so while I am disappointed with how things went and my performance, I'm glad I managed to last the race and take the fourth position.

"It was strange seeing Stefan and Joel something like 15 seconds away from me when usually it has been the other way round.

"The race was not a complete disaster. I still lead the Championship and I knew I would not be able to win every race. I always want to win, and that does not change my motivation even if I finish fourth one week.

"Today was just an 'off-day'. I am experienced enough and have been through situations like this before to I know what I have to do now to feel ready and better prepared for Bulgaria."

Pichon's Championship lead has now shrunk from 11 to 7 points.