Yamaha wins all races in MX-des-Nations

MX1 World Champion Stefan Everts and vice-World Champion Antonio Cairoli gave Yamaha a 100% score in the MX-des-Nations event.

MX1 World Champion Stefan Everts ended his career by guiding Team Belgium to second place today at Matterley Basin in Great Britain for the 60th Motocross of Nations. The 33 year old finished the year in typical fashion by winning both of his races ahead of USA’s Ryan Villopoto and James Stewart in front of a record-breaking 85,000 people (weekend figure).

The track was rougher with larger jumps, and the problems with dust as seen in the British Grand Prix in June were lessened by heavy rain on Friday and again Sunday morning. A fantastic cosmopolitan crowd filled the Matterley site and created an exciting atmosphere but also verged on the point of overwhelming the venue due to the unprecedented numbers.

Stefan Everts powered into the lead of the first moto contested between the MX1 and MX2 classes. The Belgian was on the precipice of an interesting duel with James Stewart until the American crashed and the World Champ was free to run his own race with a lead of almost ten seconds. In his second outing (MX1 and MX Open) Everts engaged in an exciting tussle with David Philippaerts and James Stewart but once again found the right lines and rhythm to escape from his most direct rival and give World Championship motocross a memorable double over its AMA counterparts.

Despite the ten times Champion’s speed and results Belgium finished seven points behind the USA. Everts continued his remarkable record of being on the podium of every Nations event in which he has participated (all fourteen) but could not add a sixth victory to the last time he walked the top step with his two countrymen in 2004.

De Carli Yamaha rider Antonio Cairoli was absolutely sensational in the second moto between MX2 and the MX Open categories. The Italian had crashed and had a tough race earlier in the day but his fights with Ben Townley and Ryan Villopoto in Moto2 was the action highlight of the event and the flamboyance of the 2006 MX2 vice-champion on the YZ250F was a joy to behold. Cairoli’s victory ensured a clean sweep of the three races for Yamaha and Team Italy missed the podium by just one point.

Stefan Everts    After six seasons and six consecutive World titles – all with Yamaha - Stefan Everts now signs off an eighteen year, ten Championships and 101 Grand Prix winning career. He announced on Saturday that he will move into the position of race director with another manufacturer.

Stefan Everts, Team Belgium, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team: “It was a pretty easy day. It was a great pity that Ricky didn’t ride because I believe he would have pushed for the individual win. Anyway it has been a great race for me. I am very happy to end this way. As a team we were a bit unlucky with Kevin’s bike problem and our chances might have been better if that had not happened; that’s racing. I am always very motivated for this race. I think that was one of the biggest crowds at a motocross event I have seen. It is incredible and for sure I am going to miss this event.”

Antonio Cairoli, Team Italy, Team Yamaha De Carli: “I felt really good with the bike and physically I am in good shape. In the first heat I got an unbelievable start and was second; this was excellent because we had all the MX1 bikes with us. After two corners Mackenzie had a bit too much adrenaline I think and hit my back wheel so I crashed. I came from last I think and finished tenth. I was quite satisfied but it wasn’t good for the team. I found it hard to make up ground with the MX1 bikes there also. I was high again, fifth, in the second moto. I waited five or six laps to see the lines of Villopoto and Townley. I was close to Villopoto when he made a mistake and ran off the track. I saw that Tedesco was not so fast and I could control the gap at the front. I really like this track and the fans were incredible when they were cheering me going to the lead.”

Michele Rinaldi, Team Manager, Yamaha Intur Sports Motocross Team: It's unfortunate that after an unbelievable successful 6 years the Yamaha - Everts relation has to come to an end. Yamaha has made a very good offer to Stefan to continue the relationship, which Stefan also admitted. But Yamaha was not prepared to make a similar position offer as KTM due to being differently organized and judging certain things differently. At the same time we are disappointed about the timing and the way the news was presented as we had agreed before with Stefan to lift it over the weekend.

It doesn’t change the fact that we are very proud that Yamaha, Stefan and the team together wrote a unique chapter in the Motocross World Championship history. And it will not affect our preparation nor determination to continue our successes in 2007