Everts even swapped his racing
number to 26 from 72, the same
number his famous father used
to wear for much of his career.
Liam Everts is now a Nestaan
Husqvarna Factory Racing squad
member and will continue his
goal of winning the MX2 Cham
-
pionship and, hopefully, he says
someday, the MXGP Champion-
ship.
"I'm super happy to join
Nestaan Husqvarna Factory
Racing," the 20-year-old Everts
said. "They're a great group of
people, and it's an exciting new
challenge. I've spent a lot of
time with them in the past, so I
feel good about this move. My
motivation to take on a fresh
challenge is high; I definitely
needed a change. We both want
to win—that's the ultimate goal.
We want to become world cham
-
pions. We'll see how everything
goes with me coming back from
injury, but we'll take it step by
step and see what the speed is
like once I'm back on the bike.
This opportunity also felt like the
perfect time to change my race
number—new team, new colors,
new number. After the accident,
a lot changed, and now it felt like
the right time to start something
of my own. My family has been
super supportive. It feels like
an exciting, fresh chapter in my
career!"
As far as changing his num
-
ber, he said, via social media,
"From the legendary 72 to the
fresh start of 26. This change
signifies a new beginning to
strive for a legacy of my own.
Leaving behind a powerful lega-
cy to embrace new possibilities
and challenges ahead. The 72
will always remain in my heart!"
Following Everts' departure,
the Red Bull KTM Factory Rac-
ing Team has signed promising
French youngster Marc-Antoine
Rossi. The 18-year-old comes
into the works outfit for his
second attempt at the MX2
series. He has spent much of his
fledgling racing career on KTM
SX machinery as he ascended
through EMX European Champi-
onship competition. He will wear
the number 28.
"I'm happy to be back in or
-
ange and to join this crew," Rossi
said. "I'm already excited for
2025 and will be back on a bike
soon and working with Joel. I'll
give everything I have for what
will be a long year. I hope I can
make the podium at some point
next season."
"He's only 18 but has al
-
ready shown great potential
in EMX125 and EMX250," said
Smets. "He then displayed bright
flashes of speed and strength
this year. Marc-Antoine is still so
young and reminds me a lot of
Tom Vialle [a former KTM MX2
World Champion]."
The full Red Bull KTM Fac
-
tory Racing lineup for 2025 in
both MXGP and MX2 classes
will consist of Jeffrey Herlings
and Lucas Coenen riding the
KTM 450 SX-F and then Andrea
Adamo, Sacha Coenen, Simon
Laengenfelder and Rossi with
the KTM 250 SX-F.
CN
VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P25
(Above) Liam Everts says it's time for
a change and has moved from KTM
to Husqvarna for MX2. He'll also
sport a new racing number. (Above
right) Former Motocross GP World
Champion Joel Smets is the new Red
Bull KTM Factory Motocross Racing
Team Manager.
