Stefan Everts says goodbye to MX with 101 Gran Prix wins

Everts' new bike livery and clothing, a chequered flag design and his clothing with some golden parts. © Yamaha Racing. There was not better scenery than Ernée and no better weather than the sun of today for the final round of the 2006 Motocross season; the lucky ones who witnessed the event were 16.537 spectators who covered the natural theatre of the Raymond Demy Circuit.

The day started with the presentation of Stevan Everts' new bike livery and clothing; the Yamaha YZ450FM was covered with a chequered flag design reporting all 100 GP wins that Everts caught. And his clothing was totally white with some golden parts, highlighting the “Golden Boy” of Motocross racing his last Grand Prix on the French soil.

MX1 last race of 2006 followed the usual trend with Stefan Everts winning both motos. The Belgian wanted to end his career and made the fans remember him as the “winningest” rider of all times.
101 GP wins is the record that Everts will leave in the books and France was the last victory in the Belgian Champion's Grand Prix career.

After Mickael Pichon's crash at the start with the Frenchman breaking his nose, Jonathan Barragan tried to stop Stefan in the first moto but finished second and other youngster Kevin Strijbos was third, by the time he got the place, he was too far from the leading duo.
Tanel Leok put 20 good laps together and was fourth under the chequered flag; there was De Dycker right behind him. The CAS Honda Belgian was ahead of team mate Coppins, who crashed 3 times, and countryman Ramon, seventh.

At the end of the day British Champion Ken de Dycker could not make to snatch third place in the Championship from Ramon and brought the fourth one home, after he finished the second moto in eighth place.
Ramon secured his third place thanks to a sixth place finish in the second moto that was won by Stefan Everts.

Josh Coppins was more than 8 seconds behind the Belgian once he arrived to the chequered flag in second place and Tanel Leok found a good race pace, passing Strijbos in the ninth lap; Tanel brought third place home and was also second on the podium.

Suzuki factory rider Strijbos completed the overall top three and jumped on the third step of the podium thanks to a fourth place finish in the second moto where he was almost 2 seconds ahead of Barragan, fifth.
MX3 World Champion Yves Demaria put an end to his appearance in MX1 with two DNF.

Stefan Everts: "It wasnt such a difficult race. I really wanted to enjoy this day and try to capture a lot of things that I can remember later about the weekend. It has been a great GP and Yamaha and Team Rinaldi have made some really nice surprises. To go into retirement with a victory here at my last Grand Prix is wonderful. Just before the second race I was getting emotional when the 15 second board' went up. I said to myself for the last time I am going to go for it and enjoy it. It has been a great year and an awesome ride. I could not have expected such a record with 14 out of 15 GPs. I think Japan was the best; I have never won a GP so easy. The Yamaha this year is for sure one of the best bikes I have ridden. When I got the new 450 last October I immediately felt that I could step up my level and speed, but I was not expecting to win this many races. Thanks again to the team and to everyone around me who has supported me." (Yamaha Racing)

Carlo Rinaldi, Racing Manager, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team: "Every time it is harder to make some comment about these fantastic races. I have to admit that I had some doubt before today because I saw Stefan mentally tired in Lierop, but I do not know where he found the resolve and the energy to make two very good starts and easy motos. He was pushing just enough to win again twice. It is sad to make a farewell for him but we are very proud of our history and our record over the last six years. This is the best way to say goodbye to him and for him to say goodbye to motocross. The new bike has been working so well and has been excellent for Stefan's riding style. The season has not finished in a good way for Cedric but the injury he sustained at the Belgian Championship meant that he couldn't ride. We still have a good relationship with him and wish him luck for the future." (Yamaha Racing)

MX2 was almost as important as the King's goodbye with Christophe Pourcel and Antonio Cairoli showing they were the ones deserving the Title in 2006.

In the first moto Cairoli lead from the first lap and completed the first mission: winning first moto.
At the end of the first heat his gap from Pourcel was 25 points because Christophe made to finish second; he was third at the beginning of the race but David Philippaerts, who was second ahead of the French, had a crash and handed the place to Christophe.

David was quick to get back on the bike and finished with third place, moving past Rattray in the standings: David and Tyla were fighting for third but the gap between the two was much shorter then the one between first and second.
Fresh British Champion Carl Nunn raced steadily in fourth place with Belgian Patrick Caps arriving fifth.
Tyla Rattray was seventh with his team De Reuver being right behind in eighth.
(Youthstream)

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