Oss, in North Brabant has a rich motocross history. Back in 1989, in the rookie season of father Stefan Everts, Oss was already on the World Championship calendar. But the track hadn’t seen World Championship Motocross action now since 1998. Back than it was the Italian Alessio Chiodi who took the win. But neither of the EMX250 riders was already born back then, so they where here to write their own history.
In time-practice Liam noted a fifth time in his group, this resulted in a tenth place starting gate. When the gate dropped for the first heat, Liam found himself just hanging inside the top ten. The 16-year old quickly found his rhythm on the lovely track of Oss! Gaining some positions, fighting himself a way towards and into the fourth place, Liam made a little mistake. This mistake led to a crash causing him to fall. He quickly picked up his bike and restarted the race in eight position, but at a brief moment it looked like the Yoko-clothed youngster had no response in him and fighting spirit left to make his way back to the front. Yet Liam took a breath went on with it and finished eventually in fifth.
For the second heat Liam opted for a startgate more to the outside. A ballsy move that paid off, going trough the second corner into the top five. From the first lap, the KTM-rider found his rhythm, pushing his way forward. His way of riding resulted in taking the lead with still 18 minutes and 2 laps to go on the clock. Riding fast and smooth laps, he gathered a nice lead. With a seven second lead it started to look like Liam had it in the bag. But with only a few laps to go a yellow flag at the wrong moment, broke Liamski’ rhythm. Once out of his rhythm he felt how the heat and fatigue had caught up to him. With only one lap to go he was still in the lead, but one lap and two mistakes later Liam Everts finish in a well-deserved second!
The fifth place from heat one and this second place from heat two combined, resulted in a third overall, what gave Liam his first EMX250 Grand Prix podium of his career! A result that confirms that the young man is on the right pad. A confidence booster and a confirmation that all the hard work he, and his entourage puts in, is starting to pay off!
Pictures: Gino Maes
