Just one week after his first loss of the 2006 MX1 season, Stefan Everts will get a second chance to clinch his 100th GP victory at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands held in the deep sand of Lierop.
Everts, who will retire at the end of this season with a record ten world titles to his credit, was finally beaten during 'unlucky' round thirteen - at Desertmartin in Northern Ireland - by CAS Honda's Josh Coppins.
The victory topped an impressive return from injury for the 29-year-old New Zealander, who finished runner-up to Everts last year but saw his 2006 title hopes end before the first race of the year after suffering a shoulder injury.
However Coppins, who will take Stefan's vacant seat at Yamaha next season, has finished on the podium at all six rounds since his return and - having only narrowly lost out to Everts in race one at Desertmartin - more than deserved to return to the top of the podium in race two and overall.
The Coppins/Everts battle looks set to continue this weekend - and the pair are certain to 'disrupt' the fight for second in the championship, currently being disputed by Suzuki team-mates Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon (40 points behind) and CAS Honda's Ken de Dycker (a further 9 points back).
In the MX2 championship, Desertmartin winner Tyla Rattray - currently fourth in the championship after a tough mid-season - will be aiming to keep his factory KTM on top for the second week in succession, but is likely to face stiff opposition from local team-mate, and sand specialist, Marc de Reuver.
While the 2006 title is currently out of reach, both can overcome team-mate David Philippaerts, who raced while ill last weekend, for third in the championship providing they close the 25 (Rattray) and 54 (de Reuver) point deficit.
At the top of the championship table, reigning champion Antonio Cairoli has two rounds in which to close a 28 point gap on Christophe Pourcel if he is to successfully defend his crown.
