Interview by: Geoff Meyer – MXLarge.com – The ten-time World Champion, Stefan Everts, still rips on a dirt bike. Photo by: Ray Archer
Red Bull KTM Factory team manager and the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time Stefan Everts sits down with MXlarge and talks about the age rule in MX2, his soon to be battle with Ricky Carmichael in his Charity race (Everts and Friends) and the future of Jeffrey Herlings in the MX2 class.
Stefan, there seems to be some talk about the teams and Youthstream sitting down and talking about the age rule of MX2. Some MX2 team managers like the rule and some don’t. What is your opinion of the 23 year age rule?
Every rule has its good and bad sides, for some riders it’s a bad one and some riders it’s a good one. Me personally, I think they should give each rider an amount of time to race the MX2 class. I mean Jeffrey has been racing the MX2 class since he was 15, so he could race it for eight years if he wanted, but you also have guys who come into the MX2 class when they are 19 or 20 and they only have a few years left. With Jeffrey after they changed the rule (MX2 champions can only defend once) he is in there for seven or eight years.
Do you think it makes the MXGP class more competitive?
Well, for next year there will be many riders moving up from the MX2 class and that leaves the MX2 class a bit empty, and for sure there will be other guys winning and new guys coming in, but for the riders going to the MXGP class, they need to find a ride and that isn’t going to be easy. The MXGP class is pretty full, with really good riders and I don’t see a spot for everyone moving up from MX2 to MXGP, this is of course the bad side of it, but like I said, every rule has good and bad things.
How long did you race the 125cc/MX2 class in your career?
I only raced three years in the 125cc class, so I was 16 and moved when I was 19. I think also it depends on the results you put it in, if you are winning and up front you will make the step faster to the MXGP class. For riders who take longer to progress and need time to improve they need longer. If you are a rider like Alessio Chiodi, then you would prefer to make your career in that class.
Changing the subject. What do you think you will do for the MX2 class in 2015. Maybe Jordi and Jeffrey will both be gone?
Everything is open at this moment. We still have some time to think about it, but sooner or later we need to make some plans. If Jeffrey goes to MXGP, we need to see. Jordi’s contract is running out, and Jeffrey is still there (another year on his contract). We have time to think about it, and he has a lot on his mind at the moment.
It would be nice to see the Red Bull KTM Factory effort in the MX2 class with some fresh blood, maybe one of these younger riders. What do you think?
It is always interesting to work with a new rider, some new blood in the team, our current boys have been there a couple of years, but our goal is to win the MX2 class as long as possible and if we have to start from zero with two new riders, then it will be hard to do that. We will see, everything is open and we have time to make these plans.
Somebody told me today that KTM are looking at fielding three riders per class again in 2015. True or false?
That’s the first I hear about it. That is a new rumour.
News that Ricky Carmichael will be coming to race at your Charity race on July 21 in Belgium has really made a lot of people pretty excited, but the question is will you and Ricky race against each other again, or will it be more of a show?
For sure we will race, we won’t put on a show, we will go for it.
Ricky has put some weight on in recent years. Is this your big chance to beat him straight up?
He gains some weight, but he is 10 years younger than me, I am have more grey hairs. I didn’t gain much weight, but I heard Ricky is still fast, and can go fast for 10 or 12 laps on the Supercross track. I think for the sport it’s awesome that he is coming. For a great champion like Ricky to be coming to Europe for this race it is very exciting.
You have held this race for some time now, how exciting it is to have RC coming?
It has been a long ambition for me to get Ricky to Europe for my race and the promise I made to myself I have made good. But I was also excited to have names like Brad Lackey, Mickael Pichon, Sebastien Tortelli, so it is always nice to bring riders like this to the event. I also forgot we also had Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen riding in our event last year.
