Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Home Sweet Home Belgian Stefan Everts takes over series lead with another strong performance at Namur Ste an Everts moved his career-win mark to 64 with two victories at his home circuit in Namur, Belgium. He also took over the points lead from Mickael Pichon in the MotocrossGP class. move and the knowledge that victory around the dangerous circuit would catapult him to the head of the MotocrossGP points standings. Just as he has done so many times before, Everts took the pressure head on and fought a war in the 250cc moto to lead home Smets by a little over a second and defending World Champion Mickael Pichon by nearly a minute. Not only did Everts have to worry about Smets and Pichon, but also the Namur spectators. "In some of the really fast parts of the track, the crowds were only inches away from me," Everts saiq. "I love this place, although that was a little dangerous. They were putting themselves in huge danger. In one way, it's the beauty of Namur, and it creates an atmosphere I have never experienced at any track in the world." Defending 250cc Champion Mickael Pichon was disappointed with his results in Namur. The French rider lost his points lead and continues to look brittle against the strong Belgians and their four-stroke machines. "If you look at the times Everts was doing in the end of the race, compared to my times, then you see his speed is much better than mine," Pichon said. "We worked really hard to find a suitable setting, although it's difficult. I just didn't have any good grip; it was tough for me. I can still win this championship, and it's very close." Everts also took victory in the 125cc race, taking the lead on the first lap and never being headed, eventually winning over fellow Belgian Steve Ramon by 10 seconds, with Andrea Bartolini in third. STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER NAMUR, BELGIUM, JULY 20 n humid conditions and on one of the most difficult motocross circuits in the world, Stefan Everts took a giant step toward his seventh World Motocross Championship with a victory at the Grand Prix of Namur, held on the famous Citadel circuit. In front of 20,000 spectators, Everts came under heavy fire from fellow Belgian Joel Smets. Smets led the 250cc moto early on, only to hand the lead to Everts on the third lap. From that moment on, Everts seemed to have the upper hand. Smets, however, never gave up, and with two laps remaining, he closed up to Everts' back wheel. But with one lap to go, Smets made a costly mistake on what also happened to be Everts' quickest lap of the day. For Everts, I 14 JULY 30,2003' eye I e that last lap clinched one of his toughest victories. "This place is really special," Everts said. "Although, to be honest, it's a real dangerous track to race on. The jumps have black dirt on the face, and in the trees you can't see the lines, plus the sunlight shines through the trees in some places, so your vision is often not 100 percent. n e _ s When you're racing past trees and they are only an arm's length away, you have to stay mentally strong. I think I did that today. I had some luck near the end of the race when my bike began to play up. It was really a mental war with Joel - this time I won." For Everts, it was all about racing under conditions he loved - a huge home crowd screaming at his every "Getting a good start was important," Everts said. "I really didn't have too much pressure. I told Steve Ramon that he has to get a little aggressive. He is the future of Belgian motocross, and he needed to get really a tougher mentality if he wants to come to the 250cc class next year. He will need to learn some things." In the best 650cc race of the year,

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