I would like to begin by saluting the efforts of Ryan Dungey, Eli Tomac, Jeremy Martin, and everyone involved with Team USA. Win or lose, those guys and their mechanics and teams and families spent five weeks staying on the bike, in race shape, and then flew across the world on pretty much their own dime to race for this country. Ryan Dungey has done that six times in a row, tying Jeff Emig’s record for consecutive appearances on Team USA (and Fro was 3-3 too). Jeremy Martin broke his foot but raced anyway. Eli Tomac got put on the deck early in both motos and put on a heroic ride from last to the podium in the final moto. They didn’t win, but this race is never easy, and the other guys are all very fast and comfortable in that atmosphere—Martin had never even been out of this country before. (With the injury, Martin can’t race the All-Japan Finals later this month, where he was to race in front of the Yamaha bosses alongside his teammate Cooper Webb.) The AMA gave each rider $3,000 in travel money, and each team got $5,400 for expenses. But for Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha, the trip probably cost “at least $25,000,” according to team owner Bobby Regan.
I bring all of this up because it blows my mind to see the insults and remarks about our guys losing in the comments and message boards, forgetting about the effort and expense that goes into it all. While everyone else is changing teams and brands and getting ready to do the Red Bull Rhythm deal this weekend or the Monster Cup in a couple of weeks, these guys are just now getting back and healing up. I have been to the MXoN many times and know how much pressure these men have on them, how hard they try and how much they risk simply for honor and a chance to represent our country. They deserve better than the boos a lot of folks have had for them—they finished third behind the very strong and inspired French and Belgian teams. I don’t recall Mike LaRocco, Kevin Windham, and Ricky Carmichael getting nearly as much grief back in 1999 when they got fourth, Team USA’s third straight loss fifteen years ago.
As for what it all means, there were surely a few things to be learned by Roger DeCoster and his riders, but the obvious ones are simple: it’s hard to win a race of this magnitude with bad starts, crashes, and injuries. Beyond that, I wasn't at the MXoN (or MXdN, as Steve Matthes AND Jody Weisel both demand), so let me give you Steve's excellent take here.
I must admit that I was definitely wrong about Dylan Ferrandis. I was one of the folks questioning why he was picked as France's MX2 rider when Jordi Tixier had just won the world title and two-time champ Marvin Musquin was available (I didn't really think the other past champ, Christophe Pourcel, would want to go). Dylan rode with heart and speed and had an excellent showing, helping France to its first win since 2001 (and there was no American team that year). The French were the best team, just as Joel Smets' Red Knights were last year, the Ken Roczen-led German team was in 2012, and the RV-and-Ryan Dungey-led Americans were in 2011.... I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of Ferrandis in the States in the future.
As for Gautier Paulin, I have met him a few times and he ranks up there with a Greg Albertyn, John Dowd, or Doug Henry as one of the nicest people you will ever meet at a motocross race. He put in one of those superb weekends, just like Paul Malin in '94 or Pit Beirer in '97, where even though he wasn’t the world champion, he rode like he was. This was a case of the nice guy finishing first.
We will have more on the event below from the guys, but let me turn this over now to Chase Stallo and all of the team changes and other things going on.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS (Chase Stallo)
First, don’t forget to check out the Red Bull Straight Rhythm race tomorrow at Pomona Fairgrounds in California. It looks and sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun with James Stewart, Dean Wilson, Justin Brayton, Malcolm Stewart, Marvin Musquin, Justin Bogle, Josh Hill, and even an out-of-retirement Travis Pastrana. Find out more, including how to watch it live online, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET, right here.
October 1 is the off-season’s version of Anaheim 1. Riders are finally able to show off their shiny new toys, and thanks to social media, it comes at a much faster rate than waiting for the latest Cycle News or Motoworld show. A lot happened this week—gear, helmet, and team deals—that you may have missed. We’ve put together this guide to help you keep up with the week’s action:
- On Wednesday, after months of speculation, Kawasaki announced that four-time AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto is headed to Europe to race a season on the FIM World Motocross Championship circuit. “I am ready for the final chapter of my career, and in my final year of racing I am looking to accomplish something no one else has achieved,” he said in a press release. He won’t race the Monster Energy Cup or any Monster Energy AMA Supercross from here on out; RV raced his last national in 2013.
- The other big shoe to drop was reigning 450 AMA Motocross Champion Ken Roczen leaving Red Bull KTM to join RCH/Soaring Eagle Suzuki. Roczen began his career in Europe with Suzuki before signing with KTM and will now work with Ricky Carmichael, Carey Hart, and the whole RCH team on yellow bikes.
- After missing all of last year, Davi Millsaps has signed with Monster Energy Kawasaki for 2015. Millsaps also announced that he has come to terms with 100% and Thor.
- Joining Millsaps on Monster Energy Kawasaki will be Wil Hahn. The former GEICO Honda rider missed all of the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship due to injury.
- In more Kawasaki news, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit announced its entire 2015 lineup. Only one member (Adam Cianciarulo) will return from last year’s squad. Cianciarulo will be joined by Arnaud Tonus (from the GPs), four-time Amsoil Arenacross Champion Tyler Bowers, former SX Rookie of the Year Joey Savatgy (from Rockstar Energy Racing), and amateur sensation Chris Alldredge.
- Toyota/JGR made a big splash this off-season by coming to terms with two-time 250SX East Region Champion Justin Barcia. The former Honda star also announced that he signed a new trainer—Johnny O’Mara. Joining Barcia will be Weston Peick, formerly of the RCH team. Weston also announced a deal with Fly Racing this week.
- After five years with Toyota/JGR Yamaha and American Honda, Justin Brayton has agreed to a two-year deal with BTOSports KTM. He will join the returning Andrew Short.
- Brayton’s teammate on Toyota/JGR Yamaha last year, Josh Grant, has announced a deal to join Chad Reed at Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports. The team will be backed by Kawasaki again in 2015.
- The final piece of Kawasaki news announced this week was the return of Josh Hansen. Riding on his own team—Team 100 Motosport.com Kawasaki—he will return to the 250SX Class in 2015.
- Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey will have a new teammate in 2015: Dean Wilson. The former Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider has agreed to a two-year deal that will see him moving to the 450 Class. Dean, who had a superb ride for Great Britain at the MXoN, also announced a deal with 100% and Answer Racing.
- Wilson’s longtime amateur rival-turned-Pro Circuit teammate Blake Baggett will also move to the 450 next year with Yoshimura Suzuki. Baggett, who announced deals with O’Neal and Just 1 helmets this week, will join James Stewart on the team.
- After three years with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Darryn Durham has agreed to terms with Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs KTM. Durham is back after missing all of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross in 2014 due to injury.
- SmarTop/MotoConcepts Racing announced today that they have come to terms with Vince Friese for the 2015 season. Friese, while riding for The Factory Metal Works/Club MX team, finished third in the 2014 250SX East Region Championship last year. Friese signed with SmarTop/MotoConcepts this summer to race the MX2 Class at the Canadian Nationals. Friese finished second in the series behind Kaven Benoit.
- Over in Europe, reigning MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier has split from Red Bull KTM and will join the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team in 2015 alongside Dylan Ferrandis and American Thomas Covington.
- Red Bull KTM also announced its lineup for the FIM World Motocross Championship. Returning in the MXGP Class will be eight-time world champion Tony Cairoli and Ken De Dycker. The team has also signed Tommy Searle, who spent last year with Kawasaki. In MX2, two-time world champion Jeffery Herlings will be joined by 17-year-old Pauls Jonass of Latvia. Dutch teenager Davy Pootjes will contest the European Championship.
These were just some of the bigger deals. For more off-season signings, check out our Silly Season tracker.
LATVIA GOES GREEN (Andras Hegyi)
The winning French team may have ridden under their nation's Tricolors, but it was all Kawasaki green as far as their bikes went. Kawasaki riders won every individual category: MXGP, 250, and Open in a repeat of its 2008 triple victories. The present class structure of the Motocross of Nations has existed since 1985. The three-person national teams ride in three different categories. Every rider can ride in only one category. In the past thirty years, only three times have the three members of a winning team and all three class winners been on the same brand.
In 1986 it was Honda domination for the red-white-and-blue of Team USA. Johnny O'Mara famously won on his 125, Ricky Johnson on the 250, and David Bailey on the 500.
In 2008 it was the first Kawasaki domination with Team USA riders James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Tim Ferry. While all three classes were dominated by Kawi riders, Ryan Villopoto won MX2 and Ferry won Open, but Frenchman Sebastien Pourcel, Christophel's older brother, won what was then called the MX1 class.
And now the winning French team this year was all green: Gautier Paulin, Steven Frossard, and Dylan Ferrandis. Paulin, of course, won both MXGP motos, and Frossard was top open rider. And while Dylan Ferrandis did a fine job on the 250, it was British rider Tommy Searle who was tops in MX2.
PRO PERSPECTIVE: (Jason Thomas)
Wise men have said there is nothing learned from winning, only losing. I believe in that line of thinking. Taking the lessons that disappointment and failure teach is a sure way to avoid that same result in the future. Dungey, Martin, and Tomac will not want to taste that bitter pill again. They should be more ready than ever to prove themselves and right the ship. They are all world-class racers and among the best on the planet. Bouncing back from a tough weekend is what champions do, and these three guys will prove that in due time. No one hated losing in Latvia more than they did. It won't be forgotten quickly nor easily, but if it serves to make them better riders and men, all is not lost.
THE NUMBER: 30 (Andras Hegyi)
This year Team USA marked its thirty-eighth appearance at the Motocross of Nations, and Team USA got its thirtieth podium finish—one less than Great Britain. This was the second third-place after 2012 for Team USA, but this jubilee was bittersweet because Team USA went to Latvia for more than third.
All-time podium list for nations at Motocross des Nations
- Belgium 58
- Great Britain 31
- USA 30
- Sweden 24
- France 17
- The Netherlands 10
- Germany 8
- Italy 7
- Finland 4
- Soviet Union 4 (the nation no longer exists)
- New-Zealand 3
- Czechoslovakia 3 (no longer exists)
- Switzerland 1
- Australia 1
THE NUMBER: 11 (Andras Hegyi)
This year marked the eleventh time in Motocross des Nations history that the winning team did not include a current or former World Motocross Champion or AMA Supercross/AMA Motocross Champion.
Steven Frossard's best final season result was a second-place ranking, Gautier Paulin's best was third, while Dylan Ferrandis' best overall result was a fourth place.
1957: Among the victorious British members, Dave Curtis and Brian Martin never become world champions, but Jeff Smith did become world champion later in 1964 and '65.
1959: Great Britain's John Draper and Dereck Rickman never become world champions, but Jeff Smith would.
1960: Great Britain won again with by Jeff Smith, Dave Curtis, and Dereck Rickman.
1963: Great Britain won again, but Dereck Rickman had new teammates, John Burton and Don Rickman. They never became world champions.
1966: Great Britain again, and Dereck Rickman had new teammates again, Dave Bickers and Vic Eastwood. None ever become world champions.
1968: The old Soviet Union team members were Arnis Angers, Evgeni Petushkov, Vladimir Pogbrniak, and Leonid Shinkarenko. None ever became world champions.
1975: The old nation of Czechoslovakia won the MXdN, and the teammates were Antonin Baborovski, Jiri Churavi, Miroslav Navacek and Zdenek Velky. None of them ever became world champions.
1982: The USA won the MXdN for the second time, but this time there were no champions in the team like Chuck Sun and Danny LaPorte the previous year. Among four team members, Danny "Magoo" Chandler and Jim Gibson never become AMA Champions, but David Bailey and Johnny O'Mara did.
1994: Twenty years ago Great Britain got its last MXdN trophy. The winning British riders were Kurt Nicoll, Paul Malin, and Rob Herring. All told, Nicoll was four-time runner-up. Paul Malin was one-time runner-up, and Herring's best overall result was a fifth place.
2013: Last year all three Belgian riders were active riders. Clement Desalle has been a three-time runner-up, Jeremy Van Horebeek got his first runner-up position this season, and Ken De Dycker's best overall result is third in the final MXGP rankings.
THIS WEEK IN GNCC (Jared Bolton)
GNCC Racing is back in action this weekend with the ITP Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Powerline Park has gained a reputation as one of the more popular stops on the tour, especially for the spectators. With its fast-paced course and infamous mud holes, it offers a flashback to the Blackwater 100 days as the “mud fleas” come out in full force to offer help to those who need it—and believe me, some will definitely need it. To spice things up a little, Australian off-road star Daniel Milner will be a new addition to the XC1 class for these final two rounds to get adjusted to the series, as he'll be making a full-time commitment to GNCC and National Enduro for Am-Pro Yamaha in 2015. Milner is fast, no doubt about that, but three-hour GNCC races are a lot different than the short sprint races he's used to in Oz or at the ISDE. It may take a little time for him to adjust, but I'd definitely expect to see him up front challenging early.
Kailub Russell will also be switching things up at Powerline Park to help benefit his good friend Rory Mead and help him make his way to the ISDE. Kailub will be racing a 150 XC two-stroke that will be auctioned off after the Ironman GNCC. To purchase tickets, head to www.shanewatts.com or stop by the KTM rig at the last two rounds of the GNCC Series to purchase your tickets. And as always, if you can't make it out to see the action firsthand, you can catch it all live online at RacerTV.com. Pro ATV racing is live at 1pm ET followed by UTV racing at 4:30 pm ET on Saturday and Pro Bikes are live at 1pm ET on Sunday. Don't miss it!
HEAD-SCRATCHING HEADLINES
“WHY IS BANKSY THE ONLY PERSON ALLOWED TO VANDALIZE BRITAIN'S WALLS?” Vice.com
HEY, WATCH IT!
Congratulations goes out to Lowell, Indiana's Jared Conley for winning the 2014 Racer X Amateur Film Festival, presented by MotoSport and ISAW! You can check out his winning entry below and the rest of the finalists' videos here.
RANDOM NOTES
In honor of their trademark 927 oil, Maxima is giving away a box of its leading two-stroke oil to one lucky winner—but you have to earn it. We’ve extended our trivia contest to Monday, where we will select randomly select a winner who has the most correct answers. Check it out here.
We may still be a week out, but it’s never too soon to start gathering your gear and getting the bike detailed—especially if you plan on showing off some cool vintage wheels—for the 24th Annual DC Vet Weekend at High Point Raceway on October 11-12. Aside from the vet racing on Saturday, and the PAMX and NECXC racing on Sunday, the Vet Weekend hosts a vintage t-shirt contest, prize giveaways to the oldest and farthest-traveled racers, a vintage swap meet, and a Saturday evening party complete with a screening of “The John Penton Story.” You can find more details on the full weekend of racing and more at High Point here. We hope to see you there!
For the latest from Canada, check out DMX Frid'Eh Update #41.
The 38th annual Kawasaki Race of Champions is being held this weekend at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ . To celebrate check out this photo of James Stewart from the event. For more information on the event, click here.
That’s it for Racerhead—thanks for stopping by. See you at the races.
