Harry Everts celebrates his 70th birthday
Today the four-time world champion turned 70 years old. From the editors we wish him a very happy birthday. We use this opportunity to put his career in the spotlight. Harry Everts wrote a large piece of motocross history and is the basis of three generations of motocross in his own family.
Harry was born in Neeroeteren on February 18, 1952 as the eldest member of a large family. Unfortunately, the wealth to purchase a dirt bike was not there. During his school years, Harry trained as a welder at the vocational school.
From BMB to VBM
Harry was the cousin of motocross legend and legendary sand bunny Jef Teeuwissen. At the age of 15 he managed to register with the BMB, but had to quickly move back to the ranks of the VBM due to an age limit.
He became champion in the 1967cc class there as early as 500. A year later he was finally able to switch to the BMB and promptly won six competitions. After that, things went quickly for the talented Everts. As early as 1970, Joël Robert gave him the opportunity to compete in the 250cc world championship with a Puch. He managed to score his first points during the Polish GP. Ultimately he finished 28thth in his first year at the highest level.
Stefan Everts
On November 25, 1972, Harry and his then wife gave birth to Stefan. It could have been a footnote in history, but it wasn't because Stefan had a lot to offer. He grew up around dirt bikes and, under the heavy hand of his father Harry, became the most successful motocross rider of all time. Stefan Everts is now a living legend who now guides his son Liam in his first steps in the MX2 World Championship.
Harry learned quickly and won his first GPs in 1974. That year, the Soviet Gennady Moiseev won the World Championship after a dubious intervention by the FIM jury to the detriment of Jaroslav Falta. That stain on the existence of the FIM has not yet been erased.
A year later, the Belgian was lord and master in the 250cc class and won his first world title. It was also the first time for the Austrian manufacturer Puch to be on the highest stage. Unfortunately, Puch would never be able to repeat this again. In 1976, Everts had a lot of bad luck and had to watch with sorrow as the Finn Heikki Mikkola took the title. A bright spot was the win that year as a member of Team Belgium in both the Motocross and the Trophy of Nations. During the off-season, Puch was pushed aside for an offer from the Spanish manufacturer Bultaco.
From Bultaco to Suzuki
From Bultaco it went to a factory seat at the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki in 1979. The step to the yellow machine was a great move because he won the world title in the 125cc class. He was supreme and managed to hold off his brandmate Akira Watanabe. Rahier then stranded in third place. To put Everts' performance in the right context: he won nine of the twelve GPs, and eighteen of the twenty-four series to be ridden! As the icing on the cake, later that year he also won the Motocross of Nations with Team Belgium in Tikkurila Vantaa, Finland.
He also won a new world title in 1980, although he now faced stiff competition from the Italian tandem Michele Rinaldi/TGM. He won his third world title by five points. He also won a world title in 1981, when he had to hold off a fast-rising Eric Geboers. In 1982 he finished fourth in the 125cc World Championship and indicated that he wanted to switch to 250cc. However, this was not greeted with celebration in Japan.
Because he wanted to become the first motocross rider ever to become world champion in three classes, he entered the 1983cc World Championship with Suzuki in 500. Those first GPs for the half-litres did not go smoothly. However, the tide turned in Stenungsund, Sweden. He finished second behind home rider Hakan Carlqvist. For example, he finished fourth in the final standings in his first year in the 500cc.
At the end of 1983, Suzuki pulled the plug on its grand prix activities, forcing Everts to look elsewhere. He signed an agreement with Husqvarna. In 1985 he competed in the 250cc World Championship with KTM, but that was not an unqualified success. A lot of bad luck came his way, causing him to end this campaign with only three points. In the twilight of his career he made several trips to other brands such as Honda.
The Dakar Rally then. He broke an ankle and his career as an active top athlete came to an end. Since then, Harry has focused on guiding his son Stefan. This has led to an unprecedented series of GP victories and world titles.
Harry Everts also distinguished himself as a supervisor of young pilots and as such organized training camps in Spain. His latest achievement is the guidance of the Dane Thomas Kjer Olsen. Harry indicated in an earlier interview that he will no longer mentor young people after TKO.
Oldtimercross and Liam's career
Harry Everts has regularly appeared during training and competitions for vintage machines over the past ten years. He himself rode occasionally and showed why he won four world titles and 23 GPs. The motocross rider born with polio commanded respect from his fellow motocross riders. The deformity caused one leg to be shorter than the other. Everts therefore had to anticipate the engine his entire life to minimize the limitation as best as possible. A well-known statement by Joël Robert spoke volumes: “that disabled person is going to give us a good beating one day”.
We know Harry as a candid and characterful person. He always has time for his fans and radiates positivity. We hope to see him a lot more during competitions and wish him good luck with his grandson Liam who will ride his first full campaign in the MX2 class this year. If Liam ever wins a world title, this will be yet another milestone in the Everts dynasty and will in any case be partly due to grandfather Harry.
Tekst: Danny Hermans
Source: Nobility in the Saddle
Photos: archive MXVintage
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