1. What do you think of this year's Team USA selections?
Jason Thomas: Given the circumstances, I am good with it. I would be absolutely thrilled if we were sending an enthusiastic Ryan Dungey, Eli Tomac, and Cooper Webb on a 250, but that's just not reality in 2016. I believe AMart wants to be there and Cooper Webb is on record with his intentions of winning in Italy. The Jason Anderson choice was shrouded in controversy as Tomac bowed out just last week when everyone thought he was a lock for the MX1 spot. The biggest concern I have is with Anderson's focus on an outdoor race in late September when everything else in his world will be pointing toward supercross.
The one thing I am excited about and I feel is also very crucial is that all three of these riders actually want to be there. Enthusiasm in both the preparation and the actual racing is key for this event. If I were picking the riders, the "want to" would be almost as important as the ability itself.
Jason Weigandt: I'm fine with these selections. The 250 Class here is packed with talent so you knew Webb would move up to the 450, and it's splitting hairs to pick between Alex Martin and Joey Savatgy. In this case, it’s pretty clear Alex, who shares a team and trainer with Webb, will probably mesh with Webb better than Joey, who got into a screaming match with Webb after Washougal’s second moto. The Alex pick makes sense although I must add I'm in complete and total shock that Alex has come this far in his career. This isn't even a controversial pick! Amazing improvements from AMart the last two seasons. Alex Martin, everyone! He’s legit fast enough to be on Team USA and no one would even question it!
I know Anderson will puzzle some but I think today's training programs have advanced to where he can get enough work in during the week to make up for his lack of gate drops over the summer. Look, this isn't the same as Tomac/Dungey/Webb but this is what the circumstances dictate and it's probably the best trio based on all that. Maybe you can make a case for Justin Barcia over Anderson, but if Jason and his team say they're pumped on going, that means a lot.
Steve Matthes: Yeah, I mean if Eli Tomac and Ryan Dungey don't want to go then it's like Ghostbusters—who ya gonna call? Savatgy would have also been a logical choice, but like Weege said, his beef with Webb probably ended his chances because Webb was going no matter what. Justin Barcia's ridden great at this event before but this year he hasn't been the same guy and Anderson had beaten Barcia in all six motos they raced together before Jason's injury. And Anderson "only" broke a collarbone, which isn’t a huge deal. Webb was going to be on this team no matter what and Anderson and AMart are logically the next dudes in line. I do think having raced this event before (even if it was for Puerto Rico) is helpful, so Martin has that in his back pocket.
2. What do you think of riders like Ryan Dungey (last year) and Eli Tomac (this year) asking not to be selected?
Thomas: I am torn on this because I can understand their wishes due to the ever-growing schedule. But the patriotic side of me wants to say "man up and race”. The addition of off-season races that these riders are being forced into has opened a window to bow out of an "optional" race like the Motocross of Nations. Of all of the off-season races, the Motocross of Nations is the most prestigious and important, in my opinion, which makes it such a shame that it is the one getting the axe.
Weigandt: Okay, no one on earth is "pumped" to not see all of the best riders on the gate. I'm still bummed we never got a Ricky Carmichael/James Stewart/Travis Pastrana team, which seemed inevitable back in the early 2000s. Can you imagine the hype around that team?
I can't blame Tomac, though. Right now the Motocross of Nations is a tough fit for the American riders. It sets up nicely as an extra GP round for the riders who race the MXGP series regularly. If you're Tony Cairoli, you roll out one more weekend on the same bike, with the same crew, with track conditions and a schedule you're used to right after your regular season ends. For the Americans, you're taking on a lot of pressure, spending a lot of money, and dealing with all sorts of logistics, while your main competitors at Anaheim are sitting back going Netflix and chill. I think someone needs to slip Team USA one hundred grand under the table and say, "Sorry you have to come all this way but it's massive for the fans to have you here, thank you and here’s something for the budget." I want to see all the best riders race this event, but it shouldn't be taken for granted. Until then, I don't mind a guy exercising some leverage.
Matthes: I don't like it, but I understand it. And don't forget, people, all-American heroes and badasses like Jeff Stanton and Damon Bradshaw also asked to not go one year, so it's not like it's just these guys. Dungey's excuse last year was fine—he hadn't ridden "Dungey-like" in his last few appearances and he was getting married. I get it. I thought he'd be in this year even with injury. I know he doesn't want to go to the SMX Cup two weeks after MXoN but it's clear his team said, "You don’t have to do MXoN but you need to do the SMX Cup.”
As for Tomac, well, when the energy drink companies force you to race two meaningless races in front of a total number of fans that will probably equal half of what was at Washougal and has all the importance of a Manitoba fall series race, you've got to take a stand somewhere and Eli said no to the Motocross of Nations. Sad, but I get it. Nice work, everyone. Whether it's the energy drink guys, the OEM's, the promoters, you've made two of America's best racers say "I'm busy" for perhaps the one event that the entire world of motocross fans get excited for. Great work, guys, you should be really proud of yourselves for this one.
Which country is the favorite to win the 2016 Motocross of Nations?
France 1184 votes - 41.7%
United States 1225 votes - 43.1%
Belgium 305 votes - 10.7%
Great Britain 37 votes - 1.3%
Other 90 votes - 3.2%
3. Who is the favorite for this year's Chamberlain Trophy?
Thomas: I don't think there is a clear favorite as of now. France is the two-time defending champs but with Dylan Ferrandis going down to injury and Musquin vacating the 250 Class, I see a possible vulnerability with Benoit Paturel's entrance. Romain Febvre will be great and Gautier Paulin is generally a gamer for the MXoN but as I said, the loss of Ferrandis opens the door.
Belgium may have the best claim as the favorite as all three of their riders are legitimate MXGP podium contenders. Kevin Strijbos is a race winner this year, Clement Desalle is world-class year-in and year-out and Jeremy Van Horebeek's willingness to drop down to the 250 makes them a formidable foe.
Team USA will be an interesting combination of youthful exuberance and veteran experience. Both Webb and Anderson are more than willing to push back if anyone wants to start trouble, which often times happens at this event. They have the chip on their shoulder that I like for a "USA versus the world" type event. Martin has done this event several times, albeit for Puerto Rico, and will have insight for Anderson's first go round.
I think this will be the podium with Great Britain as the other possibility. As for who finishes where, that's anybody's guess.
Weigandt: Team USA can win this. Absolutely. But that Belgian team sure looks strong, plus those dudes are super experienced in this event. I'm interested to see what the Dutch can do, assuming they will have a healthy Jeffrey Herlings and Glenn Coldenhoff on big bikes, and someone like Brian Bogers in MX2. People thought the French squad was a B team two years ago and that team won. So much of this race comes down to luck and just having a good day. Last year Team USA rode awesome but needed to catch a break, and the Frenchmen didn't give them an opening.
The days of the Yanks just going out and spanking everyone by running 1-2 in every moto are probably past, but this team can stay in the hunt, and if the right things happen, they can get it done. Watch out for the Red Knights (Belgium), though.
Matthes: With Tomac and Dungey bowing out, with Ferrandis hurt, Team Great Britain not having any standout stars to pick from, I think that little team to the north might be able to sneak in there. Yes, I'm talking about Team Canada! Yes, we've never finished better than, I think, ninth in the MXoN, and yes our two best riders, Colton Facciotti and Cole Thompson, told the team to beat it, but we've got all the motivation to get it done. T-Dags [Tyler Medaglia] is a racer, man, and now that he's off that dumb 350 and onto a 450, he's been way better. In fact, he just scored his best Canadian national finish of the year!
And Kaven Benoit, well, all he's done is rack off two-straight MX2 titles and win a national [in MX1] two weeks ago. He also performed very well two years ago in Latvia.
You want more? Well, Shawn Maffenbeier has really come into his own this year with tremendous rides in the MX2 Class. THIS COULD BE THE YEAR!!! Rollerball, Too Trick and The Sweeper are going to be proud of this team. Belgium's good for sure, and we'll need some luck, but I'm liking the odds. Bring it on, eh?
