Interview: Liam Everts – EMX125 domination at opening round

The opening round of the EMX125 series took place at the weekend and all eyes were on Liam Everts as he’s one of the main contenders for the title. There was a lot of pressure on Liam but he took it all in his stride and simply dominated the first round of the series.

Everts hurt his leg a few weeks ago but it didn’t stop him and the technique he has is amazing – you really can tell he’s an Everts, he’s a joy to watch.

We caught up with him to discuss the first round of the EMX125 series and more.

Gatedrop: Liam, it was domination out there with you going 1-1 and making it look easy. Did you expect to dominate like you did and you must be happy with how your weekend went?

Everts: Yeah, the weekend before I hurt myself at Lommel a little bit on the leg. I didn’t know where I’d finish, I just give it my all. In the first moto, I didn’t have the best start but then I came out in the turn second and I was good, I cruised to the win. I had a little crash with a lapper at the end but it didn’t cause too much trouble, I just rode my own race and kept the focus. In the second race, I had a really good start and I had a few laps in the lead but then Brumann came around me. He was riding really good, I just let him go for a few laps and regrouped a little. I was able to see where he was a little faster and I made a few changes. There was a little jump where I saw I could double, I did that and then I regained the lead. I had a few seconds over him and then won comfortably in the end.

Gatedrop: You are under quite a lot of pressure this weekend, everyone is saying Everts for the title! You seem to be able to do a great job of putting the pressure to one side and getting things down out there.. It’s easier said than done though.

Everts: (laughs) Yeah, of course. When your out on the track you have to do it yourself and people stressing about me, I don’t really care too much. I just want to work and do my job. I really enjoyed it today.

Gatedrop: Hawkstone was wet, the first moto this weekend at Matterley Basin was wet, it must have been nice to win the dry second moto to show you can do it in the dry as well?

Everts: Yeah, I mean Hawkstone was sandy and wet, this one was sticky and wet, it was difficult. I just tried to do the best that I can and I think it worked out. We are going to keep on working and improving.

Gatedrop: How was the track today compared to yesterday? It looked great out there today considering all the rain we’ve had.

Everts: For us, the first one was really wet and slippery. The second race was great, the track was in pretty much perfect condition.

Gatedrop: Was it fun out there and was the track difficult – it looked really technical?

Everts: Yeah I liked that the women could go out first so there were ruts and also from the MX2 and MXGP warm up. It was good and a few lines were you could make some passes and some places I could make a difference.

Pic: Nigel McKinstry

Gatedrop: Last year was your rookie year and this is your second year in the EMX125 class. Over winter was there anything specifically you worked on in order to improve?

Everts: No, I just kept working and trusted my process. I’m just going to do the same, there are a few things I know that I can still improve but I’ll do that in the week and bring it to Valkenswaard.

Gatedrop: What did Stefan say to you after the races? I know you went on 1-1 but knowing the winner he is, he’ll have noticed the things you can improve..

Everts: I think he was a bit speechless after the second race, I don’t think he expected this, neither did I but I did the best I could.

Gatedrop: I know you’ve been riding the 250cc quite a lot as well. How has it been adjusting to both the bikes and what bike would you say you feel more comfortable on would you say?

Everts: I like both, you know it’s racing and at Valkenswaard I’ll be racing the EMX250. We will see how it goes there and if it goes good we might go to Italy and maybe Germany as well. We will see how it goes.

Gatedrop: Is the goal just to qualify at Valkenswaard, what’s your mindset going into the EMX250 class there?

Everts: Yeah, I mean I think it needs to be possible to qualify there. I just want to go out there, have fun and show what I can do on a dirtbike, that’s it.

Interview: Andy McKinstry

Pics: Nigel McKinstry