AUGUST 16, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S
38
Grand Prix of Belgium
Namur, Belgium
Round 12
August 6, 2006
FIM World MX1/MX2 Motocross Championship
W
ith 33,000 screaming Belgian fans and his whole family in attendance, it was a
day to remember at the Citadel in Namur, Belgium. There has been nothing
like it in motocross history; and although it's not yet goodbye for Stefan Evert,
it was like saying farewell to the greatest. Carried on the shoulders of his Rinaldi
Yamaha team, Stefan Everts, with tears streaming down his face, moved into
the record books one more time.
The greatest GP rider of all time took his 10th and final career World
Motocross Championship at one of the most historical and treacherous
motocross circuits in the world. Everts' victory was never in doubt as he came
into the Citadel merely one point away from taking the title. He is undefeated
thus far in the season and Everts also remains undefeated on the Namur track. He
now enters the final stages of a career that has seen him celebrate so many magnificent
occasions. Nothing, though, can compare to this. A massive Belgian public, his son, Liam, and part-
ner, Kelly, watched from the sidelines, as Stefan Everts took his 99th Grand Prix victory with a per-
fect 1-1 score.
"What a great day," Everts said. "I never dared to dream of winning here. It's such a great place
and such a unique circuit and the atmosphere is incredible. The birth of Liam (Everts' son) was the
best day of my life, and nothing can beat that, but for sure, this day is in my top three of my life.
Two laps from the end I started getting emotional, but I told myself not to. I had a lot of time on
Josh (Coppins) so I could slow down a little."
"Both races went good," Everts continued. "At one point it was difficult. The track was so slick
and this is one of the toughest circuits in the world, and for 40 minutes, it was really hard work. I
am happy with my 99th victory here."
"As soon as I arrived at the Citadel, I knew it was going to be my title," Everts said of clinching
his final career championship. "I still want to win my 100th GP and I have three to go, so I have
three chances to win and I have to stay focused. Hopefully, I can give the Americans a big bat-
tle at the des Nations. Last year, that was not possible, so I would like to do my best this year."
Stefan Everts
clinches 10th World Title at his
home GP of Belgium
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER
