Liam Everts delivered a strong performance at round 10 of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship in Portugal, finishing fourth overall and missing the podium by just one point. The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing rider flew the team’s colours solo at Águeda whilst teammate Kay de Wolf continued his recovery from an ankle injury sustained in Italy.
With the championship reaching its halfway marker, Everts posted consistent 5-3 moto finishes to claim fourth overall on 36 points, marking back-to-back fourth-place GP results for the Belgian as momentum builds in the second half of the season.
The iconic Crossódromo Internacional de Águeda presented a different challenge compared to recent years. Instead of the typical rain and mud, riders faced hot temperatures, a dry red-clay surface and deepening ruts that demanded precision and consistency throughout the weekend.
Everts showed strong form in Saturday’s qualifying race, which was interrupted by a red flag. After the restart, the Belgian ran with the leading group to secure fourth place and an important gate pick for Sunday’s motos.
Sunday’s opening MX2 moto saw Everts fight forward after a steady start. Finding his rhythm as the race unfolded, he climbed to fifth and closed to within a second of fourth at the chequered flag after a determined late charge.
A stronger start in race two immediately placed Everts in podium contention. Running fourth for much of the moto, he maintained impressive pace on the demanding circuit before making a decisive move into third with just two laps remaining. Despite a late scare whilst negotiating a lapped rider at the finish line, the Belgian held firm to secure third at the flag.
“Overall it was a solid weekend and I feel like we’re continuing to make progress,” said Everts. “We were close to the podium and only missed it by one point, which is frustrating, but there are still plenty of positives to take away. The pace was there, especially in the second moto, and I’m happy to come away with another good result for the team. Now the focus is on carrying this momentum into South Africa next weekend.”
Guillem Farres dominated the MX2 class with a 1-1 scorecard for Triumph, whilst Sacha Coenen extended his championship lead with third overall despite Everts closing the gap to 80 points in the standings.
De Wolf remained absent in Portugal as he continued his rehabilitation alongside the team and medical staff, working towards a return to racing.
Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing now heads to Johannesburg for the MXGP of South Africa on 5 July, with round 11 marking the third Grand Prix in as many weekends as the championship enters its second half.
Photo: Husqvarna Media
