MXoN - MXGP Class

The Battle of the giants is very much the way the MXGP class will be looked at for this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. When you talk about the fastest riders in the World, four names stand above all the others, and those names of Jeffrey Herlings, Eli Tomac, Antonio Cairoli and Ken Roczen have all selected to race in the MXGP class for this year’s event, set for the Redbud circuit in USA.

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings, who will race for Team The Netherlands, is the rider many consider to be the fastest rider in the World, due to his victories in last year’s USGP and also a round of the championship Tomac was racing in. The Dutchman is excited to go to USA and once again rule, or at least, he wants to battle with the likes of Tomac and Roczen.

“The European guys are not just fast in Europe,” Herlings said. “But also to really say who is faster, it’s hard to say. Last year I went to USA, I rode with Tomac in his championship and I beat him there, but he was riding for a championship and we shouldn’t underestimate that as well. The weekend after in the USGP, I beat him straight up in a fight in the second race, and the first race he took holeshot and Tony and I were 15th in the first turn, so that wasn’t a real fight. I hope this year, me and Tony, because we are the two top guys from here, and Roczen and Tomac, we can all have a good start in that final race, and see who the fastest guy is this season, and we will be racing on his home turf and a track they know.”

As for Tomac, he knows that competing for Team USA will bring pressure, he also knows that individual honours bring something extra, but it’s a team victory that is on the mind of the American champion. Having lost twice now with Team USA, in 2013 and 2014, and having suffered crashes in both events, you can be sure the AMA number one will want to keep it on two wheels, rather than risk everything for a race win.

“Having the opportunity to race the MXoN,” Tomac said. “To represent your country in front of the world stage is a feeling like no other, and this year with it being at RedBud, it’s going to be next level for the entire event, and fans will be going absolutely bonkers. Myself, Justin (Barcia), and Aaron (Plessinger) will be ready for the battle, and it’s a track that suits our riding style. I have a really good feeling this is the year the USA gets the Chamberlain Trophy back in hand.”

So when the MXGP class line-up on the start gate at this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, make sure you have a good vantage point, as the battle of the World’s best will be something not to be missed.

Author:

Geoff Meyer