Scorching Shanghai: de Wolf fights, Everts holds firm to claim crucial points

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing tackled uncharted territory at round nineteen of the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship, as the series landed at the all-new Shanghai International Off-Road Circuit. Returning to China for the third time, and also since 2024’s typhoon-shortened one-day race. This year’s Grand Prix delivered a full weekend of action, with fireworks, fans, and a striking facility built in just five months. What followed was a punishing test of heat, humidity on the 1680-metre hard-pack track.

Kay de Wolf arrived in Shanghai still firmly in the title hunt, trimming points from championship leader Simon Längenfelder during Saturday’s qualifying race. On Sunday, the Dutchman put himself straight into contention. In the opening moto, a great start slotted him into the top three, and by lap two he was up to P2. He then delivered a consistent, controlled ride - matching winner Sacha Coenen for much of the moto, but unable to close down the gap. A strong mid-race pace window, capped by a 1:53.9 lap, underlined his speed, and he crossed the line just under eight seconds adrift for second.

Race two proved more complicated. Launching into the top five, de Wolf was in the mix until a small mistake through sector two dropped him time. He recovered quickly and stabilised in fourth, holding station to the flag despite the soaring temperatures. A 2-4 scorecard placed him fourth overall on the day, keeping his championship challenge alive, though Längenfelder’s results stretched the gap to 16 points heading into next weekend’s decider in Australia.

Liam Everts also delivered across both motos in Shanghai. The Belgian showed early aggression in race one, holding fifth until mid-distance before slipping back to sixth on lap twelve, where he stayed to the flag. His fastest lap of 1:55.9 underlined his pace, but the intense conditions saw a late fade as track temperatures exceeded 34 degrees. In race two, Everts started inside the top eight and built steadily, climbing into seventh by lap thirteen with a precise pass on Rick Elzinga. From there, he held firm to secure another solid haul of points. His 6-7 finishes gave him sixth overall and crucially lifted him to sixth in the championship standings.

With just one round remaining, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing head south to Australia for the grand finale of the 2025 season. De Wolf sits second in the standings on 869 points, 16 behind leader Längenfelder, while Everts has climbed to sixth overall with 606. 

With just sixteen points between de Wolf and Längenfelder, everything is still to play for in Australia: de Wolf must deliver two winning rides and hope his rival finishes outside the top five, setting the stage for a thrilling MX2 title showdown that celebrates the strength of both riders and the spectacle of the sport.

#1 - Kay de Wolf: “The first race was good. I felt comfortable behind Sacha and just rode my own lines. In the second moto I made a mistake in sector two that cost me some time, and after that the front guys just pulled away a little. The heat and humidity made it tough, but fourth overall keeps us in the fight. Now we go to Australia and everything is still open - I’ll give it everything.”

#72 - Liam Everts: “It was a tough weekend, but I think I managed the conditions okay. In the first race I had good speed at the start but dropped off a bit at the end. The second race was better, more consistent - I stayed calm, made a pass for seventh, and held it to the finish. Sixth overall and moving up in the championship is good, and now I want to finish strong in Australia.”

Results  -  2025 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Nineteen:

MX2  -  Overall:
1. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 45pts; 2. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 43pts; 3. Simon Längenfelder (KTM) 42pts; 4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 40pts; 6. Liam Everts (Husqvarna) 29pts; 

MX2  -  Moto One:
1. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 35:01.661; 2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:09.526; 3. Simon Längenfelder (KTM) 35:16.964; 4. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 35:36.616; 6. Liam Everts (Husqvarna) 35:50.862; 

MX2  -  Moto Two:
1. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 33:59.017; 2. Simon Längenfelder (KTM) 34:02.311; 3. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 34:23.339; 4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:28.776; 7. Liam Everts (Husqvarna) 34:57.806;

MX2  -  Standings:
1. Simon Längenfelder (KTM) 884pts; 2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 868pts; 3. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 817pts; 4. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 756pts; 6. Liam Everts (Husqvarna) 606pts; 44. Marc-Antoine Rossi (KTM) 6pts;