Despite Stefan Everts' dominating ride in Lierop yesterday, countryman Joel Smets kept himself in title con💛tention for both the MX GP and 650cc classes.

In the premier MX GP class, Smets benefited from Mickael Pichon's errors to inherit second behind Everts - whilst he later went on🐲 to take yet another 650cc victory.

"Stefan was the fastest today and even if I did get away in second it looke♏d as though it would have been very difficult to catch him," he said honestly. "I could not choose my own lines trying to pass all the other guys and once I was behind Pichon I hoped we might both draw up to Stefan but Mickael was missing his rhythm as well and was making mistakes. After he crashed I could maintain the gap to Stefan for two laps but the🐬n it became too difficult."

Smets now leads the 650 Championship by 26 points over KTM team-mate Javier Garcia-Vico, while🍌 he has also moved ahead of Pichon - and 10 points behind Everts - in the MX GP standings.

"I knew at the beginning of the year it would not be easy to combine both classes but we've had nine GPs and I'm leadinওg one Championship and second in another so I do not have so much to complain about," said Joel. "I'm a winner and I am still focussing on winning the title in the (MX GP) class."