The Everts family are the royal family of motocross. 14 world titles, the current GP win record of 101 and now a third generation on a factory team and on the podium at the elite level. It truly is a remarkable lineage and an unparalled acheivement that may never be repeated in the sport.
Stefan Everts is the king of MXGP and for many the best motocross rider ever, but maybe Harry is the King of the family. He won four world titles himself despite suffering polio that withered his leg. He taught Stefan how to ride in the most technically profeccient way of any rider in history, the basics of which are still being implemented at the elie level via Prado, the Lawrence brothers and, of course, Liam. And guess what? Harry was involved in all of their careers at one point!
Stefan Everts we know had issues at the beginning of his career to cope with the pressure and the demands of a four time world champion father, but eventually it all clicked and he went on to become the most succesfful rider in the world championship. And his legacy is serving as a motivator for the fa stest man on the plant today, Jeffrey Herlings, to try and have his own eternal place in the sport by br 1eaking Stefan’s GP win record, but those 10 world titles still seem to a summit that only Everts can climb.
Stefan Everts we know had issues at the beginning of his career to cope with the pressure and the demands of a four time world champion father, but eventually it all clicked and he went on to become the most succesfful rider in the world championship. And his legacy is serving as a motivator for the fa stest man on the plant today, Jeffrey Herlings, to try and have his own eternal place in the sport by br eaking Stefan’s GP win record, but those 10 world titles still seem to a summit that only Everts can climb.
Now there is Liam, if it was pressure having a four time world championship father, think how it is for Liam having arguable the best rider ever as a father, and a granda as a four-time champ! He now has Cairoli, a nine time champ, also as a team managar in his first year as a factorty rider. That’s pressure.
Liam’s biggest achievment isn’t the podium in isolation it’s the contect of being able to handle the pressure of the expectation due to the name on the back of his shirt, not just externally but within himself. He has something to live up to that no-one else in the world can relate too. Now he has a factory bike and world champions all around him, when you add in Jeffrey Herlings and Joel Smets it is 33 world titles effectively under his tent. A lot of knowledge on a team that has been a winning machine while being the third generation of the most successful family in the sport. That’s a lot ot take in as an 18 year old, process and then do your best to forget about, but it has to always be in the back of your mind.
The aggressive joy Liam showed when Cairoli informed he had made the box (he was one pass away from winning the GP too) showed just how much it meant to him and it must be a big relief too. Whatever happens from here, Liam has proven himself as another world class Everts. A podium at GP level is huge and he has added to the family legacy. It may of course get better from here with GP wins and even a world title but hopefully the pressure to live up to the name has eased slightly and Liam can race now knowing he has already played his part in a phenomenal family legacy.
Well done to all connected in the Everts family, this acheivement and Liam’s ablility to deliver under that pressure of history should not be underestimated.
Words: Jonathan McCready
Image: Everts IG – Tom Henderikx/Ray Archer