Team USA have a long list of legends who have ridden for their country in the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. As the winningest country in the event, with 23 victories, the will always be a contender, not matter what team they bring.
From their first victory in 1981 at the Lommel circuit in Belgium, to their last at the St Jean d’Angely circuit in France, they have produced brilliance. Sometimes a little lucky, but usually just too good for the opposition. We caught up with two of the legends of this event, first up winner Danny Laporte, from the 1981 team, and 1993 and 1996 winner, Jeremy McGrath.
McGrath rode for Team USA on two occasions in 1993, and 1996. The Supercross legend didn’t let America down as he pulled off victories on both occasions, although in 1993 as a rookie he went into the event nervous and not sure how well he would do. Around the very old school European circuit of Schwanenstadt, in Austria, McGrath finished fourth in his very first MXoN race, and helped Team USA to victory.
“Obviously I have spent a lot of my racing in Europe,” McGrath said. “As a rider, to get invited (to the MXoN), I was invited several times, and I managed to race for Team USA twice, and both times we won. Amazingly enough it was two different experiences. I went in 1993 and I was a young kid, and didn’t really have much experience riding motocross, and I wasn’t very good. I was the weak link in the team, but I managed to get one score that was good enough and we got the win.”
Three years later at the Jerez circuit in Spain, Team USA completely dominated, and McGrath was a major part of their success story. McGrath, Jeff Emig and Steve Lamson all won their class, and gave the rest of the world little chance of beating them.
“In 1996, I was a much better rider and we won the Motocross of Nations again. We went and won everything, and that experience was one of the best racing experiences in my career. The level of the Europeans is maybe better than our guys now. I think the Motocross of Nations is a race any motorcycle enthusiast should see.”
In 1981 Team USA, with Chuck Sun, Danny Laporte, Johnny O’Mara and Donny Hansen sent the Grand Prix riders packing as they dominated the event. Harry Everts and Eric Geboers of the Belgian team (and favourites) couldn’t believe the speed of the American riders around the tough Lommel circuit. It would be the start of the most dominating era in MXoN history and one that would prove that America was a force in World Motocross. Danny Laporte remembered it well.
“The US was having trouble putting a team together,” Laporte said. “So, we went with our (Honda) team, myself, Johnny O’Mara, Donny Hansen and Chuck Sun. I had no idea what I was doing, and it was the first time we ever won a championship at the Motocross of Nations.”