MXON | RIDERS TALK

With just a month before the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, and many of the teams now selected, we thought we might ask some of the leading riders what they are looking forward to for the event.

Defending MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser will make a long-awaited appearance at the MXoN after missing 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Slovenian will line up with an eye on once again winning his class, just as he did in 2019 in The Netherlands.

“It is going to be really good. You know, it is always interesting. I didn’t do Nations now for a couple of years, the last time was in 2019 in Assen. I won my class there. I am looking forward to going back after not doing it for four seasons. It is a special event, with the fans and we all know Ernee, with the big fans, it is crazy.”

Like Gajser, Frenchman Romain Febvre has also won his class at the event and will go into this years Monster Energy Motocross of Nations with huge momentum and a very strong French team behind him.

“I mean, it is in France and the ambiance will be amazing. Sure, I made a joke in the press conference, but it is just that Nation is good, but it isn’t my season’s goal, that goal is the World title. As I told you in Arnhem, last time I went there I went 1-1 for my first Nations and for sure I want to repeat that and it will be nice with riders coming from the US and see who is the fastest, because we have that question every year. For sure, it is the most exciting thing, otherwise it’s just a GP. I think the Lawrence brothers are coming and Jett was winning every moto in America from what I saw, so for sure it will be a nice battle with him, and I hope we can start at the front and see who the best is.”

While Stefan Everts ruled the Motocross of Nations for more than a decade, being the best winnig rider from this event, his son Liam Everts is a spring chicken in the event. In 2023 he will line up for Belgium on a 350cc machine, or possibly a 450cc. Whatever the case, expect him to impress around the Ernee circuit. The third generation of MXoN racer is looking forward to seeing his old friend Jett Lawrence, as they were team-mates in the Suzuki factory team some years ago.

“Yes, that is nice of course and sometimes I still text him and he is the same guy from five or six years ago and we still get along and I look forward to seeing him at the Nations. Of course we are both competing, and he has a lot of championships already and well deserved. We are just friends, and we grew up together. It was a nice year. I am not sure if I do the 450 or the 350, so that is still a question mark. I haven’t been riding it, but in the coming weeks I will get a feel for it, and I am really looking forward for it. That place has a lot of history for a lot of riders, but for sure my dad. Three GP wins in one day, also his last ever Grand Prix, it is something special. I rode last year there, and it is a very iconic venue.”

While it won’t only be Gajser, Febvre and Everts who get a lot of the attention at the Ernee circuit in early October, you can also bet these three will be either winning their class, or finish on the podium.

Photo Credit: Ray Archer