Despite Stefan Everts' domin꧃ating ride in Lierop yesterday, countryman Joel Smets kept himself in title contention 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 t🎶ake yet another 650cc victory.

"Stefan was the fastest today and even if I did get away in second it looked 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 bu🔜t 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 then it became too difficult."

Smets now leads the 650 Ch꧅ampionship by 26 points over KTM team-mate Javier Garcia-Vico, while he has also moved ahead of Pichon - and 10 points beh🦋ind Everts - in the MX GP standings.

"I knew at the beginning of the year it would not ꦉbe easy to comꦰbine both classes but we've had nine GPs and I'm leading 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."