Reigning eight-times world champion Stefan Everts has got his 2005 MX1 title defence off to a promising start after taking a narrow overall victory in front of 20,500 fans at the season-opening Grand Prix of Flanders, at Zolder.
Suzuki’s Kevin Strijbos captured the holeshot in the first heat, but with a twisted ankle the young Belgian hopeful was not able to resist the assaults of Honda’s Mickael Pichon, KTM’s MX2 world champion Ben Townley, home hero Ben De Dycker, Suzuki’s Joel Smets and British Champion Josh Coppins.
Former world champion Pichon took the lead on the second lap, while Everts pushed through the pack after a mid field start. The Belgian reached second, behind the Frenchman, on lap 8 and then pressured Pichon - who was struggling with his front suspension - before making the pass for victory.
Pichon held on for the runner-up spot while Townley capped an impressive MX1 debut by taking the final podium position.
Race two saw another former world champion, Suzuki’s Joel Smets - fifth in race one - claim the holeshot. The Belgian, who missed much of last season through injury, then rode a near faultless race to claim victory ahead of Pichon, Everts and surprising Spaniard Jonathan Barragan.
When the points had been tallied it was Everts who carried away the overall, Steafn having claimed 45-points – just one more than Pichon – with Smets third overall on 41.
"My second race was not as good as the first one. I had a bad start and couldn’t make things happen as I had in the first moto," said the Yamaha star. "When I was in fourth I didn’t have good lines and had a bad rhythm, but then I changed my lines and came back to third.
"When I came over the finish line I didn’t know that I won the GP, I thought that Mickael (Pichon) had caught Joel (Smets); I just realised before the podium ceremony, when Mickael told me that he didn’t win the moto," added Everts.
