Ready to drop the clutch? A quick recap on MXoN

Place your bets! By the end of today we will have a winner for the 2014 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. So who’s your pick?

Yesterday we saw the defending champions Team Belgium triumph. Despite their MX2 rider Julien Lieber retiring from his race with mechanical issues, a win from their Open rider Kevin Strijbos and second place for Jeremy Van Horebeek in MXGP put them on pole ahead of Team France and Team Great Britain.

Meanwhile Team USA are, as always, genuine threats to the MXoN title, and aren’t shy in saying they have shown up to win. Although they are very fast, they haven’t gotten off to the best of starts here in Latvia with their MX2 star Jeremy Martin hitting the eject button through the waves and going down hard, and then their Open rider Eli Tomac getting tangled up some first turn havoc. Despite being slightly handicapped with eighth pick at the gate, we know all three riders are still blistering fast and will be up front battling for wins.

In other news, it was common knowledge Team Slovenia’s Tim Gajser was feeling a little second-hand yesterday after a big get off in qualifying. Despite being in pain, the youngster soldiered on to take a remarkable third in the Open race qualifier. Later that evening, the eighteen-year-old was still feeling uncomfortable and went for a diagnosis on the issue where he was told he has fractured his fifth and sixth vertebrae. Gajser will remain in the hospital in Riga until Monday. Updates on his condition and recovery will be posted on www.hondaproracing.com when they are available.

To check out all the video footage of yesterday, click the links below:

MXGP Qualifying race highlights: http://youtu.be/vmVf7cNaI_U

MX2 Qualifying race highlights: http://youtu.be/E5zw9WQgApU

Open Qualifying race highlights: http://youtu.be/f-zautvpW2A

Team USA’s Jeremy Martin’s crash: http://youtu.be/BfSqo9ONd6g