MxLarge Story
Stefan Everts interview - Liam and Red Bull KTM Factory team
Interview Tuesday 02nd March 2010 By Geoff Meyer
Maybe how he battled multiple World Motocross Champions John Van Den Berk, Trampas Parker, Greg Albertyn, Donny Schmit, Sebastien Tortelli, Joel Smets, Mickael Pichon and Steve Ramon and often won.
Let’s not though, let’s just ask Stefan how home life is, and what he’s been up to. We even asked about his son Liam, who was born back in 2005 just hours prior to his father winning yet another Grand Prix of Belgium at the famous Namur circuit.
It never gets boring talking to royalty and once again Everts has something to say.
MXlarge: I was talking with Sylvain Geboers a couple of months ago and he mentioned that Liam will be the next big legend. Do you see something in Liam as a little rider?
Everts: I see many good things in Liam, and all he thinks about is Motocross and racing. He is doing BMX now, he is also doing this tennis camp, learning to play tennis, but he is bored with that and he wants to stop, but I told him, listen you started this and you have to finish it. The BMX is having winter stop and they start up again next month.
MXlarge: How interested is he in the sport at the moment?
Everts: His interest in Motocross is very intense, he knows all the riders, all the numbers, and he knows the bikes. He has a big collection of goggles and number plates. He hasn't been riding much lately, but when he rides it is competition, he always wants to be first, even on the BMX. In practice he wants to be the first, he goes twice a week and they teach them all he needs to know about BMX. It is good for him, for his technique. I mean McGrath was a bmxer, also Paulin and many more. Physically it is hard pushing and pedaling.
MXlarge; If he decided to race of course the pressure would be huge and the interest also. Having been through that yourself as the son of Harry Everts you must be busy with how to deal with that?
Everts: I do, I think about it a lot, if he should do his first race there will be attention, we have to be careful with that, he is just a kid and he needs to enjoy his riding, there should not be too much around him. It might be hard, but I want him to have his freedom and fun.
MXlarge: I get the idea that your father was tough on you and your mother really sweet when you were a kid.
Everts: It was like that, from one side it was treated this way, and the other way soft. I needed that, my father was very hard on me, and sometimes it was really hard to deal with that, and I would talk to my mother about it and she would make me realize what he was trying to do, to teach me, so I needed that.
MXlarge: Did the sweetness maybe not prepare you for pressure?
Everts: Maybe, but I don't think so, for me it was too many things happening so quickly and so fast, I couldn't deal with it.
MXlarge: Changing the subject, can you tell me how Rui (Goncalves) is doing, when will he be back?
Everts: When will he be okay, I think for sure Portugal or Spain, but riding earlier and then the question will he be good enough for Valkenswaard. Things are going good with the shoulder, he is already getting movement and slowly making it a bit strong and then he can do some training on the home trainer, but for sure he will miss the first two GP’s.
MXlarge: Did you see what happened with Shaun (Simpson) and Jeffrey (Herlings) crashed in Valence?
Everts: Yes, I saw what happened, they came over the first hill and Jeffrey moved his line from right to left and he should have stayed in his line, he said he didn’t do it on purpose, he is just a kid and it was a very dangerous move, he could have hurt both of them.
MXlarge: What is the preparation for your riders leading into the first GP in Bulgaria?
Everts: Marvin is going the first three French races and Shaun will be at two of them and Jeffrey also two of them. The last one before Bulgaria all three will be at the race. Jeffrey will also ride the Dutch Championship and Shaun will do Hawkstone Park.























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