After moto two, Team France is dominating the 2023 FIM Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, with Maxime Renaux and Tom Vialle scoring a 1-2 finish overall for the team in the second moto on home soil. This, coupled, with teammate Romain Febvre winning the first moto earlier, gives France a big lead heading into the third moto later today. 

Team Australia sits second after Hunter Lawrence netted a fifth in the second moto despite a brief fall, and Dean Ferris was a decent 12th. Team USA's hopes for a podium took a big blow when RJ Hampshire got caught in a massive first-turn pileup that claimed several other top riders. RJ put in a great comeback to get all the way back to 10th. Christian Craig got a good start but also fell and was back in 20th at one point. He came back to 16th.

The first moto is complete at the 2023 FIM Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. France is looking strong via a first moto win by Romain Febvre and a best-of-MX2 performance from Tom Vialle, who finished eighth overall. Febvre had to battle Jorge Prado hard to win the moto, as Prado holeshot, Febvre took the lead from him, and then Prado repassed. Down the stretch, Febvre worked hard to reclaim a big win on home soil.

Team USA's Aaron Plessinger rode well, getting as high as third in the moto after Team Germany's Ken Roczen stalled. Roczen was able to get him back for third, and Swiss rider Jeremy made a last-lap pass on Plessinger to steal fourth, pushing Plessinger to fifth. RJ Hampshire suffered a bad start and then got knocked down on lap one. He fought back up to 16th.

Team Australia didn't get the results they wanted, as Jett Lawrence started fourth but tipped over on lap one, pushing him back to last. He rode a great race to get all the way back to sixth, passing Tim Gajser on the last lap. Hunter Lawrence was the second 250 rider to cross the line, in 10th. Germany, with Roczen's third and Simon Laengenfelder's 14th, is also in contention.

Saturday

Saturday's qualifying heat races for gate picks for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations is complete. On Saturday, each rider from each team races in individual motos in their class, and the top two finishes from each team are combined to create a ranking for gate picks on Sunday (each team throws away its lowest Saturday score).

France led the way after the heat races, with Maxime Renaux winning the Open heat race and Tom Vialle making a last-lap pass on Germany's Simon Laegnfendr to win the MX2 heat. Hunter Lawrence was third. France used those scores to create an unbeatable 1-1, which gives them first gate pick for tomorrow's racing.

In the Open Heat, France's Renaux won with relative ease.