Rinaldi-Yamaha rider Stefan Everts clinched his second victory of the 2006 pre-season motocross period last weekend with a comprehensive display at the Pernes Les Fontaines International meeting in France.
Under sunny skies and good racing conditions, the nine-time world champion and factory Yamaha star claimed both MX1 motos onboard his 2006 spec YZ450FM, defeating a number of his world championship peers including Honda’s Josh Coppins, KTM’s Mickael Pichon and Sebastien Tortelli, and Suzuki’s Steve Ramon.
The 33-year-old has won the MX1 World Championship for the last two seasons and will be pushing for a 10th career title in his final Grand Prix campaign this term.
Everts hole-shotted the first race and kept a healthy distance over Coppins. The Belgian was forced to hold off Pichon in the second moto and also overtook Coppins who had started very quickly. A battle raged until the flag, with Everts able to defeat the 2005 MX1 runner-up by less than three seconds at the finish.
After his triumph at Mantova in Italy two weeks ago Everts will now try for a ‘hatrick’ by traveling to Hawkstone Park in England for another star-studded meeting. The first Grand Prix of Fifteen in the 2006 FIM World Championship is now a month away and is scheduled to take place at Zolder in Belgium on April 1 to 2.
|
