Welcome to Racerhead, NOT coming to you from Maggiora, Italy. I had to pass on this year's Motocross of Nations, but we will have something from Steve Matthes and Jason Thomas down below, as they are traveling with Team USA. The big race is this weekend, and hopefully it will be a chance for Team USA's Cooper Webb, Alex Martin, and Jason Anderson to end the four-year losing skid for our guys. That's a pretty young team on paper, but Webb went and rode very well last year in France, and Martin has been there before with Puerto Rico. But there's just as strong a trio of Americans who aren't there—Eli Tomac, Ryan Dungey, Jeremy Martin—for an assortment of reasons. No matter, Roger DeCoster told me he likes our chances with this lineup, and so do I. And other countries are having issues as well, like the fact that Slovenia just lost newly crowned MX1 World Champion Tim Gajser to injuries.
You can watch the 70th Annual Motocross of Nations live on CBS Sports Network early on Sunday morning, as the first moto will go off at 7 a.m. Eastern time, four in the morning out West. Or you can log on to www.mxgp-tv.com and watch via pay-per-view, and they will have the Saturday qualifying motos as well.
Back here in the States, it was a very strange week in media. Ken Roczen was basically outed as HRC Honda's new superstar when a member of the team leaked a photo of Kenny at the test track, sitting on his #94 Honda CRF450R. Roczen and his management team, as well as the brass at Honda, had hoped to keep everything under wraps until the end of the month and then announce the signing of the newly crowned Lucas Oil 450 Pro Motocross Champion with a slick video and coordinated PR. This is a big deal for Honda—they haven't won the AMA Supercross Championship since 2003, nor have they won a 450 Class MX title since '04, as that's when Ricky Carmichael left. So signing Roczen (from RC's team, ironically) is a very big deal for Honda. But as I like to remind people all the time, the world is a much smaller place now, and everyone with an iPhone has the potential to break any story or embargo with a simple text.
So since the story leaked, we went ahead and hit send on our new cover, which was shot by Spencer Owens that same day at the test track. With Simon Cudby on the road and Roczen’s team open to the shoot—with a promise not to post or share anything, except with them and for Honda—we had Spencer fill in and score his first Racer X Illustrated cover.
Coincidentally, less than 24 hours before the leaked photo appeared online, one of our own contributors nearly ruined the surprise by sending a screengrab of the cover to Roczen himself and asking him if it was him or Lars Lindstrom on the bike. Matthes was joking, but we weren’t when we found out he had shared the photo—even if it was with the guy in the photo himself! Matthes went back and covered his tracks and let anyone who might have caught a glimpse of the shot know not to share it. Matthes was off the hook when the other photo popped up online, and he’s still probably trying to process through some of the swear words he heard through the phone!
Of course, Roczen signing with Honda really wasn’t a very well-kept secret, but what’s going to happen with James Stewart and Malcolm Stewart is. Someone posted a photo of James by a Honda and wrote “Maybe??” but that’s an honest question. Whither either Stewart? Stewart staying on a Suzuki and riding for Carmichael doesn’t seem likely—at least not James—but Malcolm would seem more plausible.
Also, as some of you may have noticed earlier in the week when the 2017 rider numbers were released, Malcolm will wear #47 next year, which means he will be the man with the lowest number in AMA Pro Racing history to have never won a race in SX/MX. That’s right: since 1972, no one wearing #47 has won an AMA National or SX main event in either class!
So now we wait to see where James and Malcolm land, not to mention a few other guys who are waiting for that phone to ring.
Suzuki Thanks Ken Roczen (Weigandt)
On the heels of the announcement of Ken Roczen moving to Honda, Suzuki produced a press release thanking Ken for his service:
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. congratulates Ken Roczen on his success with Suzuki over the past two years. Roczen’s domination of the 2016 AMA 450 Motocross Championship on the RCH Factory Suzuki demonstrates the superiority of the RM-Z450. A product of Suzuki’s Amateur Racing Program, Ken rejoined the Suzuki family in 2015 with one goal in mind, winning. Mission accomplished. Thank you Ken and good luck in your future endeavors.
Five Riders to Watch (Chase Stallo)
Yesterday, we dropped a huge preview for the 70th edition of the Motocross of Nations, which takes place this weekend in Italy. We broke down last year’s top 15 overall, as well as some wildcards hoping to make an impact. While this is a team event, individual performances could have a huge influence as well. Let’s look at five non-Team USA riders who could sway the results.
Tony Cairoli | Team Italy
The fate of the home nation is in the hands of eight-time world champion Tony Cairoli. This team goes as AC goes. On paper, the team doesn’t look strong enough to podium, but Cairoli, riding in MXGP, could have a huge impact on the overall. Say, for example, Team USA needs a big result and Cooper Webb is stuck fighting with AC for the overall. It could greatly impact the overall standings. Cairoli missed the event last year due to injury and struggled in 2014 (19-40), but he did go 1-1 in 2013 to lead the Italians to a podium.
Jeffrey Herlings | Team Netherlands
While Jeffrey Herlings did compete on the bigger bike at the 2011 and 2012 Nations, even leading the Netherlands to fourth overall in ’12, this weekend marks the first race of his impending MXGP career, as the three-time MX2 champion moves up next season. “We’re back on the big bike, and it’s my first big race. I want to get as good a results as possible,” Herlings said in the pre-race press conference today. In his first Nations appearance since his 1-2 performance in 2012, Herlings leads a Dutch team that is on many lists of pre-race favorites. If Herlings can claim an overall in Open, the Netherlands has a good shot at the Chamberlain Trophy.
Jeremy Van Horebeek | Team Belgium
Even after Brent Van doninck, an MX2 regular, got the call to replace the injured Clement Desalle, Belgium team manager Joel Smets decided to keep Jeremy Van Horebeek on the smaller 250. In the pre-race press conference this morning, Van Horebeek said the team was already too far along with building his bike and he didn’t want to go back.
"My team was so far with making the engine [for the 250] that I felt bad to change again, which is why I'm on the 250," Van Horebeek said.
The move, while surprising, could pay off for the Red Knights. Van Horebeek will be a favorite in MX2, and if Belgium decides to give him the top gate pick and he finishes, say, top-five in a moto against the 450s, it would give Belgium a huge advantage, as most MX2 riders aren’t able to challenge the bigger bikes. Van Horebeek represents the “drop a 450 guy down to the 250s” strategy for this event, and it’s a move that has paid off before.
Benoit Paturel | Team France
Fair or not, Benoit Paturel’s performance this weekend for the two-time defending champions will be under heavy scrutiny. Paturel was chosen over Marvin Musquin—a member of last year’s winning French team—to replace the injured Dylan Ferrandis, a move that has drawn criticism in the lead up to the event. If Paturel, who finished third in MX2 this year, can help the French to a third straight overall, it would certainly take the eyes of the Federations decision to leave Musquin off the team—a similar scenario that played out in 2014.
Jeremy Seewer | Team Switzerland
One dark horse this weekend will be Switzerland, who has long been touted as a podium contender but hasn’t lived up to the hype, whether due to injury of inexperience. This weekend could be different, as they’ll have a healthy team of Valentin Guillod, Jeremy Seewer, and Arnaud Tonus.
“We already had this team two years ago, but not with the same experience,” said Guillod in the pre-race press conference.
Without Tonus a year ago, the Swiss still pulled off a fifth-place finish with Seewer placing third overall (10-10) in MX2. If Switzerland is able to capture the overall, they’ll need Seewer to challenge for the MX2 overall.
LIVE FROM ITALY (Jason Thomas)
Bonjour from Italy! Wait, that's French.… Anyhoo, Steve Matthes and I are here and ready to watch another Motocross of Nations. This might be my favorite event of the year. There is no other event that brings out the patriotic emotion and pride like the MXoN. Teams and riders that would never work in unison are thrust into partnerships, all working to hoist the Chamberlain Trophy on Sunday afternoon. The atmosphere is electric already, as the team press conferences had standing-room-only crowds. The 1986 super-team of Johnny O'Mara, David Bailey, and Rick Johnson are also here to relive the magical day of 30 years ago. Hopefully, they can share some of their experience and Maggiora knowledge with the 2016 USA team of Jason Anderson, Cooper Webb, and Alex Martin. If not, I have this little tidbit to share: Please go fast!
This is my fourth-consecutive trip to Europe to watch our boys, and we have yet to win in that timespan. Losing at this race is not fun for anyone, but for the Americans, I think it stings a bit more. We have won this event so many times in recent decades, and winning creates a bit of jealousy. I have seen the satisfaction in others' faces when America doesn't win, and that's a feeling I don't care to feel on Sunday. So, again, let's go fast, okay, guys? Thanks in advance.
Besides that, I am enjoying Italy and ready for great weekend of motocross. The jet lag will undoubtedly be kicking in tonight, ensuring that I will have memorized every CNN segment on loop by sunrise. Tomorrow is qualifying and a great chance to kick the weekend off on the right note. For now, though, Wolf Blitzer has my full attention.
ITALY! (Matthes)
We're here. We made it. Well, mostly, anyway. After a sleepless overnight flight and a one-hour nap, JT and I have made it to the track today for the annual Motocross of Nations. What little I have seen of the track looks epic, and Team USA's Alex Martin says the hills are unbelievably steep when you walk down them.
No one—I mean no one—does press conferences like Youthstream, and today was a team intro, a book intro, and then more team intros to the public. Tomorrow there will be more press gatherings, I'm sure. When the teams were first announced, I thought Team USA was going to be in tough to win this year, but since then they've gotten some breaks, and I wrote in my MXoN preview that I think the boys bring it home this year. There's no other country that can produce the consistent speed the red-white-and-blue can. Do I want Team USA to win? Sure, I guess so, but I'm mostly neutral about this race. I just want to see a good one. But a small part of me hopes the USA doesn't win so I can watch JT melt down at the side of the track. A small way I can get back at him for all the B Final and Team Canada jokes, I suppose.
I spoke to Roger DeCoster and Rick Johnson today. RJ was telling me a story about how small his hotel room was when he was last here that was pretty funny. By the way, props to Youthstream for bringing RJ, Johnny O'Mara, and David Bailey out to the race 30 years after one of the most dominant MXoN performances ever.
So first thing tomorrow we'll see what I think is one of the key moments for countries like (ahem) Canada and my buddy Jan Hovi's Finland when the start selection is drawn via hot chicks reaching into a bucket and pulling out a clothespin. Y'see, Team USA or Belgium or whatever doesn't sweat this, as they'll easily make it through to tomorrow's A main. But if you're some country on the edge, like (ahem) Canada and the hot chick draws pin #40, all that time and effort and you're kind of effed. Bad start in the qualifier (most GP tracks are heavily weighted to the very inside gate) and you can't make the A-Final. It's months of planning, lots of dollars spent, and your starting position on Saturday can determine how your weekend goes.
I saw “Fast” Freddie Noren, and he told me that Sweden is way out in the back with my country, Canada. I walked all over and couldn't find either country, so not sure how the Canadians are going. I did hear that they found some sheep in their pits this morning. For reals.
Motocross of Nations Fantasy Play (Chase Stallo)
Racer X MotoDynasty Fantasy Motocross has teamed up with FMF to present The FMF Fantasy Motocross of Nations Challenge. Below are details on how to play for this weekend’s Motocross of Nations in Italy.
How to Play:
1.) Sign Up: This will be the easiest decision you’ve made all week—go to motodynasty.racerxonline.com to sign up.
There are two options:
a.) Test your skills against the field in Dynasty Play.
b). Create or join a private league with your buddies, coworkers, families, the dude at the local watering hole—whoever. You can talk smack on them specifically all weekend.
Prizes
Big shout-out to our friends at FMF, who back the Team USA effort hardcore. All three Team USA bikes (Webb, Anderson, Martin) feature FMF exhausts this year. USA! USA! USA! FMF! FMF! FMF!
FMF is also putting up the prizes for this weekend's MotoDynasty Fantasy Challenge. We've got FMF apparel and a PowerCore 4 exhaust on the line. You want this stuff!
In order to be eligible for prizes, you must go the paid route. You can still play for FREE if you want, but you will not be eligible for prizes. Each moto of the three-moto event is $4 to play. Individual moto winners compete for the FMF apparel packs. You must be prize eligible in all three motos to be in the running for the combined prize championship, which awards the PowerCore 4 exhaust.
If you’re feeling frisky, you can select a moto winner as well for 10 bonus points. But remember, if the rider you pick doesn’t win the moto, you lose 10 points.
GamePlay
The Motocross of Nations gameplay will be a bit different from a supercross and motocross. Let’s get into to how it breaks down:
• There will be three races to participate in this weekend— Race 1 (MXGP vs MX2), Race 2 (Open vs MX2), Race 3 (Open vs MXGP). Like regular Dynasty play, you will choose 12 riders in the order you think they will finish for each race. The same scoring rules from SX and MX apply. 50 points for choosing the correct winner, then 25 points for getting 2-12 correct.
• If you’re feeling frisky, you can select a moto winner as well for 10 bonus points. But remember, if the rider you pick doesn’t win the moto, you lose 10 points.
• The winner of each race will receive a FMF apparel prize package. (See below for tiebreaker rules.)
• The user with the most prize eligible points in all three races combined will receive a PowerCore 4 from FMF.
For more details, go here.
"Bentornati in Italia" (Welcome back to Italy) (Andras Hegyi)
This weekend it will be a jubilee edition of Motocross of Nations. The 70th Motocross of Nations visits Italy, and this will be only the fourth time that this nation hosts the big race. The previous years were 1970, 1986, and 2009.
1970
What was then called the Motocross des Nations' first event, in Italy, happened 46 years ago. The host was Maggiora, a venue in northern Piemont region. This track was opened in 1958 and was one of the first European motocross tracks that was open for races the entire year. Maggiora hosted the first Italian and international races in 1960. Ten years later, Maggiora organized the first Motocross des Nations held in Italy. The winning team was Sweden and their quartet of riders: Christer Hammergren, Arne King, Bengt Aberg, and Ake Jonsson. The second-place team was Belgium, represented by Sylvain Geboers, Roger DeCoster, Jaak Van Velthoven, and Josef Teuwissen. And in third place was the former Czechoslovakia. It was a huge delight for Czechoslovakia because it was the first Motocross des Nations podium for that country. The Czech team members were Ota Toman, Miloslav Halm, Oldrich Hamersmid, and Jiri Stodulka. In Motocross des Nations history, Czechoslovakia has three podiums in all. The Czechoslovakian national team had a victory in 1975 and a third-place in '71.
1986
The Motocross des Nations returned to Italy in 1986. That edition became the most memorable ever, thanks to three fantastic American riders. It was the first visit to Italy for Team USA, which did not take part in the 1970 event. Of course, in 1986, Team USA won with sheer and utter dominance. It was a motocross massacre! Among the 24 national teams, the USA stood out like a skyscraper. The three American riders were David Bailey (500), Ricky Johnson (250), and Johnny O’Mara (125). In moto one (125/250), Johnson was the winner, second was O'Mara. In moto two (125/500), Bailey was the winner, with O'Mara second again on the 125. In moto three (250/500), Bailey and Johnson crossed the finish line side by side. It was overkill. Among the 22 times Team USA has won the Peter Chamberlain Trophy, the 1986 victory was the biggest one, without any doubt. A very good British team (Rob Herring, Jeremy Whatley, and Dave Thorpe) was second. The home team Italy was third. The three Italian members were Massimo Contini, Michele Rinaldi, and Corrado Maddii. It was Italy's first Motocross des Nations podium.
2009
Seven years ago, a brand new track hosted the Motocross des Nations in Italy. It was Franciacorta in Lombardy, which is also in the north. In Franciacorta arrived a brand new, reconstructed Team USA. Ivan Tedesco returned to Team USA after three years to be the Open-class rider, while Ryan Dungey (450) and Jake Weimer (250) made their event debuts. Moreover, Dungey also debuted in saddle of a 450 for the first time in an international event. Because of those facts, many people considered Team USA a B team, missing big names like James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Mike Alessi, Joshua Grant, and Tim Ferry, all of whom were injured. But it was not a B team. It was a winning team that could fight!
It was not an easy win for the Americans. In the first moto, Dungey (MX1, Suzuki) was third and Weimer (MX2, Kawasaki) was eighth, which was actually good enough for the lead. But the second moto got more complicated. Ivan Tedesco lost the duel with Italian David Philippaerts and lost second place just before the finish line. Weimer fell and was able to get only 25th place. That dropped Team USA to third before the final moto.
Team USA found themselves in more trouble. On the one hand, Dungey got the moto win, but Tedesco had problems, tangling with Philippaerts. But Tedesco was amazing and would come back from afar, clawing back up to seventh and giving Team USA its 20th win at the Motocross of Nations. France was second with Marvin Musquin, Steven Frossard, and Gautier Paulin, while Belgium was third (Clement Desalle, Steve Ramon, and Joel Roelants).
This year the Motocross of Nations will be in Maggiora again, 30 years after Team USA's unforgettable win.
TROPHEE DES NATIONS? (DC)
We should mention here that there was also a Trophee des Nations held in Maggiora back in 1980. The event was won by a very strong Belgian team consisting of Andre Malherbe, Harry Everts, George Jobe, and Andre Vromans. This was back when there was a Motocross des Nations for 500cc motorcycles as well as a Trophee des Nations for 250cc bikes. Malherbe, Everts and Jobe would all have Hall of Fame careers, with multiple world titles. Only Vromans never won a world title, narrowly losing the 1982 500cc World Championship to America's own "Bad" Brad Lackey. Team USA did not race in 1980 at Maggiora.
Hey, Whatch It!
The 17th Annual FMF Texas Winter Series begins New Years Eve weekend at Freestone Raceway. This AMA Pro-Am series is the largest "series" in Texas and drew over 700 entries per round in 2016. Whether its 105 or 35 degrees, it takes mental toughness. That's why the series is known as the "roughest, toughest, largest, richest, ......... funniest series in Texas!
Rd 1 - Dec 31 & Jan 1 - Freestone Raceway
Rd 2 - Jan 7 & 8 - Swan MX Raceway Park
Rd 3 - Jan 21 & 22 - Village Creek MX Park
Rd 4 - Feb 4 & 5 - Johnsonville MX Farm
Rd 5 - Feb 25 & 26 - Freestone Raceway
Dirt Bike Rider Crashes into Mineshaft:
Head-scratching HeadlineS of the Week
NITRO CIRCUS TEAMS WITH ETHIKA FOR EXCLUSIVE UNDERWEAR COLLECTION
Is West Virginia Holding America’s Weirdest Election? Politico.com on the campaign of billionaire businessman Jim Justice, who is running for governor here.
Random Notes
Former pro Daniel Blair talked with Team USA members Cooper Webb, Jason Anderson, and Alex Martin before they left for Italy in his latest Main Event Moto podcast. Check it out (Soundcloud, iTunes).
Here's a heavy read that Chase Stallo noticed on Sports Illustrated: the tale of NBA dropout Robert Swift, who went from a lottery pick in 2004 to a homeless drug addict ten years later. It's a cautionary tale and a hell of a read.
Congrats to Ryan Villopoto and his wife, Kristen, on the birth of their twins boys, Gage and Brax Villopoto.
Leave it to our man Pat Schutte to come up with the strange online find of the week.
Are you thinking about filming, editing, and entering a video for this year's Racer X Amateur Film Festival? Check out the semifinalists' videos from our previous film fest for a little inspiration and something to aim for. The submission period closes on October, so you still have a full month to get your entry in. Best of luck!
Subscribe today for as low as $9.98 and get a free $20 RIDE365.com gift card!
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading. See you at the races.