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MX1: HISTORIC 100 REACHED BY EVERTS AT LIEROP |
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Wednesday, 06 September 2006 |
MX1: HISTORIC 100 REACHED BY EVERTS AT LIEROP
The Grand Prix of the Netherlands marked another important chapter in a
truly memorable season for Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross team's Stefan Everts as
the 2006 World Champion dominated both motos in the Lierop sand for his 100th
career success and his thirteenth triumph from fourteen rounds on the YZ450FM in
the 2006 campaign.
The penultimate meeting of the year occurred under
dark clouds that freely dispensed rain all day over the Lierop circuit. 33,135
spectators gathered to watch the hardest GP of the term so far for the MX1 and
MX2 riders. The sand quickly cut into a path of bumps, ruts and heavy, rough
sections that tested the machines as much as the endurance and fitness of the
riders.
Everts claimed his eighth pole position of the season yesterday with a
lap-time almost a second quicker than fellow countryman Steve Ramon as Belgian
riders filled the top four positions on the leader-board.
The 33 year
old started well and was in second place negotiating the first corner behind
Josh Coppins. By the fourth turn the World Champion was ahead and embarked on a
trouble-free ride. He had to remain alert cutting through backmarkers that he
lapped up to 7th position and the 41 second winning advantage at the flag was a
clear indication of the dominance Everts enjoyed in his self-confessed
'playground'. The victory was his 24th moto success in 2006.
In race two he delivered a repeat performance and was a class apart of the
MX1 flock as he again pulled away from his Honda rival. 25 motos from 28 this
year were duly confirmed and Everts danced and punched the air at reaching his
phenomenal goal of 100 victories; 43 more than the next most successful rider
Joel Smets and clinched in an 18 year career stretching back to 1989.
Cédric Melotte attempted to ride this week but the bruising on his right
foot as a consequence of three broken toes meant that pushing the Yamaha was
still too painful for the Belgian. He should return to action next week in the
Belgian Championship and be fit to ride at Ernee.
Everts has already
wrapped up the 2006 campaign but extended his point margin over Kevin Strijbos
to 198. Melotte is tenth after his second non-start in a week.
The
fifteenth and final round of the World Championship will take place in two weeks
time for the Grand Prix of France at the Ernee circuit, less than 100km west of
Le Mans.
Stefan Everts, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team:
"There is not
much left to win now, maybe just the Motocross of Nations! This has been a tough
little period for me. Mentally I have been a bit 'done' and physically it has
been hard. Last week was a hard race; Josh said that the riders can learn from
me physically but he was very strong in Ireland also so he is right there also.
Anyway, it has been a long way to this 100th GP win. I started in 1989 and now
we are in 2006, so that is eighteen years to try and win 100 GPs; it has been a
long road. Counting from one to ten in terms of titles can take some time, but
one to one hundred is something else. I am so, so happy, thanks to everyone who
has supported me."
Cedric Melotte, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross
Team:
"Only fifteen days after the crash the toes on my foot had
recovered but there was a large bruise on the bottom of my foot and it was
difficult to put a lot of weight on my leg so this race came too soon for me. I
am able to cycle and the whole injury is getting better so I hope to be back to
a good level by the time of Ernee."
Carlo Rinaldi, Racing Manager,
Yamaha Intur Sport Motocross Team:
"We have run out of objectives for
this season! Stefan's achievement was unbelievable and the way he won today was
excellent; he was riding far above the level of the others. Mentally and
physically he is a little bit exhausted but his skill on the sand allowed him to
win today. He dominated both motos and was just perfect all day."
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Circuit Length: 1875
Temp: 20
Crowd:
33135
Weather: Wet
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