Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - ------ While Everts only won 13of the 32 races in 2004, he still earned the World title by a massive 68 points. It wasn't his usual blinding speed that earned him eight World titles, but his years of racing the best in the sport have given him the experience to know when it' s time to tum it up and when it's time to back off and let your competi tion go. "Y know, you do n't win a World Champ ionship on ou your best day, you win it in your worst day, and I did that this year. I kept riding for a pod ium place if I didn't feel comfortable with the track . I didn't take any risks when I didn't feel good. Obviously, when you line up on the start you want to win. I have that every time Igo out , but I have learned that sometimes you just have to slow dow n and look at the big picture." Everts did indeed have spells where his results suffered, some of which had to do with distractingearly-season team talks and the birth of his son, Liam, late in the season, which seemed to take up a lot of his energy. His wife, Kelly, did not attend the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic; it was the first time in many years that she was not at his side. •,.. '1'.t times , I crashed when my concentration was not good, " Everts said. "It was around the time I was busy with signing with Yamaha, there were prob lems, and that upse t me, and the birth of my son. That was also a period when my results suffered . On ce he was born , I could again conce ntrate on my racing." True to his word, Everts arrived at the Citadel of Namur with the news his son had been born; it was Friday night and the happy father was now looking 100 percent at his dream to take another victory around the treacherous Namur circuit. "W inning Namur just two days after my son was born, that is probably the best win of my career. To win in Namur, a place I have won so many times now, and to know my son was healthy, it made me so happy; I was so emotional after that win." The new season will also see a new name enter the MXI ranks - World MX2 Champion Ben Townley. The New Zealander will attempt to do what only a handful of me n have been able to do, and that is to win both the MX I and MX2 World titles. While Everts is aware of Townley's competitive spirit. he also knows it's not going to be that easy for the newcomer. "I think Ben Townley will be strong. Will he be strong enough to win a champ ionship? I don't know. He will find it tough in the MX I class; there are a lot of good riders in the class. It's going to be interesting in 2005 , so many good riders coming through , names like [josh] Coppins , Brian Jorgense n, Kevin 5trijbos, Steve Ramon and, of course, Pichon. Any o ne of a number of riders can win the championship next year." Not in the history of the MXI class had so many different riders win races than in 2004, and while it was mainly Everts and Pichon that recorded the victories, there were ot hers who could take the challenge. Of the seven different GP race winners, four came from Belgium: Everts, Cedric Melotte, Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos. For the fi rst time in many years, the small nation of Be lgium was showing signs of returning to its past glory. '1'.t the moment Belgian motocross is very strong . A few years ago I was worried. I looked at the younger riders and didn't see too much, but now we have Kevin Strijbos, Steve Ramon, Cedric Melotte - they are all com ing good , and I feel comfortable when Joel Smets and I ret ire [that] Belgium will still have riders capable of winning World titles." As for his French rivaJ Mickael Pichon, the Belgian is not too worried about the former World Motocross Champion taking his glory. Despite the fact that Pichon did win many Grands Prix in 2004 , he also found himself on the ground, and that is something Everts feels willhap- pen again in 2005. " Picho n was strong this year, but he made many mistakes . Riding behind him sometimes was scary the risks he was making . I don't think he will be my biggest rival in 2005 . I th ink there a re a number of riders who will be consistent, and being consistent will w in a World title , no t getting pole positions . as Pichon seems to be able to do . The quickest does not always win ; it's usually the smartest." Desp ite winning the '04 title. the season ended, though , in disappointment for Everts when he became involved in an uglyincident with Pichon at the Grand Prix of South Africa. In what was meant to be a celebration of him taking the World title just two weeks earlier, Everts made one of the biggest mistakes of his career when he was crashed out of the second rnoto by Pichon and lost control of his emotions. Once on his feet , Everts went after Pichon, first runn ing across the track and throwing his goggles at him, then remounting and ghost-riding into Pichon. It was a very uncharacteristic act by the World Champ ion, and one he regrets. "What happened in South Africa was not good . I will never say it wasn't a big deal; I made a mistake, and I should be punished. I wish somebody had grabbed me and not let me go back onto the track. I have since said sorry to Pichon and the FIM, and I hope that it will be left CYCL.E NEWS • JANUARY 5, 2005 77

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