MXoN - Expect the Unexpected

The one thing that you can count on at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is don’t count on anything. More than not this event throws up something that will turn any countries team manager into a nervous wreck.

Ask Cooper Webb about the unexpected, when the Team USA rider crashed with just minutes to go in the final moto of the 2016 event, (with American just ahead of the Dutch and French) held at the Maggiora circuit in Italy. I have never seen a rider more devastated by a turn of events, and it will probably haunt him until he gets the chance to race for the red, white and blue again, and gets a victory.

Of maybe spare a thought for Team Netherlands, who were holding down first place with two corners to go of that very same event, when Tommy Searle, who said he didn’t want to get involved in the battle for the win let Romain Febvre pass and handed Team France a very lucky victory.

It seems like it wasn't possible, but that 2016 MXoN also brought us the moto victory by Jason Anderson, beating a charging Jeffrey Herlings, then being landed on by a Japanese rider and out of the event. Former Team USA rider Jeff Emig told me on that day that he has never seen so much drama in one single event, and he was correct.

Spare a thought also for Joel Smets, who with Belgium, the heavy favourites for the 2001 Motocross of Nations at the Namur circuit got some track side fencing caught in his back-wheel, and his bike stopped at the bottom of the Namur circuit. Again, when Smets was hunched over after the podium presentation, he looked a broken man. Belgium might have finished second, but that DNF cost his country victory. Smets was lucky enough to win a handful of MXoN for Belgium, so maybe that day wasn’t as harsh as 2016 was for Webb.

Another Belgian, Kevin Strijbos bike stopped at the MXoN in 2006, and Smets as team manager was there to console him. Leading the points standing going into the second moto five points up on Team USA Strijbos cruised to the side of the track, and yes, again track-side fencing caught in the back wheel, just like his team manager some five years earlier.

Holding down 11^th place in the moto and his team-mate Steve Ramon in ninth place the Belgians were battled with Team USA who held 1-4 results in that vital second race.

Again, Belgium would make the podium, but that DNF by Strijbos cost Team Belgium victory on that amazing day at Matterley Basin. Stefan Everts would win the final race of the day with Ramon fifth, while Team USA scored 2-9 results. Again, drama for the Belgians.

Of course 1990 shouldn’t be forgotten, when Team USA and Team Belgium were in a massive battle for the Chamberlain Trophy. Belgian Jacky Martens would win the opening moto with American Jeff Ward right behind him, while Dirk Geukens was fourth and Team USA rider Damon Bradshaw was nowhere to be seen, way down in the pack and struggling in the deep sand in Sweden. It looked like the American team were out of it and would lose the defense of their 1989 victory as Bradshaw again had problems and crashed in the second race of the day.

Finally team Belgium would win this thing again, but then in the final race of the day, with Belgium leading the standings Team USA rider Jeff Stanton and Team Belgium rider Dirk Geukens collided. Stanton said he was tired of the way Geukens had been trying to play with him in Saturdays practice, while Geukens said Stanton just took him out. However you look at it, that crash cost Belgium victory, as they lost by one single point to Team USA.

Of course the 1997 MXoN, held at the Nismes circuit in Belgium was one of those races where eyebrows could be raised. Team USA with Jeff Emig, Steve Lamson and John Dowd looked a good bet to battle for the victory with home favourites Belgium, led by Stefan Everts, Joel Smets and Marnicq Bervoets.

All was looking rosy for the Americans until they arrived at the Nismes circuit on the Sunday morning only to find it covered in water. Not a drop of rain had fallen during the night, but somebody sure made sure the circuit was like ice as only Jeff Emig was capable of running in the top ten and that was only in the opening moto when he finished second to Kurt Nicoll, and Team USA finished in eight place, their worst results in 20 years of them participating. Pit Beirer went 1-1 for his greatest day in the MXoN.

Of course there are a thousand stories like these ones, and I could go on forever, but lets just sit back and watch the 2018 version of the unexpected as the best motocross riders in the World fight for the Chamberlain trophy for the 71^st time.