Heading into this weekends MXGP of Portugal, we just have to take you back a couple of years, to one of the dirtiest races in MXGP history. No surprise the name Everts had a victory, because as good as Liam Everts is in the mud, we all remember his dad at Foxhill in 1998 and the MXoN, probably the most legendary mud victory of all time.

With temperatures in Europe soaring to around 40 degrees at the moment, we might get a different Agueda, but back in 2024 and also in 2025, we got a lot of mud and that always makes for fun viewing.

Portugal 2024 - Mud In Your Eye

The MXGP of Portugal in 2024 saw the most challenging weather of the 2024 season yet, even more than it did for Saturday’s RAM Qualifying Races. The distinctive red dirt of the Crossodromo Internacional de Agueda continued to take a battering from the weather, and it put a chaotic spin on the established order of the series so far!

MXGP saw a monumental battle between the two five-time World Champions, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing man Jeffrey Herlings, and the pair shared the two race wins. However, the jubilant overall victor was Pauls Jonass, who took second in both races to top the podium for Standing Construct Honda MXGP!

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrated a stunning win for Liam Everts in a mud masterclass that begun from the first drop of the gate, and apart from a few yards of race two the Belgian led the racing throughout the day as he completed his first maximum point haul for his fifth Grand Prix win. He has now climbed the standings up to an amazing third place after missing the opening round of the season!

Pauls Jonass: “This year, our main goal was to be consistent, enjoy my riding, enjoy racing. We work very hard in the winter time with the team and we improved a lot from last year and it’s paying off as, you can see the results! Now, it’s staying consistent! I really enjoyed the mud today. I hve to give amassive shout out to all the team, the sponsors and the supporters, my wife at home and I look forward to go home!

Romain Febvre: “I wouldn’t say that I stayed out of trouble this weekend but you know it was really tough condition, tough to ride for everybody. I took two good starts and in race 1 I was behind Tim (Gajser) and battled with him but with one lap to go, I passed the finish line and crashed, full of mud …crashed again before the finish line and lost the second place there. Then in the second race I hope Tim is okay after the start as he slid in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him entirely but in the end, I got third so I’m a bit disappointed as I feel I could have made it but overall picture it is very good for the championship.“

The conditions caused some serious problems for the MX2 pack and their hard-working smaller engines, but for Liam Everts it was just another day of Trials bike training as he spent most of the race up on the footpegs and picking his way through the morass in a stunning display of controlled riding. 

Liam Everts: “It’s a real dream comes true to get a double race win, and maximum points with the RAM Qualifying also. It’s something really special. It’s an inconi venue again where my dad won many times. It’s cool, you know, I’m stoked and I couldn’t do that alone. Thanks to my family, the group around me and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing”

Rick Elzinga: “It is amazing and I’m very happy to get my first podium. I feel great right now! These conditions were tough but I grew up riding in the forest in conditions sometimes similar to trial so I feel that is a skill that helped today for sure!

Thibault Benistant: “To be on the podium for the second time in a row is a great achievement. Mainly as I still don’t feel entirely free n the bike. IT’s positive to see that I can still get good results and important as the season is long and consistency is vital but I really hope I can ride exactly as I want very soon.”