MXoN

ERNEE (France), 25 September 2015 - The 69^th edition of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations has already taken center stage and judging by the liveliness in and around the paddock, it is bound to live up to the great expectation laid upon it.

Earlier this evening Youthstream President, Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, FIM Europe President, Dr. Wolfgang Srb, FIM/CMS Director, Mr. Tony Skillington and President of Motoclub Ernée Mr. Philippe Lecompte welcomed everyone to the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations here in Ernee, France. Mr. Luongo opened the press conference expressing his gratitude to the motoclub Ernee saying “since the great success of the motocross of nations in 2005 you can see that the organizer has done a fantastic job at improving everything here in Ernee. It is incredible.”

“You can see the investment Youthstream has made, the organizer has made and the French federation too. You can see how far the industry has come, there are so many different hospitality units, the atmosphere is incredible, you can tell it will be very full and I think it will be a great event.” Mr. Philippe Lecompte followed in saying “we have worked very hard on this event for the last 1.5 years, I want to thank the volunteers, there is around 1200 of them and they have done a great job. We have made some changes to the track and had good feedback from the riders and this is something we are very proud of”

Mr. Lecompte wrapped up his speech in thanking Youthstream and everyone involved. On behalf of the FIM Mr. Tony Skillington and Dr. Wolfgang Srb shared their enthusiasm and expressed how proud they are of how far our sport has come. They also shared their excitement for what is sure to be a great weekend of racing.

Nine of the thirty-six nations entered also joined the press conference. The defending champions Team France with Gautier Paulin #1 Marvin Musquin #2 & Romain Febvre #3 were the first to take to the stage. An excited Paulin said “last year was the perfect year for the French team, especially myself because I won all the races. This year we have a strong team and I know the public will be amazing.” Musquin said “I am really looking forward to be part of the team after my best season in the US.” Febvre, the FIM Motocross MXGP World Champion, will wear a Team France jersey for the first time in his career, “It’s my first one and I am very excited. I don’t know what to expect here at the motocross of nations, but for sure the goal is to win some motos if possible.”

The vice MXoN champions Team Belgium were next where the captain Jeremy Van Horebeek #6, who is making his seventh MXoN appearance and has never finished off of the podium said “we are the underdogs but our team, Ken De Dycker #4 and Julien Lieber #5, is still as strong as the original selection and I am confident we will do well.”

Looking to reclaim the Chamberlain Cup just as they did here at Ernee in 2005, Team USA, Justin Barcia #7, Jeremy Martin #8 and Cooper Webb #9, were confident with their manager Roger De Coster saying “we didn’t come all this way to follow.”

The team famous for their string of fourths, Team Great Britain, Shaun Simpson #10, Max Anstie #11 and Dean Wilson #12, were extremely enthusiastic about the track and are confident they have a team strong enough to get on the box, meanwhile Team Germany, Max Nagl #13, Henry Jacobi #14 and Dennis Ullrich #15 said they are aiming for a top 10 finish.

Team Italy, Ivo Monticelli #16, Michele Cervellin #17 and Samuele Bernardini #18, Team Switzerland, Valentin Guillod #19, Jeremy Seewer #20 and Andy Baumgartner #21, and Team Russia, Evgeny Bobryshev #22, Ivan Baranov #23 and Maksim Nazarov #24, were also presented with Team Estonia Priit Ratsep #25, Harri Kullas #26 and Tanel Leok #27 bringing the presentation to a close. Leok has the record for the most MXoN appearances with this weekend being the fifteenth consecutive time he will represent Estonia at the motocross of nations.

Putting a wrap on an ambient day, Monster Energy hosted a super fun pit bike race on the start straight where all the journalists and photographers covering this incredible event could bash some bars and get their adrenalin pumping ready for the most epic weekend of the year.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Monster Energy FIM MXoN

ERNEE (France), 25 September 2015 - Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the 2015 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Official merchandise is now in stock and will be available to purchase at any of the 6 stores in and around the paddock in Ernée this weekend.

For those that couldn’t make it out to Ernée, France to witness the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, all of the clothing and merchandise is available for purchase here: http://sport.fanavenue.com/mxgp/

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Monster Energy FIM MXoN

ERNEE (France), 24 September 2015 – The moment you have all been waiting for is finally here! This weekend the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will take place in Ernée where Team France will try to defend their title on home soil. It is also the ten-year anniversary of one of the most memorable motocross of nations, the 2005 edition, where American legend Ricky Carmichael with Kevin Windham and Ivan Tedesco reclaimed the trophy after a four-year drought. Can history repeat itself where Team USA will reclaim the trophy here in Ernée, the very same circuit that set them on the path of MXoN domination? Or will Team France with their strongest line up ever, Gautier Paulin, Romain Febvre and Marvin Musquin, retain the trophy for the first time in French history?

You don’t want to miss it, watch it LIVE! L’Equipe 21 will broadcast it LIVE in France while MotorsTV and Eurosport will be providing LIVE coverage across Europe.

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will also be covered by all of our other loyal broadcasters such CBS Sports Network in the United States and Canada, Mediaset in Italy, Sport1 + in Germany, Telenet and VRT in Belgium, Sport TV in Portugal, BNT in Bulgaria, Sport TV in Slovenia, BEin Sports in the middle east and Africa, and FOX Sports in Asia. Check the listings below for the screening time in your country.

Also, don’t forget to check out the 26mn Magazine ‘Behind the Gate’, which is a filmed production that covers all the action, both on and off the track, with highlights from racing, a GoPro on-board lap of the track, as well a load exclusive coverage and interviews from in and around the paddock. Behind the Gate will be screened on Eurosport International on September 30^th at 00:30 and available for the rest of the world to view on www.mxgp-tv.com.

FRANCE

L’EQUIPE 21 - LIVE

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

EUROPE 

EUROSPORT INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday 30 September – 00:30 – 26mn magazine “behind the gate”

EUROSPORT 2 – LIVE

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

MOTORS TV - LIVE

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

BELGIUM

Telenet - LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

VRT - LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

BULGARIA

BNT - LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

GERMANY

Sport 1 +  

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 – Open - LIVE

Sunday 27 September – 15:30 Race 1 MXGP – MX2 – highlights DELAYED

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP - LIVE

ITALY 

ITALIA 2

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

PORTUGAL

Sport TV5 - LIVE  

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

SLOVENIA 

Sport TV - LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

USA

CBS Sports Network

Sunday 27 September – 05:00 pm EST Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 06:00 pm EST Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 07:00 pm EST Race 3 Open - MXGP

ASIA

FOX SPORTS  3 HD – LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

THAILAND 

TRUE VISION – LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

BRAZIL 

BANDSPORTS

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

MIDDLE EAST - AFRICA  

BeIn SPORTS - LIVE 

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

AFRICA

Sport TV Africa 2 – LIVE

Sunday 27 September – 13:00 Race 1 MXGP – MX2

Sunday 27 September – 14:30 Race 2 MX2 - Open

Sunday 27 September – 16:00 Race 3 Open - MXGP

MXGP will be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

All the photos of the Monster Energy FIM MXoN will be available HERE

TIMETABLE

Saturday: Free Practice MXGP 10:00; Free practice MX2 11:00; Free Practice Open 12:00; Qualifying Heat MXGP 14:30; Qualifying Heat MX2 15:30; Qualifying Heat Open 16:30; MXGP Awards 19:45.

Sunday: Warm-up B-Final 8:40; Warm-up MXoN Group 1 9:10; Warm-up MXoN Group 2 9:40; B-Final 11:00; MXoN Race 1 (MXGP+MX2) 13:10; MXoN Race 2 (MX2+Open) 14:40; MXoN Race 3 (Open+MXGP) 16:08.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Monster Energy FIM MXoN 

ERNEE (France), 23 September 2015 – This year has taken the cake in terms of quality racing, the bar has been raised not only within the FIM Motocross World Championship but also at many other series around the globe as well, which is why the sixty-ninth edition of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations that will take place this weekend in France, is going to be something special.

This weekend, thirty-seven nations will send an army of three riders to Ernée, an iconic venue in France that will be also celebrating a decade since the ground breaking 2005 Motocross of Nations which captured the hearts of every motocross enthusiast around the world when Team USA’s greatest of all time Ricky Carmichael put in a mind blowing performance to re-claim the coveted chamberlain cup for the most successful MXoN team on paper, Team USA.

Ernée is one of the most spectator friendly tracks in the world. Almost the entire track is visible from where the fans will be watching, which means not a second of action will be missed or spoiled as Team France attempt to defend the crown on home soil in what is expected to be one of the most cutting edge editions of ‘the nations’ ever.

Speaking of Team France, it almost goes without saying that they are the hot favorites for the win this year. The team is arguably the strongest line up they’ve ever selected. They have the reigning FIM Motocross World Champion Romain Febvre in the Open class while the 2015 vice world champion and defending MXoN dominator Gautier Paulin will be leading the way in MXGP. Putting the cherry on the cake for the already stacked line up is the former MX2 world champion and the American national championship runner-up in 2015, Marvin Musquin.

Meanwhile Team USA is still out for revenge after they lost the cup back at the 2012 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Lommel, Belgium. This year Justin Barcia, a familiar face, will be leading the two youngsters Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb. Martin made his MXoN debut last year but unfortunately broke his foot in a spectacular crash through the waves, so he will be out for redemption while Webb made his 450cc debut last weekend in Glen Helen at the final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship and it would be fair to say that he impressed a lot of people and turned a lot of heads. He definitely has the pace, therefore Team USA will, as always, will be one of the strongest teams in contention.

Injuries have taken a toll on Team Belgium once again with Clement Desalle out for yet another year, so too is Kevin Strijbos. Nevertheless, we know Jeremy Van Horebeek can win races when his ducks are in line and the same can be said for his MX2 counterpart Julien Lieber. Ken De Dycker has been selected to join them at the last minute and we know he can pull something out of the bag when needed although he will be lining up very rusty this year considering he has spent most of the season on the couch.

Another team to watch will be Great Britain as the Brits are sending a super strong line up with Shaun Simpson and Max Anstie at the top of their game at the moment although they had a slight scare when Simpson crashed out of the final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship on turn one. The Scot, who will be representing Great Britain along with fellow Scot and KTM rider Dean Wilson, later posted a picture on a Social Media of a gnarly hematoma on his back, but he did confirm that he should be okay to race.

As for the Germans, Ken Roczen won’t be racing since he just had surgery on his back, so they will enter the battle with Max Nagl, Dennis Ullrich and young Henry Jacobi. Meanwhile, Australia will join the show-down with Todd Waters and Dean Ferris. As for their MX2 rider, it was Jay Wilson but he crashed off the team in practice a few days ago and the replacement is yet to be announced.

Also adding to the buzz that the nations seems to manifest is Team Switzerland, who up until the MXGP of The Netherlands looked to have one of the strongest line ups on the gate with Valentin Guillod, Arnaud Tonus and Jeremy Seewer. Unfortunately Tonus has been withdrawn due to a problem with fatigue and replaced with Andy Baumgartner.

There is always some sort of controversy leading into the nations and this year it belongs to the Italians with the federation opting to take a different approach to their team selection process. Rather than sending their fastest riders, Team Italy have decided to send a development squad which is made up of Ivo Monticelli, Michele Cervellin and Samuele Bernardini to give the youngsters some experience ahead of the 2016 Nations at Maggiora.

That about wraps up the list of teams expected to make a big splash at the 69^th edition of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, the race of the year, the one you do not want to miss! Watch it LIVE on www.mxgp-tv.com.

By clicking here you will be able to download the complete entry list of the 2015 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

TIMETABLE

Saturday: Free Practice MXGP 10:00; Free practice MX2 11:00; Free Practice Open 12:00; Qualifying Heat MXGP 14:30; Qualifying Heat MX2 15:30; Qualifying Heat Open 16:30; MXGP Awards 19:45.

Sunday: Warm-up B-Final 8:40; Warm-up MXoN Group 1 9:10; Warm-up MXoN Group 2 9:40; B-Final 11:00; MXoN Race 1 (MXGP+MX2) 13:10; MXoN Race 2 (MX2+Open) 14:40; MXoN Race 3 (Open+MXGP) 16:08.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

Monster Energy FIM MXoN

Get your tickets to the biggest and best motocross event on the globe.

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will take place on the 26th and 27th of September in Ernée, France.

Now’s your chance to secure a spot at this thrilling event, buying online and skipping the queue.

This year, the MXoN is bound to reach a whole new level of epicness as we will watch Team France try to defend their title on home soil!

Who will win?

Click HERE and BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR NATION!

Broc Glover was lucky enough, or should I say good enough to be involved in a couple of Team USA victories. It wasn’t always like it is now with Team USA being the early favorites. Back in the 1970s Team USA wasn’t expected to win, that was until 1981 when Honda sent their best.

“It was fantastic for us,” Glover said. “I mean in 1981 and 1982 teams were the Honda teams, because previously in 1978 and 1979 the manufactures spent a lot of money sending the teams over, like the teams Hannah rode in, and they were third and fourth and fifth, but they never won the Motocross des Nations and they were not expected to win it. But then they decided to not race it and a few Belgian business people talked to Roger De Coster and said we have to have an American team over here. America has to be considered at that time as one of the top five teams in the World and they had to be there. So anyway, Honda paid for the team in 1981 and they won. From then on I rode a couple of those events and got to win and it was of course a highlight of my career to race for my country.

Ricky Johnson was a multiple winner for Team USA, and race for his country from 1984, 86, 87 and finally in 1988. Two of his most memorable Motocross des Nation victories came at Unadilla, New York, when the U.S. team with Ricky Johnson, Bob Hannah and Jeff Ward won before a home crowd and Maggiora in Italy in 1986.

"The look of pride on the faces of the fans when the 'Star Spangled Banner' was played is something I’ll never forget," Johnson says, who with the rest of the team was invited to the White House to meet President Ronald Reagan after the victory. Italy has always been a special place to me and that day in Maggiora in 1986 was like the beginning of a particular love I have for the country. I love Europe and I have always taken advantage of every opportunity I had to visit Italy and many of the friends I still have there. I have raced many times in Italy and the crowd has always been amazing with me and has treated me with a support that in America riders rarely receive. ’86 Maggiora was just something I will never forget, the energy was incomparable, it was so thrilling that during the day you would often stare around and tell yourself how lucky you were to be there.”

Now this year’s Team of Justin Barcia, Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb Team USA arrive with the weight of their country on their shoulders. The Pressure will again be huge, but like they have done on so many occasions everyone expects them to perform well.

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations has seen many great names dominate this event. From John Draper as part of the British team in the 1950s until Stefan Everts and Ricky Carmichael who helped Belgium and America to success in more recent times.

Back in 1947 when the Motocross of Nations first started legends have shown the way. John Draper won with Team GB in 1950, 1953, 1956 and 1959. Former World 500cc Champion Bill Nilsson of Sweden (who recently passed away) took victories in 1955, 1958 and 1961, while Jeff Smith (another former World 500cc Champion) won it with Team GB in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964 and 1967.

The great Roger De Coster was also somebody who enjoyed success in the MXoN, winning in 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1979. Helping De Coster out in this period was Jaak Van Velthoven, who scored wins with De Coster in 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1977.  Andre Malherbe won with Belgium on three occasions, those in 1977, 1979 and 1980.

Of course the 1980’s were dominated by Team USA and a major part of that period was David Bailey who won in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986. Jeff Ward was another American rider proved even more successful, winning in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990. With his seven victories Ward is the most successful rider in the event’s history.

Ricky Johnson also won with Team USA; his wins came in 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1988.  Johnny O’Mara was also a four time winning in this period, scoring victories in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986. Jeff Stanton was also part of the domination by Team USA, scoring wins in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

When the American domination ended in 1994, it was Team Belgium that began to show the most strength, with Stefan Everts, Marnicq Bervoets and Joel Smets all getting their share of success. Everts won in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2004. Bervoets won in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Smets in 1995, 1997 and 2003.

Ricky Carmichael helped Team USA rise back to the top and was also been able to stand on top of the MXoN podium, with victories in 2000, 2005 and 2007. In recent years American rider Ryan Villopoto has wins in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Another American Ryan Dungey has wins in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Team Finland comes to the Motocross of Nations 2015 with hot young guns blazing. Valtteri Malin, 18, Miro Sihvonen, 16, and Jere Haavisto, 16, will experience their first MXoN in France. Finland's team is country's all time youngest as next youngest team wast two decades ago when Miska Aaltonen, 22, Juha-Pekka Konttinen, 18, and today's Team Finland's manager Jussi Vehviläinen, 17, made the team.

Malin will ride with KTM 450 SX-F in MXGP, Haavisto with Honda CRF250R in MX2 and Sihvonen with KTM 250 SX-F in Open.

This year KTM Motorsport Finland team's Malin has been racing the EMX250 series where he currently sits 34th in points with a best moto result 11th in the second heat in Germany.

Team Manninen Bros Honda's Haavisto is the silver medalist from last year's Honda EMX150 class and has been racing in EMX250 class this year. Last year he won plenty of races in EMX150, but lost the title only by two points due to injuries. In this year's EMX250 his best result is from Sweden where he placed 12th in the first heat and 18th overall.

Sihvonen has been racing in EMX125 class for the Belgian Diga Racing Team. Sihvonen won the second round in Valkenswaard and is currently fifth in points before the final round.

Team Finland will once again be managed by Jussi Vehviläinen who is former GP-rider, MX3 class World Championship bronze medalist and multitime Team Finland member as a rider. Vehviläinen hasn't been racing for some years now and has been concentrating running his own JPV Racing motocross training business in Finland and training camp in California. Next Winter Vehviläinen will join forces with fellow company Race SoCal to put even more effort on the training side of things.

Team Finland is aiming for the place in top 20 in this year's MXoN in France. Last year Finland placed 16th in Latvia with Ludde Söderberg, Toni Eriksson and Santtu Tiainen.

Malin, Sihvonen and Haavisto will also form Team Finland in un-official Junior World Championship race, 44th Coupe de l'Avenir, in Belgium a week after MXoN. The team's only goal is the World Title.

Finland had also other rider options for the MXoN team but Finland's number one rider Harri Kullas and MX1 riders Santtu Tiainen, Ludde Söderberg and Henric Stigell were out of the team for different reasons.

When Finland took the last MXoN medals

20 years ago, in 1995, the young Team Finland with Miska Aaltonen, J-P Konttinen and Jussi Vehviläinen placed ninth in Sverepec, Slovakia. Belgium, USA and France made the podium. One year before, in 1994, the also young team consisting of Aaltonen, Konttinen and Marko Kovalainen, 19, was 14th. Then the top three countries in Switzerland were Great Britain, USA and France.

This year's Team Finland's youngest rider Haavisto will not be the youngest Finnish rider in MXoN of all time. Current Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing's Harri Kullas, who has a citizenship of Finland and Estonia, was also 16 years old when he made his debut in MXoN in Donington Park, Great Britain in 2008. But at the time he was two weeks younger than Haavisto will be at this year's race.

Back in 2008 Kullas' teammates were today's team manager for Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing Antti Pyrhönen and multitime enduro World Championship bronze medalist Matti Seistola.

Taking a closer look at the experienced Team Finland manager Jussi Vehviläinen, the highlights of his career, beside the MX3 bronze, are third overall in Portugal MX1 GP in 2005 and second overall in Belgian MX2 GP in 2004. Vehviläinen was also strong part of Team Finland in MXoN in 2002 (Kovalainen, Pyrhönen) and 2003 (Aaltonen, Pyrhönen) when the team rode to bronze medals.

The member of Team Finland 1995 Miska Aaltonen, made his debut in MXoN at the age of 18 in 1991 alongside Pekka Vehkonen (125cc World Champion 1985) and Kurt Ljungqvist (former professional rider and nowadays CEO of Finnish Motorcycling Federation). Aaltonen was also member of Team Finland in 1998 when he, Kovalainen and Petteri Gustafsson rode to silver which is the all time best MXoN result for Finland.

Copyright: Photo: Marko Vihriä

The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations is right around the corner, and this year it is a MUST-SEE with France sending their best ever team to defend the Chamberlain Cup on home soil.

Can they be beaten? Tune into www.MXGP-TV.com on the 26^th and 27^th of September to watch it LIVE and OnDemand!

When Team USA step off the plane in Paris, France in a little over a month they will have a huge burden on their shoulders. Despite all the success of Team USA, it’s been four years now since they last won the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. 2011 at St Jean d’Angely, although back in 2011 they did have riders like Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.

This year’s team is a team for the future, youthful talent, with an abundance of raw power. With a young team of Justin Barcia, Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb this is possibly the most inexperienced team USA have ever sent to this event since their first victory in 1981.

It is also the first time since 2000 at St Jean d’Angely that a team comprises of riders who have never won the event before (in 2000 it was Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Hughes and Travis Pastrana) and only the third time in 30 years that an American team have arrived for this event with a complete team of riders who hadn’t tasted success at the MXoN. The other time came when Team USA sent their B-Team to Australia, a year that GP veteran Billy Liles, and youngsters Jeff Emig and Mike Larocco took home the victory for Team USA.

Of course in 1981 the team of Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and Chuck Sun won the event for the first time for Team USA, so since their first victory way back 34 years ago they have usually had at least one rider who had won the event in the past.

Team USA have won this event 22 times in the last 34 years, three of those 34 years they didn’t compete (2001 due to 9/11, in 2002 due to the Competition Park fiasco and in 2004 in Lierop the team just didn’t want to come). For Team USA a loss this year would be the longest stint they have gone without victory (while competing), since that first win in 81.

In 1997 and 1998 Team Belgium picked the world apart with victories in Nismes, Belgium and Foxhills, England, and in Indaiatuba, Brazil the Italian team defeated the world to win the Chamberlain Trophy. Of course the last three years have gone to France, Belgium and Germany.

For Open class rider Cooper Webb, it is a dream come true that he gets to race in the biggest motocross event in the world. Still a rookie in the 250 class in America, this young man is hungry for success.

“I’m beyond excited to be chosen to represent my country,” Webb said recently. “That’s really a dream come true and a tremendous honor. I’m really excited because it’s going to be a great experience because. I get to line up with guys that I’ve never raced with at a track I’ve never been to. Yeah, we might be at a slight disadvantage since it’s a new facility for us, but I feel like I’m a really fast learner and I feel like I’m able to adapt to any obstacle. It’s a clean slate and we’re going there for our country, so I’m excited. We’re going there to bring home that win, but at the same time we need to be smart. Anytime you get to line up at a new track against new competitors, it’s always exciting. This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid, so it should be really good!

With Yamaha having three riders in the team for the first time ever it is a big moment for the blue machines. Keith McCarty is an American motocross legend having helped Team USA to victory on other occasions, and for him it’s a great moment for the brand he has worked for many years.

“Certainly having three Yamaha riders represent Team USA is certainly something to be proud of,” McCarthy said. “I know Justin has been working really hard, and Cooper and Jeremy have both been displaying their talents in the last couple of years. And the YZs themselves have continued to improve and be the bikes to have in terms of racing. I couldn’t be prouder for the company, the riders.”

Now Team USA will prepare for this challenge, and with the youth and exuberance of these young riders you can count on some fireworks. Will victory come? For the pride and history of America in this race, let’s hope so.