MDon't worry about Liam Everts' World Cup preparation. In Lierop, no one was able to put his pimple tire against Everts'.
Kay Karssemakers paid the price for his early effort and was dropped by Liam Everts. On the third lap, Kay also had to let Scott Smulders go. Mathis Valin, who had started poorly, seemed to be throwing a wrench in the works. Heitink and Karssemakers, who had started ahead of the Frenchman, were the ones to go. Then Valin himself made a mistake. Mats Fredsoe moved into third place, but both Karssemakers and Heitink recovered, dropping Fredsoe to fifth. Smulders, who had made progress for the rider over the winter, lost significant ground to the unassailable Everts, but held on to a firm grip on second place. Douwe Van Mechgelen (12) and Ian Ampoorter (18) were the best Belgians.
Scott Smulders wouldn't shine in the second heat, crashing early. The festival-going Everts started halfway from the start, launching the Nestaan Husqvarna a full length ahead of the rest. The heat and overall victory were over. Fredsoe and Heitink seemed to be aiming for silver and bronze in the heat. They didn't anticipate a strong Gyan Doensen. Halfway through the race, Heitink took second place from Fredsoe. And a chasing Doensen dropped Fredsoe to fourth place four laps from the checkered flag. Valin, who chased the top four throughout the heat, finished the second heat in thirteenth place, with Ampoorter finishing 28th. The fallen Smulders finished fourteenth in the final heat.
Final score (unofficial): 1. Everts 50, 2. Heitink 42; 3. Karssemakers 35; 4. Fredsoe 34; 5. Valin 31.
