2007 MXoN Teams
The leading teams for the 2007 Motocross of Nations, set for Budds Creek on September 22, 23 have been selected and it is the strongest looking field of riders for many years. All three classes will have amazing talent. With the MX2 and MX1 lap times similar at the recent AMA National championship held at the Budds Creek circuit it will be all out war between the big bike and small bike riders. Imagine the likes of Carmichael, Ramon, Stewart, Coppins, Cairoli, Townley, the Pourcel brothers, Villopoto, Chad Reed, Grant Langston and so many more taking it to eachother.
There will be a long list of present or former World Motocross champions in the field, as well as a long list of present or former World AMA champions. The MX2 World champions starts with 2006 champion Christophe Pourcel, 2005 champion Antonio Cairoli (who also looks likely to be 07 champ), 2004 champion Ben Townley, 2003 champion Steve Ramon, and 2000 champion Grant Langston. That means that all the former World MX2 champions from the last decade (who are still riding) apart from 1999, 1998 and 1997 champion Alessio Chiodi. 2002 and 2001 champions are Mickael Maschio and James Dobb, both are retired.
Of course due to Stefan Everts domination in the MX1 class the only World MX1 champion will be this years champion (either Coppins, Ramon or Seb Pourcel).
Former American champions on show are multiple AMA champ Ricky Carmichael, former 125cc champions Grant Langston and James Stewart, and present 125cc champion Ryan Villopoto. There is also talk that former 125cc champion Travis Pastrana will race.
Then there is the AMA Supercross champions on show. Multiple SX champ Ricky Carmichael, 2004 250cc champ Chad Reed, 2007 250cc champion James Stewart, plus several present or former 125cc SX champs (Townley, Langston, Villopoto, Stewart). Add the names of GP winners Vuillemin, Seb Pourcel, Mackenzie, Strijbos, De Dycker, McFarlane, Philippaerts, Coppins and you have an amazing list of riders. A great mix of riders, some young and some old, but all with big names and big talent.
Of the riders in the listed teams only the complete Team USA, David Vuillemin and Steve Ramon have tasted victory at this teams event. Ricky Carmichael has victories in 2000 (France) and 2005 (France), while Stewart and Villopoto were in last years winning team. Vuillemin helped France to victory in 2001, held at the Namur circuit. Ramon was part of the 2003 and 2004 Belgian team that won in Lierop in Holland and Zolder in Belgium.
For those with a good memories Australian Chad Reed won a moto at the 2001 MXoN, then crashed out in the last moto of the day, handing the Inderviduel overall to Namur legend Stefan Everts.
Team USA - Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto
Team France - Sebastien Pourcel, Christophe Pourcel, David Vuillemin
Team New Zealand - Josh Coppins, Ben Townley, Cody Cooper
Team Belgium - Ken De Dycker, Steve Ramon, Kevin Strijbos
Team Australia - Chad Reed, Andrew McFarlane, Michael Byrne
Team South Africa - Grant Langston, Gareth Swanepoel, Wyatt Avis
Team Italy - Antonio Cairoli, David Philippaerts, Alex Salvini
Team Great Britain - Billy Mackenzie, James Noble, Tommy Searle
