Nestaan Husqvarna factory rider, Liam Everts might have started his career in the shadows of his famous father and grandfather, but the young Belgian is starting to make his own story and his move to Husqvarna might be the perfect place to right a wrong in the Everts family.

In an amazing coincidence, both Stefan and Harry Everts rode for the Husqvarna factory in their careers, and both suffered at the hands of the then, Swedish/Italian brand. Fortunately for young Liam, the Husqvarna team is very much the best MX2 team in the paddock, and nothing like from back in the day, but wouldn’t it be cool to see the youngest of the Everts legacy break that Husqvarna hoodoo.

Back in 1999, Stefan Everts signed a three-year contract with Husqvarna and would compete in the 500cc World Championship. Everts' transfer had been an open secret for some time, but the Rotem native did not want to confirm anything until the contract was signed.

With World championships in 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997, it was said that Honda had decided to not renew the contract of Everts, who had spent the 1999 season out injured, after crashing at a French pre-season race. With Frenchman Frederic Bolley (Honda) as the new World 250cc champion, Everts was amazingly on the outer at Honda and it seemed Husky was his only option.

"I see this as a new step in my career, a very big challenge too," Everts said at the time. "I had to come home after a few short tests because it kept raining. Maybe I'll go back next week. My first impression? A four-stroke is quite an adjustment. That machine is not very handy in corners and is also much heavier. That's what I'm hammering home now: the engine absolutely has to be lighter. But I'm up for it: the people at Husqvarna are working day and night to improve the engine. At the moment it is certainly not the best 500cc machine, but that could still happen. Besides, on my best days I don't even need to have the best engine.”

Unfortunately, the deal with Husqvarna never came to the point of the bike being winnable and Everts spent the 2000 season off injured (again hurting himself at the very same French pre-season race). He never even got to race a GP in 2000. Even when he rode the Husqvarna in internationals, his performances were not impressive, and it was clear the bike wasn’t up to the mark.

Fortunately, Everts could get out of the contract, but it came with turmoil and drama. Many thought the career of the Belgian was over, yet he returned in 2001 and dominated the opposition and as we know, the rest is history, titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

In a crazy twist, four-time World champion, Harry Evert also rode for the Husqvarna factory at the end of his career, from memory, back in 1984 (some 40 years ago), but badly breaking his leg, his season was over before it even began as was Everts career. He failed to race a GP for the Husky factory and never raced at that high level again.

Not that Liam Everts needs anything to motivate himself, but it sure would be nice to hand his family a GP win on the Husqvarna, because that is something his famous father and grandfather couldn't do. A new start to Liam's career, couldn't come with a better victory.

Bavo Swijgers image