Liam Everts went from nearly not competing in the opening round after just being back on the bike from a broken neck to winning round two with a masterclass in mud riding! Everts has now went 4-1 in his two comeback races and he is a bonafide title contender.
Everts however didn’t win race one, with Zanchi having a tremendous ride to dominate in the mud for his first ever MX2 race win and HRC Honda’s first in a decade – an inspired signing! Zanchi didn’t get the start he needed in race two but Everts did, taking the holeshot and winning by one minute and twenty seconds from Kay de Wolf. Everts was on a different planet in the second moto, at times going 12 seconds a lap quicker than teammate de Wolf with his on the pegs style working perfectly. Liam might just be the best mud rider in the world.
Everts said: “Super happy. Pretty speechless, six months ago I was on the couch not knowing if I would race again. Speechless. You just have to let it flow (in the mud) – I’m thankful my dad taught me those techniques“.
Kay de Wolf played it smart to take second overall and take back the red plate after Sacha Coenen had a disaster in the mud, going down multiple times in race two. De Wolf’s closest competition in the championship is now his teammate Everts, who is just six points back – another Nestaan Husqvarna teammate battle for the title? De Wolf has been here before…
Ferruccio Zanchi rescued a deserved podium after a comeback ride in the second moto to get to tenth, backing up that brilliant first moto win.
Tim Gajser controlled the MXGP class going 1-1 with no real opposition. He passed early race leader, teammate Ruben Fernandez, to take the lead and pull away in race one with race two slightly harder, but only for the opening lap! Gajser got out of turn on in seventh but by the end of lap one he was in the lead, passing his way into second quickly and then taking the lead after holeshot man, Lucus Coenen, went down.
It was a superb day for Fantic who have started the 2025 seaosn with bang. Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff and Bogers made it three Fantics in the top four in race two with both Bonacorsi and Coldenhoff on the podium to make all the mechanics work worthwhile for the Italian brand who have made big steps forward this winter.
But it is Gajser who has taken control of the championship with that 1-1-1 in the mud. With round one winner Renaux 11th in race two after a 10th in race two and Febvre fifth in race two after going seventh in race one, it gave the HRC Honda rider a 20 points lead in the championship. As many predicted, with Herlings out and Prado in the USA, this is Gajser’s championship to lose.
The french duo of Renaux and Febvre will have to turn the tables in front of their home crowd next weekend to take back the momentum Gajser gained in Spain.
Gajser said of his 50th Grand Prix victory: “I am super happy. The conditions were really, really difficult, even Agueda was better last year! I didn’t have a good start, I was in a bit of rush the first lap to get in the lead, then I made a gap and could control the race. Definitely not the easiest day in the office!”
