Liam Everts delivered a superb 4-4 scorecard to help Team Belgium reclaim the Chamberlain Trophy at the 79th edition of the Motocross of Nations at Ernée, ending a 13-year wait for glory in the legendary team event. Belgium’s winning total of 23 points secured the nation’s 16th MXoN victory, drawing level with Great Britain for second on the all-time winners list.
Fresh from finishing fourth in the 2026 MX2 World Championship, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing rider stepped up to the Open class for the event, joining Lucas Coenen and Sacha Coenen in a young Belgian line-up led by team manager Joël Roelants.
Everts immediately established himself among the front-runners on Saturday, finishing second to newly crowned MXGP World Champion Jeffrey Herlings in the Open qualifying race to help Belgium secure third gate pick for Sunday’s main event.
The 22-year-old carried that pace into race day. In the MX2/Open race, Everts fought at the sharp end throughout and crossed the line fourth, just 0.376 seconds behind Open rival Pauls Jonass. With Belgium firmly in contention for the Chamberlain Trophy, the pressure intensified in the final MXGP/Open race.
Everts again ran at the front against some of the fastest 450 riders in the world, holding third deep into the moto before Romain Febvre moved ahead. Fourth at the flag proved crucial, with teammate Lucas Coenen immediately behind in fifth. Together with Sacha Coenen’s contribution earlier in the day, the result gave Belgium a winning total of 23 points—three clear of Spain.
The consistent 4-4 scorecard also earned Everts second place in the Open classification.
The victory carries particular significance for the Everts family. Exactly 50 years after grandfather Harry Everts claimed his first Motocross of Nations victory with Belgium in 1976, Liam now joins both Harry and his father Stefan as a Nations winner. Harry won the event twice (1976 and 1979), whilst Stefan was part of five Belgian victories between 1995 and 2004.
“It’s unreal. I had no idea where we were on points, so I was just trying to keep pushing because I knew it was going to be really close,” said Everts. “We had a mega day and I couldn’t have done it without Lucas and Sacha. To win this with Belgium after 13 years is something else, and with the history my dad and grandad have with this event, it makes it even more special.”
The result brings Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s 2026 international motocross campaign to a memorable close, with Everts adding a Motocross of Nations title to a season that also included fourth in the MX2 World Championship, seven Grand Prix podiums and three individual moto victories.
Photo: Husqvarna Media
