MXoN: Team Managers

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations isn’t just about the riders, but also about some of the legends of the sport who are involved, not any more as racers, but as team managers.

Obviously the two most obvious stand-outs are two former world champions in Joel Smets and Roger De Coster. With 10 FIM Motocross World Championships between them and a long list of MXoN victories Smets and De Coster will lead the two top teams into the MXoN weekend, set for Kegums, Latvia on September 27 and 28.

Smets who will be team manager of Team Belgium is one of the most passionate members of the sport of motocross and remembers well what made him so excited about this event.

“This race has always given me something special,” Smets said. “Not just as a fan when I was a kid, but also as a racer, and now as a team manager. The pride to put on a Belgian jersey is something that is special for me, and I know it’s special for all the riders who get to race for their country.”

Smets has been a member of winning teams the 1995, 1997 and 2003, and along with Stefan Everts, Steve Ramon, Patrick Caps and Marnicq Bervoets made Belgian motocross the world power between 1995 and 2005 when they won five of the ten MXoN’s organized.

“Of course winning the first time was special,”Smets said. “In 1995 standing on the podium was something I will never forget. Also racing in front of the King in 2004 was also special and winning in 1997 in Nismes, Belgium was a big occasion. Being in the same team as Stefan and Marnicq we always felt confident that we could get the job done.”

As for De Coster, his MXoN winning tally is very impressive. Wins in 1969, 72, 73, 76, 77 and 79 made sure that the name De Coster will long be remembered for his success at the biggest motocross race in the world. The victory by Belgium in 1969 was the first by Belgium since 1951, the event being dominated by the British and Swedes.

What makes De Coster’s victories with Belgium or the most interesting was he returned just two years after winning with his home country to be team manager of Team USA in 1981 when they won their first ever MXoN.

“I remember in 1981,” De Coster said. “Nobody was really serious about going for Team USA, so we took our Honda Factory team. Winning that year really opened up the door for Team USA and with more confidence success came often.”

Since that victory in ‘81 De Coster has remained the team manager of the American team and added 22 team victories as team manager to his six as a racer.

Both with huge respect for each other for the championship wins and tough attitude to racing, Smets and De Coster will once again lock horns as they try and help their teams add to what is already an impressive list of MXoN victories.