by Chase Stallo
Insight: MX of Nations Preview, Part 1
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 | 1:40 PM
Since 1990, the driving force for Allsport Dynamic’s products has come from the physically demanding sport of motocross. From the entire Allsport team, comes a true commitment to helping others and a dedication to make the best products possible in both design and function.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintFor one race per year, the story of individuals is not the story. Teams must get consistent results from three riders to win the Motocross of Nations, so if you want to figure out who the favorites are for next weekend's event, you have to find the teams lucky enough to have three capable, healthy riders on board. For example, Italy will boast reigning MX1 World Champion Tony Cairoli, but the team as a whole is expected to struggle. Australia is ravaged by injuries. It's hard to get three riders in top form!
Here's a look at the teams who could contend for the Chamberlain Trophy in Lommel, Belgium. Next week, we'll look at some other teams just hoping to make a splash.
Team USA: Ryan Dungey (MX1), Blake Baggett (MX2), Justin Barcia (MX3)
The Americans enter the 66th running of the Motocross of Nations as favorites to capture an eighth-straight Chamberlain Trophy. Depth is expected to carry the Americans, as all three team members won a title in 2012—Dungey 450 MX, Baggett 250 MX and Barcia SX Lites. While the Barcia spot on MX3 has been open to some debate, most teams are scrambling to find even an adequate third rider. Barcia is much more than adequate. But don’t expect a walk in the park for Team USA. The super-sandy Lommel track will play to the favor of GP riders, and nations such as France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands will by lying in wait, ready to pounce if the Americans shall falter.
Team USA is looking for an eighth-straight Chamberlain Trophy.
Simon Cudby photo
Team France: Gautier Paulin (MX1), Marvin Musquin (MX2), Xavier Boog (MX3)
After a heartbreaking runner-up finish on their home turf a year ago, France once again returns with a team capable of ending the U.S. streak. But the French are carrying some extra baggage with them into Lommel. After a remarkable performance on French soil a year ago—where he won the second MX2 + Open race—Gautier Paulin was an obvious choice for a French squad looking for their first Chamberlain Trophy since 2001. As was two-time MX2 World Champion, and 2012 Unadilla National winner, Marvin Musquin. The choice for the MX3 position is where things get dicey. The original lineup had World Champion and SX Lites Champion Christophe Pourcel on the team. Weeks later Pourcel was replaced with Xavier Boog—a surprising decision in the eyes of most. Things have been quiet in the French camp since, but may have wondered if the bad blood between Pourcel and Paulin played a role. Pourcel’s nursing a crack in his shoulder blade, which he suffered at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, but he still finished second behind Antonio Cairoli just weeks later at the Grand Prix of Europe. The controversial decision to go with Boog over Pourcel could be one that looms large for the French.
Ray Archer photo
Belgium: Clement Desalle (MX1), Jeremy van Horebeek (MX2), Ken de Dycker (MX3)
With the Motocross of Nations returning to Lommel—the stage where an upstart Team USA shocked the motocross landscape in 1981 by upsetting the heavily favored Belgium team of Harry Everts, Eric Geboers and Andre Vromans—the Belgians are looking to exact revenge with a solid team backed by GP superstar Clement Desalle. On paper, the Belgians look much stronger than the team of Kevin Strijbos, Joel Roelants and Marvin van Daele that finished fifth in France. Although Desalle has battled injuries much of the season, he has time to heal up and is still expected to carry the flag for the home team. Backing Desalle will be rising MX2 star Jeremy van Horebeek, who’s currently third in points in the MX2 (GPs) Class, and veteran Ken de Dycker, whose had a strong MX1 season since filling in for the injured Max Nagl on Factory KTM. A boisterous home crowd will prove vital for the Belgians, but will it be enough to push them to the Chamberlain Trophy?
Can Clement Desalle lead the home team to the Chamberlain Trophy?
Ray Archer photo
Netherlands: Marc de Reuver (MX1), Glen Coldenhoff (MX2), Jeffrey Herlings (MX3)
There may not be a rider with more pressure entering the Motocross of Nations than current MX2 World Champion Jeffrey Herlings. The outspoken teen that has been anointed “King of the Sand” after various displays of dominance since turning pro in 2010—including his historic performance at Lierop earlier this month. He has the weight of a nation—if not all of Europe—resting firmly on his shoulders for this event. The hype machine surrounding Herlings began churning since the announcement of Lommel as the host track, and something the phenom has embraced all season. And remember, Herlings wasn't a slouch on a KTM 350 during last year's MXdN, which didn't feature a single grain of sand. Veteran Marc de Reuver was once a dominant sand rider in his own right, but has struggled with injuries in recent years. If the Netherlands wants to hoist the Chamberlain Trophy it will need an invigorated performance from de Reuver, and a young Glenn Coldenhoff will have to prove he can handle the stage. The real focus in this camp is for Herlings to try to win an individual overall.
Can Herlings live up to the hype?
Ray Archer photo
Germany: Max Nagl (MX1), Ken Roczen (MX2), Marcus Schiffer (MX3)
The Germans are a team flying under the radar entering Lommel, but with the return of a healthy Max Nagl, they could be a contender for a podium position. Nagl was sorely missed last year, as his replacement Daniel Siegl proved less than up for the task in France. But Nagl's presence this year could be the turning point for the team. In 2010, the Nagl/Roczen/Schifer unit nearly upset Team USA in Colorado. Ken Roczen has shined bright on the big stage since his brilliant debut in 2010, and will once again be relied heavily upon. The X factor for the German team will be current ADAC MX Masters (German Motocross Championship) MX1 Champion Marcus Schiffer. Schiffer, who took time away from the GPs in 2012 in order to concentrate on the ADAC MX Masters series, performed admirably in France a year ago, and will once again need to put in a solid performance if the Germans want to reach the podium for the first time since their third place finish in 2010.
Ken Roczen is hoping to lead the Germans to another podium finish.
Simon Cudby photo
Great Britain: Tommy Searle (MX1), Jake Nicholls (MX2), Max Anstie (MX3)
Turmoil has plagued the Great Britain team since the ACU abruptly replaced Team Manager Steve Dixon with Neil Prince in April, after Dixon and the ACU reportedly had a difference of opinions regarding Dean Wilson’s return to the team. Wilson’s shoulder injury rendered the point moot, but the damage had already been done. Tommy Searle led GBR to a fourth place finish last year, but is now pressed with having to carry the team in the MX1 Class. Wilson’s presence will definitely be missed, but the British are hoping a young Jake Nicholls will be able to pick up some of the slack. Max Anstie was chosen over Shaun Simpson for the MX3 spot, a pick that was surprising to many, but Anstie proved his value in the sand with a podium finish in the MX2 Class in the sands of Lierop. With the absence of Wilson looming over the team, the Brits may be hard pressed to repeat their surprising performance from a year ago.
Tommy Searle will lead the Great Britain charge.
Ray Archer photo
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
2 days of work, followed by "Thirsty Saturday", paint-balling sunday, 5 more days of work and then it's MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS 2012!!!! GET IN!!! Can't wait to see Dungey, Barcia, Herlings, Cairoli, Desalle, Nagl, Dedyker, Searle, Anstie and Paulin all on the track at the very same time in the MX1/Open class moto. Should be frigging epic.
The US could send any three of its top five or six riders and still win the dez-nayshuns. sand, hardpack, loam, blue-groove, zero-gravity, penguins... it doesn't actually matter too much about the racing surface.
Done deal, world.
The only way to make this fair would be to make it Motocross of Associations. AMA versus FIM. Our team looks omnipotent, and their teams look embarrassing. Maybe we could field a team from each US timezone to make it more fair. Just sayin... This is like the 49ers playing East Sandusky high school. Game over.
Should be good, We won there before so why can't we do it again??
GOOD LUCK USA Kick some A**
Team USA won there in '81 with what was called a 'B' team. This year we won't have our 'A' team due to injuries, but this team is at least an 'A-'
BTW, will there be live timing and scoring available on the 'puter?
this is the olympics of mx - why in the hell is it not on tv in the usa - come on davey make it happen
i will watch on mx-life but it is not the same
There is always the argument of rather or not it is fair for USA to send there best 3 against the best 3 of other smaller countries. The population difference also being part of the argument.
IMO, if countries like Great Britain and a few others can send as many or MORE athletes than the US to the Olympics, as Britain did, it should be a moot point. Yes there are some countries certainly at disadvantage due to size, as are the countries that send 2 athletes to the Olympics. But when you start do deal with large countries with large populations like France, Spain etc. it just doesn't matter.
Climate, Culture and many other factors play as big a role as any and the fact is that the USA puts more, of the best riders on 2 wheels, then anyone else. We all know what a monstrous percentage of our population knows nothing about MX
@Red I don't think anyone with half a brain is making that argument against US.
So puimped for this!
My predictions;
1. Belgium
2. USA
3. Netherlands
Herlings to win both moto's he enters and Caroli to win the other.
I don't think a country's population size is dictates how well they will or won't do at the MXdN. It think it has more to do with the level of competition in any country at any given time and the training/riding techniques that evolve there.
SX, and the aggression it encourages/requires had as much to do with the US rise from chasing the "first American" finish in the 70s to overall wins and then dominating the MX and Trophee des Nations in the 80s and beyond. Having Europe's best coming to the US for the Inter-AM and Trans-AM in the 70's didn't hurt either, because it raised the competitive bar for us. Having Europe's best come to race SX and the US Nationals only helps the US stay sharp.
How else do you account for the riders coming out of France or Belgium being consistently fast despite the size of their home country?
I feel if this was a five race format the USA would win every year. One day event means anything can happen. Thats what makes it so awesome. The underdogs have a chance. God knows we have capitalized in that situation. Hold your breath and pray no dnf's or crashes. Go USA
If it's all about population how come China never win's??
I just hope our riders do not get attacked by Muslim savages while over there...
Team USA should wear "Prophet Muhammad is a child molesting murderer" butt patches.
Although the odds are in our favor, anything can happen. Bagget buckled last year and luckily it didn't end us. Somebody could easily "Townley" one of our guys and that could be that. Best of luck to everyone. Go USA!
billc - now that was funny
New Zealand has one of the highest amount of MX Riders per population and have come 3rd in MXDN with population of only 4 million. We have the talent there's just no money in this country to incorge more people to race competivly but on any given sunday I would say almost 1-3 % of our population is into the sport,be it mostly trail riders but still we're out there on the bikes having fun.
@CR500
The sport has evolved so much in the US in the last 40 yrs. In the 70's and 80's a majority of the top racers were from cali. The northern states had few top racers because the money and only having 8 months a year to ride. What were the odds of someone from Minn. being a multi national champ. Now if your fast it doesn't matter where your from( northern US GB France). Money and being able to race full time and train in the south has made the talent pool so much larger. I feel you make a good point. All I'm adding is the talent follows the money and the money has bred more talent.
bagget need to borrow some of barcias hair hes got the receeding hair line of a 50 yr old, with a last name like metzger, and moms maiden name being harbrecht and the fact that i cant stand dungey got to go with germany, get er done rozen.
Maybe they could use a 100-year-old map and send over a British Empire team. Then the UK could add the best riders from Australia and South Africa. They'd still finish second, at best.
Or use a 1942 map, and Germany could use all the European mainland countries.
Chernobyl HERE WE COME !!! Or was that BACK IN THE U.S.S.R same thing
USA is almost as big as ALL of EUROPE!!!!! It's a numbers game and population makes a big difference!!! I don't care who wins as long as it's a good race!! THe usa should win with it's advantage of size and population and if it doesn't win then no big deal...THe usa competition,(euro) would eat you guys, alive in any race, anywhere!!!
One of the biggest races all year and its not on tv, however I bet you can catch any high school football you want or even worse baseball.
@jimmyc261
Great comment about the stupid, unworthy stick and ball "sports" . *cough, cough*
Team USA definitely has the tools to win. But for sure, there is little room for error. Last year in France the outcome was far from certain until the final checkered flag fell.
If they can avoid disasters like crashes or DNFs, they will be bringing home the title (again).
USA wins EASY. the only threat will be FRANCE. However I have to say JEFF HERLINGS is gonna win atleast one moto if not 2. Herlings is a one man TERMINATor army in the sand and NO one can hang with him not even JS7. If you dont beleive then watch the Nethrlands GP where he lapped everyone .Also won both motos easy in sand. All im saying if theres sand like they say lommel has then this is Herlings playground.
Personally, I don't think it will be a slam dunk. Their tracks are 10 times rougher than ours, thanks to them grooming parts of them after every moto. The roughest track here was Unidilla and look how well Roczen and Musquin did. I just think we have three really good riders, whereas they have only two really good riders and an okay rider. Remember last year, Baggett went down in both motos. I just wish they would stop grooming our tracks and let them get really rough.
European tracks are 10 times rougher because they groom parts every moto and our roughest track is Unadilla... What?!!?
OK, here´s my team
Team Europe
MX1 Toni Cairoli
MX2 Ken Roczen
MX3 Jeffery Herlings
That´s the team the US would be facing in a fair competition. Lets see who wins.
For the US to claim domination they will have to beat this team. OK?
OK, the forum is open so start placing your excuses and objections and petty insults because I´ve finally found a formula that´s fair and you know you can´t beat. Well, I´m waiting LOL.
@Euromike
MX1 Ryan Villopoto
MX2 Eli Tomac
MX3 Ryan Dungey
We would easily win. And I mean TOO EASY.
@euromike........what is life like in that fantasy land you are living in. Reality says that your team cannot happen. Live with the fact that the US has overtaken Europe as the fastest MX racers on this planet.
The truth is hard to take, isn't it???!!!!
Ah, Euromike the pompous douchebag is back in action. All your slandering against the US and how Europe is laughable considering how many times in a row your continent has lost to the US of A.
*how Europe is better is laughable
Euromike
Where did Roczen finish this year ?
At least he didn't hide like Bucky !
JimM
Pala374
we could send team 2 ...Villapoto ,Havoc7 and Tomac ......their not very fast either......when I get to about team 5 or six it would be more fair......
Quote
"American motocross is no joke"
DV12
barcia! herlings is a beast in the sand though.
For the morons in denial who say its purely a numbers game (population) that determines the number of top-caliber riders a country has, just give up. In fact, to simply say "top-caliber" is meaningless in a world sense.. you have to say "top-caliber american" riders, because there is an obvious and undeniable demarcation between what that term means here, and what it means everywhere else in the world.
The MXGP is not much more than a feeder system for the AMA series. "World Champions" come here to take the next step (and often can't approach their GP success over here), and so the MXDN is like pitting the best of the minor league against the best in the majors.
The truth hurts, but only because, as mx'ers, we all have big egos.
As a European former racer and following the sport for decades both in AMA and FIM, I have to say that the US do have a deeper pool of talents and riders, no discussion, and on paper a Team USA One-Two or Three should beat any other country. However in a race anything can happen, and to say that GP riders are slow is underestimation.
I just say JMB, Look what he did in 1991 ..SX, 250cc, 500cc titles all in one year, and Chad Reed is no slouch...so instead of arguing...Enjoy the races and try to look for a "new rider" that can make your heart beat faster.
And I do hope Barcia leaves his old "dirty" riding style at home and act as a good sportsman...no flames..just a fact
Belgium used to be the Kingdom of Motocross. The US team is clearly THE number one. I'm proud that '' THE MAN'' Roger De Coster is still around.
I live in Belgium and I can tell 2 things 1;the Lommel's sand is deep! and 2:Herlings is flying!
It's not about the population of USA, it's because you have so many riders!
Offcourse China won't win, nobody out there even rides a bike, same for africa,...USA just has more riders then the rest of the world combined and THAT is why you win the MXON.
Why do US fans continuously fail to recognise the difference between beating the continent of Europe as a whole and beating individual countries? The event is called the Motocross des Nations, not the Motocross des Continents.
Think of it this way; its like sending a team of three European riders to compete against the individual US States, across which the best American riders are spread. Dungey may win one moto, Baggett the second and Villopoto the third, but the chances are that the European team would still be able to accumulate a lower combined score than any other Single state (ie team) and win the trophy.
The European team would not have beaten America as a whole. They would have only beaten each individual State in America. Likewise when the US team wins the des Nations they are beating individual countries, NOT Europe as a whole.
Its really not a difficult concept to grasp... and just to save yourselves the effort of typing it, yes of course its possible a team from Florida or California could beat a European collective.
At first I thought Pourcel was replaced because of the injury.But now that I think about it it seems like he got smoked at all the sand tracks this year.The other reason is because he is not in shape.
@Euro Mike.When the race happens we will keep up with your dream team just for fun.I personally think they should let the 250 class run by themselves.EuroMike I'm am sending you mule Bubola back to you.I think CZMark has her knocked up.
@jamma10 you're right about the name of the event, but the name is a misnomer.
Every other country races FIM World MXGP.
If the USA doesn't show up, it may as well just be a regular GP race. Same riders. Same tracks. Different event name.
If America shows up every FIM rider looks at the AMA riders as their direct competition.
The real name is The Motocross De Sanctioning Bodies
'Every other country races FIM World MXGP'
None of the South African, Australian, New Zealand, Brazilian, Japanese, Venezualan, Chinese, Thai or Kuwaiti riders last year were GP riders... I can't say I recall any GP riders from Greece or Croatia either to be honest. We (European fans) are as unfamiliar with many of the riders at the MXdN as you guys are, not least the lesser known riders drafted in from obscure National series' to partner their sole GP representative in a team.
Everyone wants to beat the US team because firstly you're able to field the strongest team year after year, and just like in other sports where one team dominates for a prolonged period, the neutral fans tend to end up rooting against the favourite. Secondly, because of this fallacy that it somehow the US team winning the trophy proves that the AMA is undeniably a far superior series.
Whether you acknowledge it or not, at recent MXdN's the US team have been in some very precarious situations coming into the last race, only to be let off the hook by their closest rivals encountering very bad luck. This years event should be very exciting! :)
I can't figure out why people want to bag so hard on Dungey. All that guy does is keep his head down, mouth shut, and win races every weekend. He pulls his pants all the way up, wears his hat straight, and doesn't impersonate policemen or roost medics. Tomac has the same all business attitude and that's why these two are my favorite riders.
In fact, just to reiterate the first point in my post above, around half the field at an MXdN are non GP riders. There are many problems with the event, and this is unfortunately one of them, along with the age rule for the MX2 class which restricts the teams who maybe have a number of fast older riders but no fast guys under the age of 24.
So while its great that so many different nations are in attendance each year, a large portion of the very best riders in the world (both GP and AMA) are not. Which again, can give a warped perspective of who exactly the US team are beating.
Riders are also mixed up often. Take last year for example; only three of the top 10 GP riders from the 2011 season raced the MX2 class. Osborne was injured, four of them rode the MX1 or MX3 class because they were the best riders from their respective countries and two were not picked.
Add the fact that only five of the top 10 MX1 riders from the 2011 season were racing and you can see what a mishmash it often is.
Isn't it funny how every thing was fair when little Belgium use to dominate!
Back then you didn't have such a strong scene in America, now the whole deal of the MXdN is stacked heavily in favour of the US Team - in comparison, so many tracks are being closed down in Belgium the sport is declining there now at a steady rate.
At the end of the day you have to beat who you line up against, Im not making excuses, the US team are always able to field a phenomenal team and deserve all their victories. But there are a large number or US fans unfamiliar with Motocross outside of America who don't quite grasp the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the MXdN.
Ha ha ha. Already preparing your esxcuses. Losers. Some Sad Sack (remember him) even suggested the US picked the wrong team. Oh dear, shows how much faith you really have in those picked. Dear me. If this forum is anything to go by, you guys are getting desparate. Hell, can´t say I blame you. LOL.
@jamma10....
Did you really say "MXdN is stacked heavily in favour of the US Team"?
JimM
Pala374
Nice to see a euromike post without offensive commentary...........much.
I am most concerned about Belgiums O/A chances. They are all right around there (low countries) practicing, training, etc. While not "superstars", DeSalle, Horbeek & DeDycker could come together in the sand enough to make a big problem for Team U.S.A.
Team France, what a joke! I wonder how many Chamberlain trophies they could've held if they could put their attitudes / egos away! I can't remember how many times I've heard something about France's team being affected by petty nonsense...................typical.............moody Frenchmen.
I think the 350 / 450 question is going to have another page turned in this event.
well one thing is for sure, mxdn always provides the most fun trash talk of the year :)
@JimboMX374 Yes, for the reasons states above. You can't even begin to compare the resources available and wealth of riders at your disposal to a country like Estonia, or Latvia.
When was the last time the US sent a non-factory rider for a start?
Team France won't be challenging US this year : Although Paulin is quite a "Des Nations Hero" with two motos wins under his belt, Lommel will see him struggle for a top 5 finish. Not a bad sand rider, but not at his best in this type of track. Musquin can do very well in Lommel, I actually won't be surprised to see him challenge Baggett. Boog, well, a good bloke and a decent rider, but can't really see him near the top 5. A podium overall will do this year. Regarding CeePee, his results (and involvment) on sand tracks have been pretty poor this year, so it was absolutely not relevant to have him in the French team this year...
Team Belgium is gonna be the main threat for USA, but I don't see them winning anyway. A good team, not a great one.
Italy will rely one the lone Cairoli (he'll be racing for the top spot), and Herlings is probably gonna win both motos...Should De Reuver be 5 years younger, Holland would have been, a tough contest for the boys, but it won't surely be happening this year.
Germany will be able to rely on a strong Roczen (you'll see him battling with Baggett, at least), should Nagl be fit, he'll be fighting for the to 5, for sure, then Schiffer can maybe break the top ten. Good enough for a top 3, probably not for the win.
In other words, altough it's gonna be tough to get the individual honours for team USA, there are the strong favorites, by a mile or two...
@jamma 10..
I dont get your point about motocross of continents.... The USA is not a continent, it is a country just like France or Belgium. If you are proposing a inter-continental competition with Europe then North America includes 32 countries.
Should we add some points to the USA score so that you can feel like it is a "fair" competition?
Team USA's biggest threat is themselves. Only major mistakes will cause us to lose. We own the show on pure talent, oppression breeds losers and freedom breeds winners and the USA leads the way. That is why Government tries so hard to take away our individual rights so we will be obedient little sheep...just like the Euro's are today.***Vote Romney***
i think Dungey and Baggett are good choices, but Barcia, really? Tomac was the one that worked that much harder, so i think he deserves it more. other wise, good team
Go U.S.A!!!!!!!!!!
@jamma10
Dont you think the familarity with tracks that are designed to favor the Grand Prix guys counts as an advantage.
Resources....... schmesources ......... the Grand Prix bikes are not as good ?
Stop looking for excuses ...its really about who puts in the most work.
JImM
Pala374
One thing you can take from the arguments. US has the best racers in the world. Its one race and anything can happen. But when the day is done no matter who wins there is still no argument.Remember when they were gonna race a sand race years back and then they made a track on hard pack in the parking lot after we picked are team. LOL The FIM has been trying to tilt the tables in euro"s favor for years. Every rule change has been to make it a luck factor come into play. The top euro"s are smoking fast and as talented as the US. Were just deeper than any single country. Theres no argument. If the fastest country in the world has good luck no one is beating them. No crashes and no bike failure's the US wins hands down.
@yzfsean Im not proposing an inter-continental competition, far from it. Im specifically pointing out that the USA does not compete against the continent of Europe, which is how it is often viewed by Americans. My initial post was kind of in reply to Partyboy's comments above mine. His is not an uncommon attitude.
The AMA is predominantly made up of American riders whereas the best riders in the World Championship; Cairoli, Desalle, Frossard, Nagl, Searle, Herlings... whoever, are pretty much all spread between different European countries which reduces their chance of winning the event.
A direct comparison (as I previously highlighted) would be to divide all the top American riders up into their individual States and then consider how strong each of those States would be against the best three riders that Europe could field, say Cairoli, Roczen & Frossard. This the situation the European riders find themselves in at the MXdN each year.
Euromike: I'll admit that if you match an entire continent against our country, you would finsih a much closer second place. This aint the Ryder Cup son...
XRAY: Well said. I agree 100%.
Yeah 50 states and 50 teams. Run qualifiers for a week. Then the complaint will be half our countries are not in the finals(sic)
our top 9 racers will move to texas and florida and cali. I love it. we"ll never lose
@JimboMX374 No not at all;
2006, Matterly Basin was a circuit purpose built for the MXdN and the preceding GP in June of that year. Of all the European tracks it bears the closest resemblance to an AMA circuit.
2008, Donington was a last minute replacement for the Irish MXdN which was shelved over lack of funding. Again, this was a purpose built track for the previous years GP and it largely resembled an outdoor Supercross track.
2009, Franciacorta was AGAIN built purposely for the MXdN, it also closely resembled an outdoor SX track and no one rode the track prior to the event itself. Neither has it been used since.
2011, Saint Jean d'Angeley was the first 'regular' GP circuit used for the MXdN since Ernee in 2005. It was a typically French, hard pack track.
2012, Lommel is the first sand track used for an MXdN since Leirop in 2004 and personally I think its great that the event is being held here. Motocross should be about testing riders on a range of challenging surfaces and terrain, of which sand is one.
I don't agree that the event is somehow organised in favour of the European teams either. If anything tracks like Donington, Franciacorta should have suited the US riders more, they were nothing like a typical GP circuit and either side of those events was Budds Creek and Thunder Valley. If anything I was disappointed that they kept building new circuits for the MXdN over here instead of racing at long established GP tracks.
@squid292 unfortunately most riders don't have the luxury of changing their country of birth to suit...
Dungey Baggett Barcia I don't thing that anyone can get by those 3. If they do That are running very well. It will be a hell of a day of Racing thats for sure.
it was a joke. As for the races I was talking about the format changes after the US started dominating. They did change a track after we set our team in the 90's. Its ok you guy will win again. Its a great race because of the what if's. Personally I think we have a 50% chance against everyone else. This track is a great equalizer. Lots can happen. I'm going to go to europe in the next 2 years on holiday and its gonna be one of my stops. Always been a dream to see a race there
Have nothing against the euro's. Old enough to remember them kicking our butts. The trans usa was awesome to witness. Just having some fun. Fast is fast no matter where your from. I also agree with building tracks for the mxon. Race the proven tracks. Believe it or not most true mx fans here hate half the tracks. Flat with jumps is not an outdoor track to the purest. Was at dilla this year and it was gnarly. Wish they grow the grass knee high and take out half the jumps
'Was at dilla this year and it was gnarly'
Unadilla should be listed in the dictionary under the definition of Motocross. Natural terrain, with minimal track prep is what it should be all about. Unfortunately its all about big jumps to wow the uninitiated fans and building multiple lines by hand these days. Its the wrong way around, instead of the riders learning how best to tackle the tracks the tracks are built to suit the riders.
Desalle, Frossard, Nagl, Searle .......... your point is ?
Roczen almost cried this year..........bbbbbut I rule in Europe
JimM
Pala374
@jamma
You are talking as if individual states are countries themselves and that, of course, isn't true. The good ol USA is a country in North America just as France, Germany, or Italy is a country in Europe. So the argument isn't that US riders are faster than European riders. It is that US is faster than any European country. Or... in general Americans are faster motocross riders than Europeans. Just as Europeans are faster kart drivers than Americans.
@Jamma10 Crap the state of Florida would win everything.You would have a Florida team of Dungey,Reed,Villamoto and James.It would kill the MXDN.
@tonewall,
I love your team and 'Havoc 7' really cracks me up.
If there was one reason the good ol usa does so well it is the Coombs family in particular and our awesome, well organized feeder systems in general. The farm leagues in this country are as deep as they come and the cream will always rise. Most every country will have a little cream, but we churn some of the very best racers out year after year! That's why we kinda know who is the real deal years before we see them at the A1 or Hangtown.
It won't be easy in Belguim.
Good luck would be better than bad, but if there is no bad luck....the Americans can take the Chamberlain again!
sure roczen and musquin got beat over here but their speed and pace were on par..i believe they both will consider this race as chance for payback on euro soil and they will be on the gas in a big way..then there is herrings the obvious sand specialist and a host of plenty fast euros chomping at the bit. team us is certainly the favorite on paper but folks this could get interesting with the deep sand and so many variables..and yes they telivise every poker game known to man and darts bowling ect. but the world championship of all that is moto is not? COME ON RODGER! DAVEY! ESPN, FOX, NBCSPORTS! SOMEBODY PLEASE! WE WANT THIS EVENT TO AIR IN THE USA !!!
As far as this year, it would seem that the Euros are going be competitive ....
Who said North America is comprised of 32 countries?
yzfsean...................Doh!
Buddy, there aren't 32 countries in North, Central and South America combined.
Sorry to bust your chops but, I'm not quite ready for your new world order.
Please tell me I misunderstood you...................please.
I remember in the old past, several US team under banners of Porto Rico, Bahamas and others islands with US top guns. I'd appreciate to see that again, to show us the level of others US riders not in Official stars'n strippes' team...
In Belgium all the tracks are closed.Thank you ECOLO! We used to be World Champ in the 3 categories in a row + Nations and they are closing the access to the practice to the only International Sport in which we were the best?! It's like if the Brazilians were closing all the football fields and not allowing the practice of football anywhere.
I understand why Mister De Coster left...
Little known (or understood) fact: The USA, or United States of America is, as the name suggests, a union of sovereign states or, to be technical (and completely accurate), a union of sovereign countries. The US is not actually a country itself (to be more accurate, it is not a nation state), it is a union exactly as the EU is not a country but is also a union of States just like the USA. Every state in our union can, if it desired, succeed from the union. It's right there in the Declaration of Independence.
So technically, we should be able to send 3 riders to represent each state in our union, just as Europe does.
@JimboMX374 Insightful input, nice one.
@fred Read the last sentence of my very first post above. Also, Villopoto lives there now but he is not originally from Florida and Reed is Australian, but, Im sure you know this....
@Chopper I don't think you've understood my point. Im not suggesting that each state is a country, Im just discussing how the best riders from Europe & the GP's are spread across various countries, so the chances of one country fielding x3 fast riders is somewhat reduced. I was only making a comparison that the best American riders can be (theoretically) divided up into the various States in which they were born and that individual States would find it much harder against a combined European team of the three best riders. Because of the size and population of the US compared to the whole of Europe, this is a fairly accurate way of flipping the tables - purely as an illustration.
To be honest, without facts and figures and enough time to write an actual thesis I don't think Im ever going to convince you guys of anything. But all I say is at least try to consider why a country as large as the US, with such a strong National series consisting of around 60 American riders (spread between both classes) is so successful at the MXdN, and a country like Holland with a population and landmass the size of Kentucky and just two active GP riders, is not.
USA has more riders then the rest of the world combined, the most and best tracks and THAT is why the win the MXDN!
@jamma10 Reed has a US citizenship and lives if Florida as do the others that I listed.
@jamma Ok I see you covered that already.
loving all the hype from the europeans and the yanks.. USA you'd usually be right, you guys for whatever reason do produce the worlds fastest riders and one of my favourite parts is actually watching the ameicans live,... think there is going to be a big upset this year for you though! and I'm going to be there to see it!!
@Jamma10
Thank you.....I have my moments.
Add the impact SX has on the development of American MX to the list of
"advantages".
JimM
Pala374