by Chase Stallo
450 Words: MXoN Preview
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This weekend riders and teams representing thirty-five countries will embark on the small town of St. Jean D'Angely, in southwest France for the 2011 running of the Motocross of Nations. Often referred to as the “Olympics of Motocross,” the event first took place in 1947 with Great Britain taking home the Chamberlain Trophy at the inaugural event. Sixty-four years later countries ranging from as far west as the United States, to as far east as Japan—and everywhere in between—continue to fight not for individualism, but for nationalism.
The United States enters the weekend as overwhelming favorites as it houses arguably two of the fastest riders in the world—Ryan Dungey (2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion) and Ryan Villopoto (2011 AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion)—with MXoN rookie Blake Baggett backing them in the MX2 class. For the first time since 2008 when James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Tim Ferry claimed victory at Donington Park in Great Britain, the United States has a healthy stable of riders. These were first-ballot choices, not replacements due to injury. There was virtually no controversy in naming these three to the team, and there will be no excuses for the U.S. if they fail to bring the Chamberlain Trophy back to the homeland.
Dungey (front) and Villopoto (rear) lead the charge for Team USA this weekend.
Photo: Simon Cudby
But while the U.S. enters the MXoN with arguably its strongest team since that 2008 season, the same cannot be said for a host of countries that have be ravaged by injuries. Favorites such as Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, and even Puerto Rico enter the weekend with names like Desalle (Belgium), Nagl (Germany), Philippaerts (Italy), Frossard (France), and Osborne (Puerto Rico) all sidelined due to injury. Let’s put it this way: there’s a Situation and Snooki is nowhere in sight.
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Albert Einstein
With a rash of injuries hitting a majority of the contenders that were poised to challenge the United States, two riders on opposite ends of the spectrum now find themselves in a position that only a few short weeks ago seemed out of the realm of possibility. France’s Christophe Pourcel and Puerto Rico’s Tommy Weeck—who have taken very different paths to their motocross careers—now find themselves staring down the barrel of a gun loaded with career opportunities.
Pourcel, coming off a season mired in controversy, now finds himself exactly where he wanted to be at the start of 2011—facing off against the Ryans. After a highly successful ’09 and ’10 campaign, Pourcel began the ’11 season holding out for more money, or recovering from a shoulder injury, depending on who you ask. After a brief, turbulent, stint with MotoConcepts Yamaha, Pourcel fled to Europe to compete in the MX1 class for CLS Kawasaki. But the grass wasn’t exactly greener on the other side of the pond. After a disappointing beginning to his second go around on the Grand Prix circuit, something finally seemed to click for Pourcel in Great Britain as he took home his first moto victory in almost a year. Pourcel went on to finish the season with two more moto wins—the Grand Prix of Europe and the Grand Prix of Italy—and suddenly the old Pourcel was back. Now filling in for the injured Steven Frossard for Team France, Poucel once again seems to have all the chips on his side of the table.
Can Pourcel challenge the Ryans in France?
Photo: Ray Archer
On the other end of the spectrum is former amateur sensation Tommy Weeck—filling in for the injured Zach Osborne. After a brilliant amateur career, Weeck has often been on the short end of the stick when it comes contract time. Weeck, when given the chance, has put in some dazzling rides—see Washougal circa 2011. (Remember, Weeck didn’t have the money to make it to many AMA Motocross Championship rounds this summer.) Now he finds himself on the grandest of stages. With the world—and the entire industry—watching, Weeck finally has the chance to prove he is a viable candidate for a factory ride.
So while Pourcel and Weeck will be fighting for nationalism this weekend at St. Jean D'Angely, they will also be fighting for individualism.
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USA USA USA..... man, wish this was live on SPEED HD !!
Went to my first MXoN last year at Thunder Valley and felt like a little kid at Disneyland. It was one of the most exciting race I have ever been to. To bad not live on Speed. Looking forward to going again somtime in my life before I bite the bullet. Go Team USA and good luck to all.
Bagget makes me nervous; He was riding like a freight train earlier this season
And seemed to kinda lose the spark; I hope he can pull it off.
It's going to be a tough class!
I would have put RD riding the MX 3
And RV in the MX 2 Anyways; Do it to em men!
Go USA!
You can watch live on MX-LIFE.TV it cost 25 euros comes out to 34.67 U.S dollars.
Lets see now, no TV coverage so American's cannot get acquainted with the GP stars yet when they come to Glen Helen the industry wonders why only a hand full of people show up. GET REAL
Man for 35 dollars I can purchase 8 gallons of hi test Sunoco for my bike and besides I already know what the outcome will be from the MX race. The industry is pricing themselves out of business fast and soon no factory teams at all followered by no sponsors. Take a clue from Nascar how they are losing costumer base and the economy how it's sinking like the Titanic. GET REAL
Can Pourcel challenge the Ryans in France?...... NO
i think rd should of ridden in mx3 as he seems fitter than rv, who will have to ride back to back in legs 2 & 3 in mx3 where as in mx1 you go in legs 1 & 3....
don't think it will matter much though as if they team ride the event they don't have to win as no other team has three riders good enough with the exception of france.....and they aint quicker they would just have to be lucky.....
there are a few like herlings cairolli etc who have no proppa team mates who can cut loose with no worries plus reed and metty will be good but not sure about moss....
going to keep quiet about uk as might jinx them but top three real possible wilson is good plus searle is going quick on 450 and ando is invinsible lol.....
bill c not sure about poucel but paulin with home crowd mounted on factory yam 450 going to be scary quick and if he stays on everyone is going to have to bring there a game.....check out moto1 from italy last week and he hit cruze control most of the leg....
Pourcel, Paulin and roczen can run with Ryans and Cairolli. Its gonne be interesting to see the battle. Go USA but be careful of France. This is more like USA vs France but we have the best riders but they have home advantage.
@claxton so true @Bill can Pourcel challenge ryans? Were about to find out. It sucks to pay $35 to watch would be cool if I can split up with a buddy but then again its gonna be early morning for us so I guess I am paying it.
Yeah pay up and watch the USA get humiliated. Poucel and Roczen will win everything.
Europe will smoke USA. Sory, but as that overrated bum Sinatra crooned, "That´s life". LOL.
Your sunny boys will be sent home with their tails jammed firmly up their ringpieces. Ha ha ha. It will make a change from what is normally inserted up there. LOL
There's Euromike spouting more trash from his mother's basement in New Jersey again!!!
Team USA has to ride smart as this is a team race. Ciaroli, Roczen, Pourcel and the others have an advantage. They have no competitive team so they can ride 100% to get a win. This might even things out a bit but at the end of the day team USA will be on the top step of the box.
Hmmmmmmm team Europe.... LOL looks like Eurotrashmike has been hitting the bottle again. It must burn you ass that the USA is so strong LOL
I'm not quite sure that we're going to just roll over all these guys, foreign soil, unfamiliar track, and Europeans riding with something to prove. I'll be glad when we get through this in the number one spot, but there is no way that I would say that it's a lock.
anybody know of where to watch des nations for free? I bought the race last year but never recievd the feed???? don't trust my 36 bucks to "who knows" over seas company...
@Gills
Didnt we race there in like possibly 2000 i think with pastrana when he made the crazy pass on roncada. Maybe my memory is off but those hills look familiar and im sure decoster has some info for the guys if thats the case.
I do not think anyone will finsih near the eitherr of the Ryans if they start in front, I also believe that even with a bad start they can run down Pourcel or Rczen who will be the fastest Euro's. That being said, Reed may come out and haul tail as tem Australia is indeed strong.
I dont think Cairoli is going to have anything for the USA- just like Budds Creek when he got his arse handed to him....... going to make him feel bad to be "World Champ"
I am always amazed by what some people have to say when it comes to the Des Nations. As long as all these guys will not race eachother all season you can make no comparison. I see only two teams with three strong riders. Usa and France. The rest can just go for individual succes. I guess we will have to wait and see who will be the smartest and luckiest ( cause at the des nations strange things happen all the time!) Have fun !
Mbmoto, put down the crack pipe dude and then you might actually remember what happened last year. Tony was off team Italy because he and the federation had a disagreement over his clothing, so after winning the WORLD championship for the 4th time against all comers who dared take him on, he started partying, and from what I have heard, when Tony parties he really lets what little hair he has left, down. So after 2 weeks,, and two days before the team fly out, the federation realize they ain´t gonna do jack sh1t, so they say OK Tony, have it your way, and without sitting on a bike for 3 weeks since his last race, he foolishly agrees to ride. He gets smoked. Bad decision, but like he said at the time, it won´t happen again. Tony is out to prove he´s the best around. He´s not, but that´s beside the point, because he´ll still have too much for the two girls, er Ryans, on Sunday.
Man, are you guys gonna eat crow come Sunday nite. LOL.
$35 for the MXON, it's time to share, so far it works...
For info, $125 the 2 days pass, $45 the pit pass, $70 to camp next to the track with shower or $30 half a mile away no shower...last year in Denver for this price I got the rental car also ! I love my country, it's always a challenge to have fun there !!!
Does Pourcel can challenge the Ryans ??? I hope so, and I hope Paulin, Cairoli, Reed, Metcalfe, Rattray, Searle, Herlings will do it too, I put all this money to watch a huge MX fight, not a ballet dancing show !
Does USA Team can be second ? Unfortunately for my country I don't think so...but it can happen !
@Texasthierry.. I have seen your name on another french website dedicated to the sport, (LeBig - forums).. I know.. Bloody expensive those tickets... I will be staying in Nantes, visiting a friend and leave very early to the race.. How's the venue? St Angely seems to be in the middle of nowhere.. Can only deduce the track looks awesome.. http://www.motoclub-angerien.com
@Didierlotsyeng, The track cannot be missed, it is on the side of the highway. I don't know much about St jean, not from there and I went to the track only in 2000 for the Nations ! Have fun !
@Texasthierry .. Ok, tnx man! I guess I will have to leave, very, very early on race day... To avoid the same sh** of traffic, when I went to the 24 hrs of Lemans earlier this year.
" I heard this and that, and my guy sucked last year cause he was partying, but look out this year!" Get real Euromike, Cairoli is gonna get whooped again along with the rest of your guys, then you're gonna disappear for a year and come back with new excuses next year.
HEY!!!!!!!! spot a fresh vid to check out for the mxon....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eKdh-tyZm4
http://www.motocrossinaction.com/motocross/article/Video_-_Team_USA_traenar_i_Frankrike.php
TEAM USA PRACTICE, jackpot...who rules????
Cool video....nice to see all the USA guys buddying up to take care of business across the pond.....Dungey and Villopoto sharing tips on the track can only spell defeat for the rest of the teams.....should be some good racing...wish it was live....it should be ....WTF!!!!
First of all I want to thank ya for the above links! I still have trouble calling it the MXON cause I used to call it the Trophee Dee when it was 2 weekends 250 and open. Only one I went to was at Unadilla in 87 the mudder and I was not dissapointed. Had a great time with a lot of people from other countries and will always remember it! I was lucky that I had brought my orange poncho got to fake being an official in the infield and pits till after halftime. I was helping and they found out I was not real, Oh well. still got to have a good time and wish I could thak some of the people I met on that weekend. Some of the infield workes tried toell the officals that I was helping very well. Oh well ......
Thank's for the tip on the crack pipe Mike.... but we here in America have a happy life and dont need that crap like you most likely do...... in any event love you excuse about the little vampire. He will definitely have somethign to prove- but not a chance in hell to prove he is the best against either Ryan- matter of fact, the only way he will finish within 10 seconds of either Ryan is if they both slow down to celebrate on the last lap and finish side by side crossing the finish line in 1st and 2nd!
Low 60's with a 50% chance of rain on Sunday...might be some moisture motos.