Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing returned to action at round 10 of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship with Liam Everts flying the team's colours solo at the MXGP of Portugal. With the championship reaching its halfway marker, two determined rides from Everts earned a fourth place overall, leaving the Belgian just one point shy of the Grand Prix podium.

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"Overall it was a solid weekend and I feel like we're continuing to make progress. We were close to the podium and only missed it by one point, which is frustrating, but there are still plenty of positives to take away. The pace was there, especially in the second moto, and I'm happy to come away with another good result for the team. Now the focus is on carrying this momentum into South Africa next weekend."

The iconic Crossódromo Internacional de Águeda offered a different challenge to recent years. Instead of rain and mud, riders faced hot temperatures, a dry red-clay surface and deepening ruts that demanded precision and consistency throughout the weekend.

Saturday's MX2 Qualifying Race was interrupted by a red flag, but Everts responded superbly after the restart. Running with the leading group throughout, the Belgian secured fourth place and an important gate pick for Sunday's races.

Sunday’s opening MX2 moto saw Everts fight his way forward after a steady start. Finding his rhythm as the race unfolded, he climbed to fifth and closed to within a second of fourth at the chequered flag after a determined late charge.

A stronger start in race two immediately placed Everts in podium contention. Running fourth for much of the moto, he maintained impressive pace on the demanding circuit before making a decisive move into third with just two laps remaining. Despite a late scare while negotiating a lapped rider at the finish line, the Belgian held firm to secure P3 at the chequered flag.

Everts' 5-3 scorecard earned fourth overall on 36 points, leaving him just a single point shy of the overall podium while adding another valuable championship haul as the MX2 title fight entered its second half. The result also marked back-to-back fourth-overall finishes for Everts, underlining the momentum he has built over recent rounds.

At the previous round in Italy, Everts secured fourth overall at the historic Miravalle circuit in Montevarchi, narrowly missing the podium after two impressive rides on Sunday.

"It was a strong weekend overall, even if we just missed the podium. In the first race I had to work my way forward, but once I got into fourth I felt like my pace was good and I could close on the guys ahead. Race two was tricky with the rain and the track changing so much, but I felt smooth and managed to make the pass for third near the end. Fourth overall is solid, but of course I wanted that podium. We’ll keep pushing."

Making its first appearance on the MXGP calendar in 20 years, the Tuscan venue delivered a demanding test with its rocky hard-pack surface, technical elevation changes and ever-changing conditions throughout the weekend.

Everts showed encouraging speed from the outset and carried that form into race day. In the opening moto, the Belgian worked his way forward from outside the top five and steadily closed on the podium battle. A determined charge in the closing stages saw him finish fourth, just two seconds shy of third position at the flag.

Heavy rain ahead of race two transformed the circuit and created a completely different challenge. Everts adapted quickly, running inside the top four throughout before making a decisive late pass on Mathis Valin to secure third place. His 4-3 scorecard earned fourth overall and 38 valuable championship points.