by Eric Johnson
Great Races: Jeff Stanton and the 1991 Motocross des Nations
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 | 9:40 AM
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PrintWith the 2012 Motocross of Nations hosted on a rough sand track in Lommel, Belgium, we are reaching into the Racer X Illustrated Archives for Eric Johnson's story of a very similar 'Nations affair from over 20 years ago. Witness the drama and pressure that are always flowing through this race, and you'll be all pumped up for Lommel this year!
Here's EJ's story from 10 years ago, covering a race that had taken place 10 years before that:
This Sunday in Holland, the FIM World Motocross Championship series will embark on its forty-first consecutive season. The opening round of the 2002 tour of Europe will take place at the fabled Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard. Based in the sandy north of the Netherlands, the Eurocircuit—beginning with a 125cc World Championship round in 1974 won by Sylvain Geboers on a Suzuki—has staged exactly seventeen Grand Prix events. However, to most Americans who keep an eye on motocross history, Valkenswaard is best remembered as the site of the 1991 Motocross des Nations, in particular for the performance of one U.S. rider on its sinister, cocoa-brown sand. It was there that Team USA—Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw, and Mike Kiedrowski—in a full-on cliffhanger, won a race for the ages.
In 1981, a young American team consisting of Johnny O'Mara, Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, and Chuck Sun showed up in Lommel, Belgium, for the Trophee des Nations (as it was then called). After a two-year absence, Team USA was once again participating in the Olympics of motocross. As the format then dictated, the American foursome rode their blood-red works Honda 250s to a stunning upset over the heavily favored Belgian team (Andre Vromans, Harry Everts, Eric Geboers, and Marc Velkeneers). To a certain extent, that day marked the emergence of America as a motocross world superpower. For the next nine years, Team USA failed to lose the Motocross des Nations.
Jeff Stanton returned to the 1991 USA MXdN team one year after winning in Sweden.
Thom Veety photo
On Sunday, September 16, 1990 in Vimmerby, Sweden, Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, and Damon Bradshaw dodged a bullet when they won the Motocross des Nations over Team Belgium by a single point. In fact, if not for an epic ride by Jeff Stanton on the whooped-out sand of Vimmerby, it would have been all over with (Stanton, who tangled with a Russian rider at the start of the third and final moto, came from way, way back to place second). Smelling blood and tired of getting their asses kicked for a over a decade, the FIM went looking for another sand circuit to host the 1991 event. Knowing that the Americans were out of their element in the silica, they chose the rough-and-tumble Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard, Holland (for the first time ever) to promote and produce the storied event.
If you drive along the border of northwest Belgium and southern Holland, you'll come across the epicenter of European motocross. For it’s here, smack in the middle of the Low Countries, that the notorious sand circuits of Lommel, Mol, Genk, Oss, and Valkenswaard reside. It is on these tracks that riders such as Stefan Everts, Marnicq Bervoets, and Joel Smets honed their amazing sandcraft. And to drag contemporary motocross into it, Grant Langston and Chad Reed - both now superstars in America - based their Grand Prix headquarters on the outskirts of Lommel, where they rode and trained in the deep sand day after dreary day.
Heading toward the Dutch border, Team USA drove - as fate would have it - right through Lommel. Coming full-circle, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw and Mike Kiedrowski - who were chosen to represent Team USA in Holland - headed toward their destiny of defending America's decade-long win streak.
The sand-loving Dutch and Belgians were at their battle stations and waiting.
"I think the U.S riders are not much faster this year," said recently crowned 125cc World Champion Stefan Everts, whose father, Harry, was on the losing Belgian effort at Lommel in 1981. "They will have to fight very hard for a Motocross des Nations win against Belgium." He was teamed with Marnicq Bervoets - who was rapidly coming into his own as a world class rider - and a revenge-seeking Dirk Geukens.
Kiedrowski at Steel City early in the 1991 season. He was chosen to represent Team USA later that year in Valkenswaard.
Thom Veety photo
The year before in Sweden, Stanton, in his frenzied charge to the front of the field in the high-drama final moto, intentionally "parked" the 500cc rider, sending him and the Belgian team's hopes headfirst into the sand. Nobody in Belgium had forgotten about it. Meanwhile, just across the pit area, Team Holland was poised to send out Gert-Jan van Doorn (500cc), Edwin Evertsen (250cc), and the sensational Pedro Tragter (125cc).
Beneath slate gray skies in Valkenswaard, an epic crowd of over 30,000 fans - many of them Belgian - rolled into the Eurocircuit to see if the men from the Low Countries could finally hand it to the Yanks. As the time to launch the first moto approached, the tension and excitement had reached fever pitch levels.
"The Dutch had a very underrated squad," offered lauded British journalist Jack Burnicle, who covered the event for a host of publications across the globe. "Gerrit Wolsink, the fabled five-time winner of the Carlsbad 500cc USGP, had chosen a young team of Pedro Tragter, Edwin Evertsen on the 250, and the wonderful Ger-Jan van Doorn on the 500. Belgium had a tremendous team with Stefan Everts on a 125, Marnicq Bervoets on the 250, and Dirk Geukens on the 500. Everyone there was just waiting to see what they could do to the Americans."
When the gate thumped into the sand to launch the opening 500cc/125cc moto, it was Marcus Hansson of Sweden out front and pulling away. For six laps, Hansson held the point; Stanton, who had passed a man a lap, then flew by the Swede. From there, the Michigan rider bashed out lap after lap, taking the win some 35 seconds clear of Hansson and Van Doorn. Meanwhile, the 125cc machines, screaming across the sticky, brown sand, scrambled for whatever places they could. When the checkered flag flew, it was Everts with the win (earning a sixth-place on-track position), followed by Tragter, Germany's Pit Beirer and Kiedrowski (who had come from twenty-second place).
Moto two brought out the 250cc and 125cc bikes. On the opening lap it was Finland's Pekka Vehkonen running away from Bradshaw, Alex Puzar (Italy), Peter Johansson (Sweden), and Marnicq Bervoets. Ten minutes into the moto, Bradshaw shoved his way past Vehkonen, as did Bervoets. The battle was on: the tough-talking American against the demure Belgian. Bradshaw held station ahead of the blazingly fast Bervoets, but with three laps remaining, Bervoets - then considered the best sand rider in the world - went by the Tar Heel to take the moto win. In the eighth-liter class, Everts completed a Belgian sweep, taking the measure of Kiedrowski and Tragter.
Damon Bradshaw, also at Steel City in 1991, was the third memeber of Team USA.
Thom Veety photo
The massive crowd got what it had come for: a third-moto showdown for global bragging rights. With one heat remaining, it was Team Belgium in the lead with eight points, Team USA in second with nine points, and Team Holland, third with 13.
Says Burnicle: "By the time the third moto came around, the conditions were terrible. The black Valkenswaard sand was heavy and wet and sticking to everything. The skies were so dark that the venue had this otherworldly feel to it that was so dramatic. The atmosphere was electric as over 30,000 rabid Dutch and Belgian fans awaited the final drama."
Then it was on.
Once again, it was Marcus Hansson with the holeshot. However, three turns in, a large and collective groan went up as Belgian Geukens, the weak link of the Belgian effort, bailed—and somehow managed to take Bervoets with him! It was over for the Belgians. However, all was not well for the American effort either, as Stanton had also crashed. Picking himself up, he frantically kicked the big Honda 500 to life and took off like a wild man.
Bradshaw was tenth. The Dutch crowd went berserk as van Doorn ran in third and Evertsen had gone by Bradshaw. Stanton, back in twentieth, kept blasting through the sand. A few laps later, Evertsen was up to third and van Doorn (who had recovered well from a small miscue) was fourth and leading the 500cc Class. The Dutch now held the lead of the 1991 Motocross des Nations!
As the race boiled down to the halfway mark, the skies darkened and rain began to fall. Back in ninth and 30 seconds adrift of van Doorn, Stanton kept coming.
"I fell down on the first lap and my bike was all tweaked, the handlebars bent, and I'm last and I said to myself, 'Oh God, here we go, this is not good!,'” Stanton recalls. “So I just got up and knew I had forty minutes and just started picking guys off. Every time I would pass the mechanics' area I would see all the Americans with droopy faces, but I kept going and next thing I know I'm passing Bradshaw."
Roy Janson, a principal at AMA Pro Racing at the time, was trackside that day as part of the American effort. Says Janson, "Jeff Stanton rode that last moto with the entire weight of the U.S. team, U.S. motocross, and what American motocross stood for upon his shoulders. All through the moto we had written our chances off, but Stanton kept going and going, and at the very, very end, I remember thinking, My God, we're going to win this thing!”
Jeff Staton (at Steel City in 1991) carried the weight of Team USA later in the year at Valkenswaard.
Thom Veety photo
Valkenswaard had become a survival-of-the-fittest affair, and nobody that day was fitter than Stanton. With two laps to go, he appeared through the blinding roost ahead of Soren Motensen (Denmark) and Hansson. On the verge of victory, he set out after 500cc Class leader van Doorn.
"I remember thinking, This bastard's going to win it for them again!" laughed Burnicle. "I remember Gert-Jan van Doorn had the face of a haunted man. He knew Stanton was coming for him and his face had this expression of agony and anguish. He knew Stanton was going to get him." And he did. Halfway around the final lap, Stanton and his growling Honda passed the Dutchman like he was standing still. It was over. Team USA had won the Motocross des Nations, pushing the win streak to eleven. Through Jeff Stanton's heroic effort, Team USA had played in the Dutch and Belgian sand trap and kept a firm grasp on the Peter Chamberlain Trophy.
"I just kept picking it up," said Stanton, who is Justin Barcia's trainer. "I could see the enthusiasm on Bevo Forti's face more than anybody. He and everyone else was screaming and urging me to keep going. Then, with only minutes to go, all the Americans are going ballistic, so at that point, Dan [Betley] had on the board who I had to pass. And sure enough, that's what I did."
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I'll bet 3 or 4 of the Lites kids could have beaten him.... ;)
Great flashback story as always by EJ. Shame he doesn't pen many for this mag anymore. With respect to the current staff, other than DC - no one is on his level.
I think Jason is on EJ's level, but it is indeed rare to see writing of this style and quality.
Wow! That would make a great bed-time story for the little rug rat MXer's. HA! thank God I don't have any!
Jeff was one tough SOB!!! GO USA!!!
Yes know dought had to work at it allot and was one of the greatest GUT was also a BIG PRICK and I remember after races would just disappear like LaRocco ..When the fans wanted to see after the races for autografs these guy just shunned the people that put them up in High regard...........It was a different time.........You cant work like that today or you would have no future in the sport.Relations with the fans and media is what its all about........But hard worker I'll give you that !
Very sore looser !
@ Yamahamonster, show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Stanton wasn't like Rick Johnson, the considered standard of PR excellence of the time, but he knew what he had to do to get the job done.........very Dungey-esque, to make comparisons in reverse.
Interesting that Stanton, riding a 500 in this instance, is Barcia's mentor / coach and Barcia, in this instance, is piloting the MX3 entry (MX3 being the defacto open class).
What this guy has done for Team U.S.A. is among the most outstanding of all-time. Silver Star with Valor for this man!
While some people may look down their noses with contempt for the "parking" incident, let's not forget that this is the way the G.P. game was played back in those days. "When in Rome" was very appropriate for the time and after EIGHT YEARS STRAIGHT (at that time), the euros were well sick and tired of the Americans taking the title home every year.
After what I seen him do with Barcia this year (and many have had success -Baker/Baggett), Stanton earned trainer of the year award IMO. When I heard Barcia after finishing 4th, speak positive, mature, and looking at the whole season I was like damn, maybe he did hurt his head. Took a win or nothing dangerous attitude and turned him into a contender. Finishing fourth with ET, BB, K-Roc, Marvin etc on the starting gate..........trust me Justin, there should be no shame in your game.
@ Carlsbad
First off RJ was very c^cky and he was not a nice guy............Ex. Me and a friend were asking RJ an Johnny O for Autographs they were parked beside each other. RJ and Lunnis just laughed and said beat it punks thought they were wise guys at Mt Morris Pa. 1985 they were parked facing the back of the lot great place for those chumps No one was back at the fence way back there. Jonny O came down and said sure guys and gave us a set of Oakley’s with a half nose guard and said those guys were clowns ignore them actually Johnny O talked about 15 minutes while resting and we talked a myriad of topics..............Jim Felt is a A hole also......... Dave Arnold was real cool with us.......RJ thought that his shit didn’t stink and that year 1985 we saw Johnny after the second moto he gave me his Helmet and gloves and Autographed them and wrote on the Helmet his score 3-2 for 3rd overall he beat RJ the second moto he said that was for us guys and apologized for there conduct which I replied F" them guys actually I flipped off RJ he just looked at us.I thought if this guy comes up I will d^st him…Which he didn’t………….RJ did get second overall beating him with a 1-3 for second but that moment on never cared for the guy “RJ” no dought he was good though but as a person………… Little humility and NO class………Johnny O CLASS ALL THE WAY…………..That day in May Jeff Ward went 1-2 for the overall
WARD 2-1
Johnson 1-3
Omara 3-2 Great race
sorry something happened
Great story...Jeff has the heart and desire of a champion. Always has and always
will have it. He could probably still get top three at the Pro level. This guys work
ethic rivals Bob Hannah's training program. And Jeff still loves to ride and lives mx.
I am blessed to call Jeff a good friend. And with him helping Barcia it will pay off
dividends for Barcia.
Yes a great story, I remember reading about it in Racer-X and cycle News. It is amazing what the best can do if they really try. I think there are several of us that post that know the feeling of giving everything you have! (scuse me wile I tingled) if you have you know what it feels like. You talk to the track, talk to yourself, at the same time you are flying by people and dont even notice how many you have passed. You feel like the track is in slow motion yet your lungs hurt and you dont care, it is called desire and drive! You wanna win!
Great story as usual from EJ, but it would've been better to have some action shots of the actual race, rather than from Steel City.
@ BillC--You anint a tootin Jeff Ward was tough I watched him at Unidilla at the Des Nations was standing right there when Hannah pased Stribos And I got real worried when Wardy had to make 2 trys at screw-u-hill. The funny thing was the only guy I saw smiling while racing was Ricky J. I really think he was having fun!
@ YAMAHAMONSTER, I'm not going to defend RJ but, EVERYONE has off days. My point still stands, RJ's charisma and PR work raised the bar for the whole industry and was a step forward in the coming "media age". I'm not saying he was the world's greatest guy, I'm saying he was the standard others had to compare against.
In my mind, Stanton was like Carmichael in that, he let his performances do the talking. I didn't mind that he wasn't great at selling himself, just get the win buddy, and you'll be aces with me.
Winning and titles aside, it does make a difference to little Johnny and Sally that "whomever" went out of their way to speak to them or give them some swag and that has far reaching effects on their careers but, in the end, the record book doesn't have notations for humanitarian awards..................and Stanton was NEVER going to get that vote from Dirk Guekens or Team Belgium anyway.
@LarryWitmer--- Ya just read my post a bit ago. I dont think Jeff would remember me did talk to him a few times. I remember you. You know what it feels like that I wrote about.
stanton was the man. whenever the track was at its roughest he was the fastest. he didnt give a shit about how big the square edges were he'd just hit em.
Yamamonster You didnt have tits. Rj would have gave you his box van if you had a nice rack. I think RJ was a great pr man. Sorry to hear that story. I think he became a little more humble after his early years and knew where his bread was buttered. He and Lachein were punks in the rise up.
As good as his MXdN performances were on the 500, I always hoped Stanton could've translated that to a title back home. Bayle, Kiedrowski, Larocco, Ward & KX500's were his undoing apparently.
So weird that he (basically) came from 500's rather than working his way up and still couldn't nab that title.
This is a great writeup. If you want to see the 3 videos of the '91 des nations go here http://moto.mpora.com/news/great-races-the-1991-motocross-des-nations-at-valkenswaard.html
YAMADUMPSTER keep your pie hole shut until you can learn to spell. Maybe then someone would take you serious when you bash a LEGEND. I'm sure Stanton was too busy preparing for another Moto knowing if he signed an autograF(autograph) for you, you couldn't read it anyway. Do you Doughbt that?
God I would give anything to see Jeff ride again. He can push a baby stroller and run a faster mile than most riders today can do on their own.
@ rickamatuzio I think you have that backward Douche you cant spell........The racing was overstanton was and still is a cry baby but he can ride............Nothing against him or his credits AT ALL so you learn to read and write...Look in the mirror drag queen !
@ rickamatuzio Next time I see you @ Echo Valley Motocross I will thump your #104 face with my dick
Tell Susan I'm going to f*ck her a new A-Hole also......... punk
i could only imagine what it would of been like to witness that, this article gave me goose bumps
I dought it, but you can have my autograf.
Guys, this is getting too personal. These boards are meant to have fun poking at each other and expressing thoughts. Call me fat, old, slow, ugly or whAtever you want. I deserve it because I poked at your spelling. But don't take it further than that.
I felt compelled to defend Stanton becAuse I am a patriot and the MX des nations is a big thing to me. That's what this story is about.. Jeff hung it out for USA.
You have forced to me stay off the boards..
Happy readings.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AT ECHO VALLEY TONIGHT. I'm going there just for you.
Ok kiddies play nice. LOL So what about this year ? What are the viewing options be they online or TV delayed ? Are the MXDN goning to be crried by allisports.com or a crappy euro internet feed ?
Hey Marageman thanks for the vid. That is what makes these boards worth coming to I do apreciate it.
I would like to READ a race report about what happened at the Vintage MXDN's. All I've seen is videos and they do not work or buffer for ever. How did Team USA not win?
Yes, some of the kiddies got out of control...not nice to read about getting even with someone...shame on you! It's all fun, you guys are here to poke a little fun, read the articles, admire the riders and enjoy the board. Shame on the yamahamonster and mikemasters for such an outright display of "poor me".
and " I want to get even"...Bringing your "dick" into it really isn't fun for the rest of us out here! Really bad visuals! LOL! Let's all enjoy the board and riders like Stanton
I remember waiting in line for a Jeff Stanton autograph at Hangtown one year. It was a long line & when I finally got to the front Jeff never even looked up as he scribbled his signature very quickly & that was that! I remember being pretty pissed off because I usually dont waste my time looking for autographs & I'd never been treated that way by a racer. Most were pretty friendly & at least acknowleged your presence. Later on in life I came to realise that he wasnt hired by Honda to be Mr. nice guy to all his adoring fans. He was hired to win races & championships (which he did with regularity). If he was a P.R. dream come true well that would just be icing on the cake. Some can smile for the camera, some can win races. When you can do both I guess you're more valuable to the company but the bottom line is winning races! Each racer has his own on-air persona. Some rattle off a long list of sponsors. Some actually talk about the race. Some go on & on about anything & everything. They are all different. We usually only see the personality from the podium contenders on TV. Meet 'em i person & it's another story. Miss you K-dub!
@ 21MotoRules Well put ! I never like stanton for the same reasons but great workman like racer........So what was LaRocco's deal ! He was good and on the podium with thirds {3rd} coming from behind but face book was not in play back then..........LOL !
Someone I know was a big Hannah fan. At one race he went up to Bob with a collectors card of Hannah he got some place and figured it was rare. He kept it in pristine condition. When he showed it to Bob he said Bob just took it and wasn't carefiull with it, looked at it quickly and handed it back to him and said something like yeah so what? He said he almost tore it up in front of him! lol
Was an awesome day! I was there and at the start of the 250/500 moto you could not even hear the bikes come off the line becasue of the fans screamimg and the air horns blaring.
rcrc duic....sounds like someone`s jealous..