Dissected: MXoN Preview

Previewing the MXoN

Team France were just five points down on the eventual winners, Team USA, when the Motocross of Nations last took place in Great Britain. The French will have a chance to redeem themselves on British soil this weekend though, as they are entering Matterley Basin with a considerable amount of momentum on their side. The last time that they failed to claim the Chamberlain Trophy was back in 2013! However, there are some questions surrounding the team currently. An unknown quantity, Christophe Charlier, has been pulled over from the FIM EnduroGP World Championship to fill the MX2 berth.

Dylan Ferrandis was originally slated to fill the spot, but then broke his scaphoid at the penultimate round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series. Benoit Paturel, who was down as the reserve rider, sustained internal injuries days later, hence why the nation suddenly had to search further afield. Charlier achieved some success in the MX2 class a handful of years ago, including a moto win at Matterley Basin in 2013, so perhaps he will be able to uncover that fire this weekend?

Gautier Paulin is set to lead the defending champions into action yet again and has recorded impressive finishes in the premier division lately. Paulin has never finished higher than third overall on a 450F at this venue, which is somewhat of a surprise. The jump-laden layout should suit his flamboyant style perfectly. Romain Febvre, who has won three of the four motos that he has competed in at the Motocross of Nations, will complete the team. The former champion has dealt with set-up and health issues this season, hence why he has only stood on the podium a handful of times, but those appear to be in the rear-view mirror now.

Romain Febvre and Gautier Paulin enjoyed success one year ago (Monster Energy/Ray Archer)

The Netherlands rarely garner too much attention in the bench-racing discussions that take place prior to the Motocross of Nations. It is time to take notice of the Dutch, however, as some pundits are labelling them as the favourites entering the event this year. It is easy to forget that they would have actually won the Chamberlain Trophy a year ago, had Romain Febvre not pushed past Tommy Searle on the final lap and gained an additional point. Although The Netherlands are entering the event with the same three riders as they had a year ago, they may be in a stronger position than ever before.

Jeffrey Herlings has worked through the various teething problems that he encountered at the start of the season and is arguably the man to beat on a 450F. If everything goes to plan then Herlings, who will once again pilot his Red Bull KTM in the Open category, should slide into the top three in each moto. A brace of thirds would actually be considered a disappointment for Herlings, who will undoubtedly shoot for individual glory.

Glenn Coldenhoff, who will contest the MXGP class for the team, recorded a handful of mediocre results at the start of the season, but turned things around at the halfway point. Eleventh was the average finish that he acquired through the first half of the MXGP season, for example, but an eighth was his average through the final portion. Brian Bogers is the greatest question mark on the Dutch team, as he has endured a turbulent campaign in MX2 that has featured less trips to the podium than he has experienced in the past.

Jeffrey Herlings rarely falters at the Motocross of Nations (KTM Images/Ray Archer)

Team USA decimated the competition when the Motocross of Nations was held at Matterley Basin in 2006. James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Ivan Tedesco represented the team and did not drop outside of the top ten at all across the weekend. That consistency was unmatched, as a lot of the other teams had a DNF on their scorecard, hence why they were so unstoppable. The American riders will hope to unearth some consistency again this weekend, as that is often the key to success at this unique race.

Team USA enter the unknown whenever they travel across the Atlantic to compete at the Motocross of Nations, but two members of the team are already familiar with Matterley Basin. Zach Osborne, who will contest the MX2 division and also lead the team into action, reeled off countless laps around the venue earlier in his career and will undoubtedly put that to good use. Osborne will pilot a 250F, of course, so will be at a disadvantage when matched up against the MXGP and Open riders, but do not be surprised if he wins an individual moto. Antonio Cairoli managed it on the smaller bike back in 2006!

Cole Seely will fill the MXGP berth and undoubtedly be considered a question mark by some. The Honda HRC rider just completed a successful outdoor season though and hovered around the podium more often than not in the second half of the series. Thomas Covington is in a similar position, as he is stepping up to the bigger bike and racing it at the highest level for the first time, but believes that he actually rides the 450F better.

Cole Seely is a rather large question mark on Team USA (Honda Racing Corporation)

Team Belgium appeared to be extremely strong just a couple of weeks ago, as Clement Desalle was set to lead the team into action. Desalle has not competed at the Motocross of Nations since 2013, when Team Belgium claimed an emphatic victory, because some untimely injuries have scuppered his plans. That has occurred again this year, as the Monster Energy KRT rider injured his lower back at the MXGP of The Netherlands just three weeks ago. Who has been drafted in as his replacement? Kevin Strijbos, a wily veteran, who actually competed at this event back in 2006.

Although some will fear that he is not going to be competitive so late in his career, his record at the MXoN is rather outstanding. Four individual podiums have been acquired by Strijbos and he has dropped outside of the top eleven in a moto just once! Just last year he slid into the MXGP class and finished third overall. Another veteran, Jeremy Van Horebeek, will fill the other 450F spot on Team Belgium and often rises to the occasion on the world’s greatest stage.

Julien Lieber was supposed to return to the MX2 berth for the first time in two years, but sustained a knee injury at the MXGP of Pays de Montbeliard and had to withdraw. Team Belgium were left scrambling to find a replacement, once again, but did not have to look too hard. Brent Van Doninck will return to the squad for the second season in succession, but pilot a machine that he is much more familiar with this year. That should help him improve on his results from Maggiora and break into the top fifteen in at least one moto.

Brent Van Doninck has been drafted into Team Belgium at the last minute (Monster Energy/Ray Archer)

Team Great Britain will step onto home soil with one of their strongest teams in recent memory. Max Anstie will act as the team leader, a position that he has undoubtedly earned, following a successful term in the premier category. Anstie has enjoyed success at the Motocross of Nations in the past, as well as some crushing blows, but has a lot of momentum in his corner this time around. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has been competitive on all surfaces this season, jostled with some former champions and proven that he belongs at the front of the field. Max will expect to lead the team to a podium finish and also contend for an individual victory.

Tommy Searle has had his sights set on the MXoN for quite some time, following a turbulent season. Seeing him race around Matterley Basin on a 250F will bring back brilliant memories for a lot of fans; he swept both motos in an incredible fashion back in 2012. Searle also enjoyed success when he last contested the MX2 class at the Motocross of Nations, as he romped to an individual victory in Latvia three years ago. The British fans can rely on the fact that he’ll use that experience to put his Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki near the front in each race.

Dean Wilson will complete the team, much to the delight of British fans, and race around Matterley Basin for the first time. Wilson has a brilliant record at the Motocross of Nations, as he has finished inside of the top ten in seven of the eight motos that he has completed at the event. That consistency also helped him claim fourth in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series earlier this year.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Husqvarna/J.P Acevedo