S
tefan Everts is just a point away
from his 10th World Motocross
Championship. The greatest
Grand Prix rider of all time
went 1-1 for his 98th GP win at
a steamy Grand Prix of Czech Republic
and inched toward his 10th title. With his
main rival Kevin Strijbos picking up 6-2
scores in the 11th round of the World
MX1 Championship, Everts now looks
s u r e t o w i n t h e t i t l e a t t h e f a m o u s
Citadel circuit in Namur, Belgium. It will
be the first time Everts has won the
championship in his homeland - a fitting
tribute to the rider known as the King.
Everts showed what a brilliant rider he
is with his first moto victory. With CAS
Honda rider Josh Coppins on his tail for
most of the race, Everts just rode his own
pace, kept his lines smooth and looked
incredible. He was in his zone, and in the
end, showed that he was simply untouch-
able. The same can be said about
Coppins; he also rode brilliantly, just as he
has done so many times in his career. He
never gave up and showed the fighting
courage he is known for.
Everts, though, has more on his mind
than just a Grand Prix victory. The Citadel
in Namur is the place all GP riders want to
produce something special. For Everts, it
will be his chance to not only win the
championship and the GP, but also leave
the Citadel undefeated. Everts has won
every race he entered in Namur, including
his first ever 500cc GP, his 50th GP victo-
ry, a Motocross of Nations overall. He also
won on Namur the same weekend his son
Liam was born; it's just a place he loves.
"I am thinking about the title for sure,"
Everts said. "It's been a long way to this.
It's a chance of a lifetime to win next
week, and to become World Champion
at the Citadel. It's a dream I have had all
my life, and I'll work hard and see you all
next week in Namur."
Coppins showed yet another of his
consistent rides, pushing Everts in the first
moto, but never really having a shot at the
overall victory. The CAS Honda rider
gated poorly in the second moto and
fought his way through the field.
"In the first race I had a nice battle with
Stefan," Coppins said. "I made a little mis-
take with four laps to go and lost time on
him. I had a chance to win but I made a
mistake in the new section and ran wide
and went off my line. In the second race
we tried a different tire. I went for a hard
tire and it worked well around the track,
Loket, Czech Republic
Grand Prix of Czech Republic
Round 11
July 30, 2006
AUGUST 9, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S
34
FIM World MX1/MX2 Motocross Championship
Everts one point away
from his 10th World title.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER
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