He doesn’t get much mention in the US but Stefan Everts finally got the credit from the man who rides most like the ten time world champ in the modern era, Jett Lawrence himself!
Asked about the riding style that has the US talking 30 years after Stefan did it, Jett said it was down to the laps at Lommel and some input from Stefan himself during the Suzuki days: “Training at Lommel a lot, you very rarely get time to sit down, the really, really good sand riders, you look at Jeffrey, Jorge Prado right now,” acknowledged Jett. “I mean, and we obviously learnt a bit off of Stefan Everts and Harry Everts a lot, and I think that’s helped us a lot, helped me and my brother with standing a lot more. It’s a lot easier to handle a bike when you are standing that sitting down. Just those days training at Lommel in the winter, standing up and not getting a chance to sit down, it makes your back pretty tired but we have it strong enough to stand a lot more now.
Indeed, Harry Everts has had a hand in coaching current MXGP championship leader Jorge Prado, AMA champs Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence and currently second in MX2, Liam Everts, not a bad record!
Technique is the name of the game when you get coached by an Everts!
On one of his biggest lessons Jett said: “Not rushing anything, Stefan Everts told my family, don’t tick quicker than the clock ticks.”
Jett also ominously said: “I always hated losing as a kid and it’s carried over into the bigger bikes now, it’s even worse when you lose now!”
Jason Weigandt looks at Jett’s journey and gives a nod to the Stefan Everts inspired style;