The 40 Year Wait - Aussies

Reprint from MXlarge.com

Just over 40 years ago, Team Australia made their first appearance at what was then called the Motocross des Nations. Well in fact, the men from down under didn't race the MXdN, but just the Trophée des Nations, as it seemed a slightly easier route to their first ever major international venture. All racers on 250 machines was more to the liking of the Aussies than running the 500cc class against the World's best.

The journey to Matterley Basin this weekend has been a long one, tattered in highs and lows, podiums and moto wins, but never have Team Australian lifted the Chamberlain Trophy in victory.

Of course, I mentioned it last week, Australia started their Motocross des Nations challenge way back in 1984 and I remember them heading to Europe and wondering what the hell the MXdN was.

Australians number one rider, Stephen Gall was joined by Trevor Williams, Vaughan Style and David Armstrong. Held on the weekend of 15-16 September 1984 in Varberg, Sweden.

The Aussies were competitive, but due to a series of mechanical failures, including a rare stator coil failure on Williams Kawasaki in the qualifying heats, the Australian team was relegated to the B final, but more importantly, they were now involved and knew what to expect in the following years. Stephen Gall and Trevor Williams finished in third and fourth places, respectively, Australia finished in third last position as Armstrong and Style dropped out due to mechanical issues.

Just two years later, at the Maggiora circuit in Italy, Craig Dack finished fourth in a moto and fourth overall in the 250 class and Australia finished fourth overall. A year later in USA, at a very muddy Unadilla event, it was a different story, as they struggled big time and never showed anything of their 1986 form, but in recent years, Australia has shown signs of brilliance.

Back in the 1980s and early 90s it was Jeff Leisk leading motos, and battling the Americans, then came Chad Reed in the late 90s and 2000s who brought Australia some joy at this event, being the first Australian to win a moto at the MXdN, when he won the opening race in 2001 at Namur, before Jett and Hunter Lawrence arrived and started putting Australia back on the map.

Many Aussies have shown signs of their true class, be it Craig Dack at Maggiora in 1986, Leisk in France in 1988 and Sweden in 1990, Chad Reed, first at Namur in 2001 and on so many other occasions, be it 2009 in Italy, or 2011 in France and also Dean Ferris in Germany in 2013. Hunter Lawrence winning his class at Matterley in 2017, where he won the MX2 overall, or his three second places in the MX2 class in 2018, 2022 and 2023.

Along came maybe the biggest sensation to come out of Australia, Jett Lawrence winning his class in 2022 at RedBud, then finishing third in his class at Ernee last year and picking up his second MXoN moto win.

Only Reed and Lawrence have won motos at this event for Australia, Reed in 2001 and 2011 and Lawrence in 2022 and 2023. Can the current AMA Supercross champion, become the greatest MXoN performer ever for Australia and claim another moto win, but more importantly, take the Aussies to their first Nations victory? I guess as I write this, emotions take over a little and I dream of an Aussie victory. Damn, there would be some beers spilt early in the morning in Australia if that happens and what a perfect introduction to their MXGP round in 2025.

Having followed their progress since 1984, I have covered some of those early Nations for the Aussie magazines, and felt for their losses, it is hard not to be a little excited that they could finally pull off a victory and with Jeff Leisk, Stephen Gall, Craig Dack and many of their former team-members being at Matterley Basin this year, what a celebration it would be.

Please none of that, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie BS, just the Australian National anthem and some beers would do it for the old school men, who paved the way for the Lawrence brothers and this years Australian team.

Still, if The Netherlands win, I will be more than happy to listen to their national anthem, "Het Wilhelmus", which, will also bring a tear to my eye. Whatever happens, no USA or French win please, those guys have won enough for now.

As an Aussie, who has lived in The Netherlands now for 33 years, which is more than half my life, I have the great situation, where I really have two teams in the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. For years, it was easy to root for the Dutch, as Jeffrey Herlings led the way, often with support from Glenn Coldenhoff. Their victory in 2019 at the Assen circuit was one of the highlights of working in the sport. But the Aussies haven’t ever won it, and what an amazing day that would be for the men from down under.

I know many years ago, I attended a football match with my kids, The Netherlands vs Australia in Eindhoven, and my kids wanted us to all get dressed up in the national colours of The Netherlands (orange). So, I arrive to the PSV stadium and see some Australian flags and decide I cannot follow The Netherlands. Australia scores first and I jump up on my chair and celebrate, with all those other Dutchies in orange looking at me like I am crazy. I wonder how it will be at Matterley Basin this weekend, because I am really stuck who I want to win more.