Op Sunday, July 29, 2012 The 7th edition of the 'Everts & Friends Charity Race', a unique motocross event for charity, will take place on the Horensbergdam circuit in Genk. That day will Stefan Everts, ten-time motocross world champion and currently working as Race Director at KTM, will compete one last time with his (former) colleagues from the MX1 and MX2 class. watch here photos from last year and here you see the photos from 2010
In addition to Stefan Everts, Genk is looking forward to: World Cup leaders Antonio Cairoli (TBC) and Jeffrey Herlings, Evgeny Bobryshev, Ken De Dycker, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Jonathan Barragan, Joël Roelants, Tanel Leok, Rui Goncalves, Johan Boonen, Manuel Priem, Eddy Seel, Danny Theybers, Jordi Tixier, Yentl Martens, Kevin Fors, Nick Triest en Benoit Pauwels, the famous disabled 'motocross rider with only one arm'. And to Steve Ramon, which are for 'Everts & Friends' comeback makes and starts at the 'GP Stars'. Also on the agenda and a premiere for our country: three-time Dakar winner Marc Coma.
Stefan Everts has already received confirmation from two-time Beloften world champion for the 'Cyclo MX Race', in which a top motocross rider and cyclo-cross rider form a team Lars van der Haar, Bart Wellens, Rob Peeters, Sven Vanthourenhout, Ben Berden, Geert Wellens, Marc Janssens, Jan Verstraeten, Vincent Baestaens, Arnaud Jouffroy, Arne Daelmans,… Sven Nys, who only qualified for the Olympic Games in London, does not get on the bike himself but comes to cheer on his fellow cyclo-cross riders anyway.
Eye-catchers in the 'Golden Heroes' category include: Marnicq Bervoets, Jean-Jacques Bruno, Werner Dewit, Dirk Geukens, Dave King, Jo Martens, Graham Noyce, Ronny Renders, Guy Van Gijsegem, Marc Velkeneers, Jacky Martens, Jan Blancquaert,…
A unique and unmissable opportunity to see all these top players at work again, in a truly exceptional competition programme. There are races for that afternoon 'Mini's' (50cc and 65cc), 'Future stars' (85cc), 'GP Stars' (MX1/MX2/WMX), 'Fun Bikes' (mopeds) and 'Golden Heroes' (vintage cars). Plus the unique motocross-cyclocross relay series, in which a top rider from motocross and cyclocross is alternately sent onto the circuit.
At the 'Fun Bikes', with one this year separate trophy for the most creative participant, we'll have to wait and see which one BVs (eg Tom 'Tomtesterom' Waes) from sports and showbiz will take the start. Also Liam Evert, now seven years old and a skilled BMX rider, will be present in Genk on board his dirt bike. Together with a number of friends, he will complete a few practice laps on a mini course that will be mapped out on and along the starting zone.
But there will also be plenty to do off the course. The riders' quarters and team trucks are arranged very clearly and there is a covered area expo with (famous) classic dirt bikes, children's entertainment (bouncy castle, obstacle course, trampolines, make-up, clowns, mini-quads, etc.) and afterwards a real supporters party in the big party tent. There will also be an autograph session with the famous athletes during the break.
The exciting starting tune is once again by Praga Kahn and Sonic Angel figurehead Maurice Angels. For the final winner in the 'Future Stars' category there is the Stefan Everts challenge trophy, a stone-carved replication of the last air-cooled engine block, complete with kick starter and spark plug head, that 'The Legend' drove.
André Vromans, Harry Everts en Marc Velkeneers – who were part of the Belgian team for the Motocross of Nations in Lommel in 1981 – climb back on their motorcycle in their original shirt and ride a lap of honor on the Horensbergdam accompanied by a brass band, just like René Baeten junior, Joel Robert en Sylvain Geboers. Stefan Everts himself joins in on board the 125cc Suzuki with which he became world champion for the first time in 1991.
As with previous editions, the proceeds from the 'Everts & Friends Charity Race' will go entirely to charities selected by Stefan Everts that mainly focus on children and young people: 'A Heart for Limburg' (King Baudouin Foundation), Ter Heide (counselling center for persons with severe or multiple intellectual disabilities), MediClowns (hospital clowns), Medical Pedagogical Center De Dageraad (students with a moderate to severe mental disability), Bed net (which connects long-term and chronically ill children to their own school and classroom via the internet), The market (open campus youth welfare) and Foundation Kriibskrank Kanner (a Luxembourgish-Belgian children's cancer fund). A large number of these children and young people will also be present in Genk. They are received in a separate VIP room and enjoy the attention of animators and hospital clowns.
To bring in extra money exclusive 'Everts & Friends' t-shirts and caps sold (via, among others, www.evertsandfriends.be and at the most important BMB competitions). A new work of art by Arlette Meeuws will also be auctioned for charities: 'Fly like an Eagle'. Finally, the 'Everts & Friends Charity Race' will be held on a new, redesigned course (compared to previous editions) and the organizing club, AMC Genk, will provide extra parking space for spectators.