Stefan Everts just keeps on winning. This time the nine-time World Motocross Champion dominated the Italian Grand Prix in front of 26,000 fans at Montevarchi, yesterday, going 1-1 for the win. With the double moto win, the 33-year-old extended his haul of consecutive victories to eleven. His career win total now stands at a phenomenal 94 and he has eight remaining rounds from which to reach a magical 100.
“I don’t get bored with winning because every race is a hard job,” Everts said. “Kevin did well today to put some pressure on me, especially in the second moto. He is keeping me focused lately and I have to keep pushing to stay in front. It was a good close race for the crowd. It is not coming that easily for me. Every weekend is a new challenge, there are still many races to go and I want to stay in good shape.”
Everts claimed his second pole position of the season and his second inside one week on Saturday with a lap time over a second quicker than nearest pursuer Suzuki’s Kevin Strijbos. The result of the timed practice ran straight into the first moto where the World Champion enjoyed the holeshot and promptly set his own pace ahead of the Suzuki representative. Despite running close together, Everts was again faultless and stretched his run of consecutive moto victories to ten.
In the MX2 class, Factory Red Bull KTM rider David Philippaerts won his first Grand Prix of the season after a confident and convincing display at Montevarchi. Philippaerts was on fire at his home event and wowed the crowd with two close races against Yamaha’s Antonio Cairoli. He was able to pass teammate Rattray in the first outing and defended the lead from a late attack by his Yamaha rival on the last laps for his second moto victory of the season. After lunch, Philippaerts produced an amazing start to be leading by some four seconds on the second lap but he seemed to have chucked a potential ‘double’ out of the window when he crashed one circulation later.
“It has been a perfect day,” Philippaerts said. “Yesterday I was fast but I felt quicker today and the track was better for me. The bike was really working well. It was a shame about the crash in the second race because I made a lot of work for myself. I lost control before the jump and had to recover the bike and get going again quickly if I didn’t want to lose the GP. There were so many people cheering for me and I am happy to have given them some nice races and a win.”
