Everts wins British GP, Nunn thrills home fans.

Once more Great Britain produced a superb Motocross Grand Prix event with a healthy crowd and spectacular track helping to promote some great racing in the MX2 class, while the British fans witnessed a Stefan Everts master class in MX1.

Everts would claim his first double moto victory of the season at the sandy Matchams circuit, the Yamaha star taking the holeshot in the opening race while factory rivals Mickael Pichon, Ben Townley and Joel Smets were all dragged down in a first turn pile-up.

The Belgian went on to score a commanding victory in that moto over KTM countryman Steve Ramon, while Townley battled back to third. The New Zealander then got a better start in race two - tucking in behind Everts and Josh Coppins - but would fall late in the race while in second position.

That handed Coppins the runner-up spot in both the race and the GP, while Everts rode faultlessly to victory. Smets completed the race two top three, but was beaten by Townley to third overall.

Meanwhile, Pichon was only 13th in race one, after no less than three falls, and crossed the line just eighth in race two - costing him further valuable points to Everts.

"Today has been physically really hard, and I hope that next weekend the track will not be so demanding," admitted Everts at the end of his perfect day. "I had a pretty easy race in the first moto, I was riding really relaxed and was pulling away but at the end it was a tough day and I know that I will be tired tomorrow.

"In the first heat I had a really good start, Ben didn't want to give up and he went too fast in the first corner and took down some other riders. In the second moto I had a nice race with Josh in the first metres, I just passed him in the second corner.

"With a good start it was easier for me to control the races, I was able to choose the best lines. I was looking for a double win since a long time, it's a really good thing for the championship but even with a strong lead I must keep on going and avoid any mistake as I did in Teutschenthal where I lost many points," concluded the eight-times world champion.

Everts' team-mate Brian Jorgensen didn't ride today after a heavy qualifying fall.

But while there was no British representative at the sharp end of MX1, the first MX2 race had the crowd on a knife-edge as no less than three Brits held the top four spots early on!

KTM's Carl Nunn claimed the holeshot and got the full support of the numerous crowd while Tom Church, Aussie Andrew McFarlane and Stephen Sword were in hot pursuit.

McFarlane pushed Nunn hard, but couldn't find a way past and would finish just 2secs behind at the flag - Nunn having clinched his first heat win since the French GP in 2000.

Carl then got another holeshot in race two but dreams of an emotional overall victory ended when he fell on lap four and struggled to restart his bike. Team-mate David Philippaerts, third in race one, had already passed him by then but was in turn overtaken by McFarlane and Christophe Pourcel in the closing stages.

McFarlane's win gave him the overall - and the world championship lead after troubles for the usual forntrunners: Cairoli and Guarneri crashed together in the first moto (Cairoli might have a damaged scaphoid); Chiodi crashed in the second heat and didn't scored any points; Mackenzie injured his knee when he crashed in the first race and Melotte crashed at the first start and later injured his damaged wrist on a jump.

"Today everything went really well, the bike settings, the choice of tyres and for the first time in my career I am leading a world championship," said McFarlane. "The track was really difficult, I made two good start and it helped me to get my third GP win of the season.

"In the first race Carl rode really well, it was difficult to catch him as when I came back he pulled away immediately. This first race was difficult with the rain, we had a lot of sand in our goggles and as I didn't want to use my roll-off. I had to keep my distance a little bit.

"I'm leading the championship but the season is really long, there are many races to go and I want to take one race at a time, as everyone know, and we saw it again today, that everything can happen in motocross racing."

Two third places for Philippaerts gave him second overall while 16-year-old Pourcel claimed third. It was the first MX2 podium for them both.