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 Pit
Beirer's (KTM/Germany) awful crash shows that one can sustain terrible
injuries. Did you register the accident during the race (ann. ed. GP
of Bulgaria)?
At first I saw Pit lying on the floor and I saw that it was bad,
very bad. During the race I already thought he might be paralysed but
at the time I had to continue with the race. It was a bad accident and
in the fourteen years I've been competing in the World Championship
it's been the first time that it happened to a good friend. Things like
this happen to normal people every day and it also happens often in
amateur Motocross-racing, but it was the first time something like this
happened to someone close to me. In the first two weeks I thought about
it a lot and my thoughts were with Pit every moment - something like
this can happen to me as well. I guess the first week wasn't easy for
any of the riders.
What's ultimately the big secret to becoming World Champion?
You have to train faithfully.... when you've got a dream the more you
fight for it the bigger the chance to make it real. But you have to
train hard and you've got to listen to what others have got to say to
you. You also have to be able to learn from your competitors and refrain
from believing you know everything best - because you learn most from
your competitors. You've also got to take the time to collect experiences
instead of just plunging ahead.
The right moment and a little luck so people register and support you
is what you need - after all Motocross isn't exactly cheap. Always be
careful and take no unnecessary risks - keep your mind on the business.
What's going to change for you coming season?
Next year it's going to be two runs per class. I'm not going to change
everything now but continue as in the last couple of years. In the last
three years I've always trained two runs and that's how it will continue.
I'm just trying to win as much money as possible and to find good sponsors
- and also to repay the fans. I have a lot of fans all over Europe and
that's a beautiful thing to be aware of. My Belgian fan-club comes to
all my races. I have a lot of respect for the people who come to see
us.
Next year there's going to be different organiser in the World Championship.
What are you hoping for? Will there be any major changes?
I hope things will change for the better. The people are simply not
satisfied. It costs a lot of money to come to the races. It's not enough
to take care of the racing - the hole thing needs to be made more interesting
for the fans so they don't only come for the day but for the entire
weekend. Hopefully things get better with Longo - not only because of
the two runs...anyway I'm fairly optimistic. He was able to observe
the whole thing for two years - from the outside - and thus see things
that aren't obvious when you're in the middle of it. I think that's
what's positive about his return.
 There
are a couple of new young riders that managed it into the top ten this
year. Who do you think will belong to your toughest rivals next year?
Ben Townley is the biggest talent in the 125-class. De Reuver has seen
better times, but I think he's getting there. Townley had a lot of injuries
this year, but immediately on his return he's always got this speed.
All he's missing is experience. Not only does he have to be fast - he's
also got to keep up a continuous development.
Besides that there is Kevin Strijbos in the MXGP-class. It's his first
season and it's still difficult for him - he is as yet on the same level
as many other competitors, but next year he'll be step ahead - it just
takes time.
There's another Highlight coming up in the fall - The MX of nations
in Zolder/Belgium
The fact that the Americans are there makes it most interesting for
the press and the fans. But the new system - the thing with the final
run - that I don't like. To be honest I think it's sh*t. It should be
like it's been in the past - three short races that allow you to develop
a strategy. That makes it interesting. Now with one race - that's not
good.
Do you think the Europeans have a home-advantage in Zolder?
I don't think so. It's a completely new track that is always built anew.
Only about 40% of the track already exists - the other 60% needs to
be built. We will see....
Your assessment?
I think I stand a good chance of winning. It's in Belgium, the first
time in Zolder. The Americans on the other hand have a strong team so
perhaps it's a little early to comment.
You don't take part in Supercross races anymore. How come?
The grandprix-season is too long. Added to that I also take part in
the Belgium championship and I have to keep up the training. I only
have a trainings-break of one and a half months in the year. If I took
part in the Supercross I wouldn't get break at all. Once a year I need
to get away from motorbikes and races in order to return completely
refreshed. Apart from that it is difficult finding a good Supercross-track
in Europe - and thus I told myself "no".
In Supercross the risk of injury is also higher isn't it?
That's true. In the past few years I always injured myself riding the
Supercross ...every year. So I told myself "no", for that
money I'm not doing this.
The Olympics are close at hand and that's something every athlete
wants to be a part of. Can you imagine Motocross ever becoming an Olympic
discipline?
No I can't imagine that. Motorsports and the Olympics - they don't match.
I don't believe that's ever going to happen. It's the same as with politics
in Belgium - they don't do a thing for motorsports. They couldn't care
less about Motocross. For 20 years it's always been us who give something
and never do we get anything in return from those in power. It's always:
This circuit has to go... that must be cut... in ten or twenty years
everything will be gone -there won't be any races in Belgium anymore
should things keep going on like that. I think that's sh*t! Look at
tennis: Clijsters and Henin - with them all the politicians can't wait
to be there and pose for photographs... and for them everything is possible!
And it definitely has nothing to do with popularity - I'm just as popular
in Belgium as Kim Clijsters is! I guess a good 90% of the People in
Belgium know who I am and who Joel Smets is. It's a pity - especially
for the children. Everybody's always saying that children should be
doing more sports so as to keep them off the streets and to prevent
them from coming into contact with drugs...and then there we are - Joel
and myself and whatnot - shining examples ... and nothing comes of it.
Belgium is amongst the best in Motocross - and what happens? Are you
aware of the fact that the minimum age for taking part in a Motocross-race
is 15 years? That's far to high - and that in Belgium! I aim to do my
best in the future to change that, so the children can drive. A Kid
from the street at twenty - really into doing Motocross - has already
got the worst time behind him.
You are also racing Supermoto?
Not that often. Every year I only take part a couple of races. But it's
a lot of fun and I needn't train too hard for it.
Might it be an alternative for you after your career?
Yes, perhaps... just for fun. I don't really know - it's still too early
to tell. Perhaps I'll quit completely when the time comes. Every year
when I spend some time training on the Supermotard and take part in
the races I tell myself: Oh this is good...! Perhaps later on, when
I've stopped riding in Motocross... perhaps then riding the Supermotard
will be an option. But every time I get back to the Motocross - and
that's so far removed the Supermotard - I tell myself it's too much
at the moment. Perhaps, perhaps not....
 Naturally
we read your motoX-Column (Germany's No1 Motocross Magazine) regularly
- very exciting: You wrote there that your family-planning has to wait
for another year. Are you thinking about having children?
(Laughs...) Yes surely. I'm 30 years old now and I do have the feeling
that I'd like to be a father sometime - but when exactly I don't know...perhaps
in one or two years. In the past three or four years I've always had
many children around me. There are many amongst friends and family that
are having children at the moment and that obviously tells me something.
There are always plenty of children at the races as well who come around
for autographs and photographs and I enjoy that a lot.
Different topic: Do you think doping is an issue in Motocross or
is that subject of minor importance within motorsports?
I think that's comparable to the idea of motorsports and the Olympics:
One has to be good at riding a motorcycle, one needs a good feel for
the circuit and one needs to be in good physical condition - but that
is not as important as it is - for instance - in running a marathon.
Of course I'm not saying there isn't any doping - I'm sure there are
some that do. Especially now it's easy to play around with the haematocrit
(HCT) value and that hardly registers in doping-controls. I myself have
blood-tests done every five or six weeks in order to judge how fit I
am. In Holland I was tested for doping and of course everything was
in order.
What is the major difference inbetween Motocross-riders and other
competitive athletes?
I think there isn't really any: A lot of people believe that all there
is to it is going full throttle and that's it. Often people come up
to me and say "you've simply got to step on it!" - but that's
just not the way it is. I have a strict exercise-regimen every day.
The trainer and other things such as massage and medicinal tests are
very important. I do my best to keep things as professional as possible
- and over the years we've managed to improve things in various areas.
As I think I mentioned before, we do tests at the "school of sport"
in Brussels to measure our physical condition and it is better that
that of the Belgium soccer-players. We are among the best-trained athletes
in Belgium! The people there were most impressed with the condition
shown by Motocross-riders.
 That
surely must also have an influence on your nutritional habits...
I believe there are three factors that are of major importance: Training,
eating and sleeping - and they need to be well balanced. One shouldn't
ever go to McDonalds - there's no power in that food. Plenty of vegetables,
Chicken, fish and some other meat... that indeed is important.
In the winter, how do you structure your preparation for the coming
season?
In October I cease fitness-training during the week - there are usually
another few races, but then I take a break of six weeks. At the end
of November I begin again, starting with some running and bike-riding.
In December then I add a little power-exercise. Toward the end of January
I start riding again - building up slowly. And then there are the first
races in February. At the end of March the Grandprix-season begins -
and so it goes....
But of course November to February are important months. I train a lot
during that time and of course I can't simply say "I'll take a
week's break over the new year or during Christmas" - I've got
to keep training continuously.
What does your fitness-regimen look like?
A lot of running, intervaltraining... in Monaco there are a lot of hills
to be taken on the bicycle - it's always uphill and of course that's
better than even ground. I also swim a lot, usually on the Mondays after
a race. And I spend a little time on the Exercise-bike.
Here's a little game of questions and answers: I'll give you a motley
collection of names - tell us what spontaneously occurs to you when
you hear them:
| What STEFAN EVERTS thinks about... |
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Harry EVERTS
Father. Idol. The model I looked up to when I was young - and
a tough teacher. It was a tough time working with my father at
the beginning of my career, there was a lot of fighting (smiles)
but I gained a lot by it for the career that followed.
|
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Ricky CARMICHAEL
A great guy that I've always had a good relationship with. We
saw each other at the beginning of the year. It's always been
great! I'm looking forward to seeing him again in October and
competing with him in a race.
|
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Mike METZGER
Also a great guy! I met him last year and he came over to me to
say hi and so on ...what he does in freestyle is amazing! The
Backflip! But personally I don't know him that well....
|
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Brian JORGENSEN
Another great guy! I think he has a lot of talent - but he's had
a lot of injuries. He's got to find a balance in his career -
then he's bound get on.
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Bernd ECKENBACH
It's like this (grins): There have been good times and bad time
during my career. Once the two of us had a great battle in Roggenburg
in Switzerland. I rode him off the track there - but apart from
that we're good friends. Sometimes that happens during a race
and afterwards one has to be able to say OK, that's in the past
now.
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Jan ULLRICH
Always in second place - no? (laughs) I think he had a chance
this year...Lance Armstrong wasn't as strong as in past years
- but it wasn't quite enough. A lot of ups and downs in his career
- it comparable to Vandenbroucke (ann. ed. Frank Vandenbroucke;
Belgian professional cyclist) - he's also done plenty and then
had a comeback and another comeback and another comeback...It's
the same with Jan Ullrich. I think he's capable of winning the
tour once more.
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Robbie WILLIAMS
One of the best entertainers. I saw a concert of his a couple
of weeks ago in Belgium. Yes a superb entertainer, great music
- I've got all of his CDs!
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Arnold SCHWARZENEGGER
I suppose his movie-career is at an end (grins!). What he's doing
now - governor of California - is a good step for him...
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Evel KNIEVEL
It's a miracle he's still alive...(laughs).
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OK. Thanks a lot and good luck tomorrow.
Thanks a lot!
Links:
Yamaha Racing: www.yamaha-racing.com
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Mr.
875 - An Interview with Stefan Everts
There
was that incident in Valkenswaard with Pichon. How is your relationship
now?
How
has the sport of Motocross changed over the years and has the pressure
on the riders increased?