The ‘wall’ has come crashing down once again in Germany.

This year’s Motocross of Nations at Teutschenthal, in the former East Germany, went down to the wire with the final sledge-hammer blow delivered this time by the men of Belgium.

Mentored by former world motocross champion Joel Smets, Team Belgium riders Clement Desalle (Open Class), Jeremy Van Horebeek (MX2) and Ken De Dycker (MX1) silenced the vocal home crowd at this “Olympic Games of motocross” as they shattered the defending champion Germans and blasted away perennial favourites the United States to claim the 2013 MXoN in the final race of the weekend.

Even as Desalle was in the medical centre receiving treatment following his first-turn crash at the all-important final (MX1 and Open class) race of the day, the rest of his team battled on, De Dycker managing to hold off Russian Evgeny Bobryshev and crowd-favourite Max Nagl, of Germany, in the charge for the finish line and he therefore doing enough to seal the Chamberlain Trophy.

That final race was won by Team Italy’s MX1 world champion Antonio Cairoli, but runner-up spot was enough for De Dycker to give Team Belgium the winning points.

After discarding Desalle’s non-score in that final race, Belgium eventually won by three points from Team USA, with Team Italy another three points further back.

Race day’s favourites after impressive qualifying results the previous day, Team Australia eventually had to settle for fourth place overall, while the trio from France rounded out the top five.

Just as in Belgium last year, Team USA proved to be very strong, but they were nothing like the dominant force of previous years.

With race wins going to European riders, Italian Antonio Cairoli and German Ken Roczen, it showed that once again Europe is the hotbed of the sport.

In the battle for individual class honours, Cairoli won the MX1 class overall with 1-1 results, American Justin Barcia took the Open class with 4-11 results and Roczen won the MX2 class with a 1-2 score-line.

Team New Zealand’s trio — Mount Maunganui riders Cody Cooper and Rhys Carter and Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont — struck problems halfway through the day and had to settle for a disappointing 20th overall of the 40 nations entered.

New Zealand finished one point behind Norway and ahead of the first of the nations that missed qualifying for Sunday’s main races, Peurto Rico, Ireland and Canada.

It is never easy to travel to the opposite side of the world and race against the sport’s elite, but it became mission impossible for the Kiwis when Cooper, the squad’s most experienced rider and the current national MX1 champion, was struck down with mechanical problems and forced to withdraw from the second of Sunday’s three championship races.

Just four laps into the day’s second 30-minute race, a rock flew up and jammed the rear suspension on Cooper’s bike.

He had no option but to withdraw from the race, leaving the three-rider Kiwi squad in a perilous position.

With five of six races to count towards the total (teams to discard their worst result) New Zealand had to count on outstanding results for the other races and that just wasn’t possible for the rookie riders, with the odds so heavily stacked against them.

Cooper (Open Class) finished 32nd in his other outing, as Carter (MX1) managed 33rd and 34th, while Lamont (MX2) twice finished 34th.

“I think the best we could have hoped for was to finish 10th, if everything fell into place,” said Team New Zealand manager Josh Coppins, of Motueka.

“Unfortunately everything didn’t fall into place. I think the challenge of the track and the toughness of this event caught the guys out a little bit.

“They will be the first to admit that they were out of their depth on this type of surface and this type of track. That’s part of the reason why we are here. This is a young team and we’ll come back stronger next year.”

© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

 

Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations – Results

Race 1 (MX1 + MX2) – Classification

 

1 13 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 33:57.542

2 2 Roczen, Ken GER DMSB KTM 34:05.377

3 22 Searle, Tommy GBR ACU Kawasaki 34:07.680

4 29 Ferris, Dean AUS MA Yamaha 34:12.956

5 16 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM Kawasaki 34:13.798

6 7 Dungey, Ryan USA AMA KTM 34:14.567

7 5 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB Kawasaki 34:15.704

8 4 de Dycker, Ken BEL FMB KTM 34:38.816

9 55 Guillod, Valentin SUI FMS KTM 34:42.353

10 28 Metcalfe, Brett AUS AMA Kawasaki 34:42.824

11 1 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB Honda 34:50.047

12 17 Tixier, Jordi FRA FFM KTM 34:55.874

13 14 Lupino, Alessandro ITA FMI Kawasaki 35:01.596

14 32 Tonkov, Aleksandr RUS MFR Honda 35:02.303

15 52 Lynggaard, Kasper DEN DMU Yamaha 35:03.135

16 8 Tomac, Eli USA AMA Honda 35:03.840

18 23 Nicholls, Jake GBR ACU KTM 35:04.806

19 11 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 35:10.628

20 74 Butron, Jose ESP RFME KTM 35:19.587

21 19 Krestinov, Gert EST EMF Kawasaki 35:22.478

22 10 de Reuver, Marc NED KNMV KTM 35:29.801

23 71 Rauchenecker, Pascal AUT OeAMTC KTM 35:31.422

24 41 Ivanovs, Davis LAT LAMSF Kawasaki 35:31.950

25 70 Schmidinger, Günter AUT OeAMTC Honda 35:32.450

26 61 Smola, Frantisek CZE ACCR KTM 33:47.414

27 62 Neugebauer, Filip CZE DMSB Kawasaki 33:58.747

28 59 Kullas, Harri FIN SML KTM 33:59.044

29 58 Tiainen, Santtu FIN SML Honda 34:04.312

30 25 Goncalves, Rui POR FMP KTM 34:09.560

31 26 Alberto, Paulo POR FMP Honda 34:10.225

32 20 Kahro, Erki EST EMF KTM 34:10.539

33 43 Carter, Rhys NZL MNZ Suzuki 34:28.109

34 44 Lamont, Kayne NZL MNZ KTM 34:28.570

35 49 Heibye, Even NOR NMF KTM 34:30.950

36 53 Olsen, Stefan Kjer DEN DMU Honda 34:40.151

37 40 Justs, Augusts LAT LAMSF Honda 34:41.993

38 73 Barragan, Jonathan ESP RFME KTM 34:48.659

39 50 Klingsheim, Magne NOR NMF Yamaha 35:25.261

40 31 Bobryshev, Evgeny RUS MFR Honda 6:12.830 3

 

Race 2 (MX2 + Open) – Classification

 

1 2 Roczen, Ken GER DMSB KTM 33:32.919

2 8 Tomac, Eli USA AMA Honda 33:33.472

3 6 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB Suzuki 34:21.946

4 9 Barcia, Justin USA AMA Honda 34:29.888

5 29 Ferris, Dean AUS MA Yamaha 34:37.707

6 21 Leok, Tanel EST EMF TM 34:44.045

7 5 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB Kawasaki 34:47.415

8 14 Lupino, Alessandro ITA FMI Kawasaki 34:49.543

9 18 Charlier, Christophe FRA FFM Yamaha 34:55.702

10 32 Tonkov, Aleksandr RUS MFR Honda 35:00.828

11 23 Nicholls, Jake GBR ACU KTM 35:05.095

12 17 Tixier, Jordi FRA FFM KTM 35:07.782

13 42 Karro, Matiss LAT LAMSF KTM 35:12.672

14 15 Philippaerts, David ITA FMI Honda 35:14.300

15 33 Mikhaylov, Evgeny RUS MFR KTM 35:15.020

16 11 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 35:15.602

17 74 Butron, Jose ESP RFME KTM 35:17.005

18 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR ACU Yamaha 33:46.990

19 72 Walkner, Matthias AUT OeAMTC KTM 33:47.886

20 30 Waters, Todd AUS MA KTM 33:48.774

21 54 Larsen, Nikolaj DEN DMU Honda 33:48.991

22 26 Alberto, Paulo POR FMP Honda 33:58.162

23 59 Kullas, Harri FIN SML KTM 34:00.721

24 56 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS Suzuki 34:06.752

25 62 Neugebauer, Filip CZE DMSB Kawasaki 34:11.723

26 71 Rauchenecker, Pascal AUT OeAMTC KTM 34:23.305

27 53 Olsen, Stefan Kjer DEN DMU Honda 34:26.436

28 41 Ivanovs, Davis LAT LAMSF Kawasaki 34:28.306

29 63 Michek, Martin CZE ACCR KTM 34:28.619

30 20 Kahro, Erki EST EMF KTM 34:41.459

31 57 Auberson, Killian SUI FMS KTM 34:46.812

32 75 Lozano, Alvaro ESP RFME Yamaha 34:53.799

33 51 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR NMF Kawasaki 34:58.349

34 44 Lamont, Kayne NZL MNZ KTM 35:06.581

35 50 Klingsheim, Magne NOR NMF Yamaha 33:41.528

36 60 Söderberg, Ludvig FIN SML KTM 33:45.007

37 12 Brakke, Herjan NED KNMV Yamaha 34:30.829

38 27 Santos, Hugo POR FMP KTM 16:47.152

39 45 Cooper, Cody NZL MNZ Suzuki 8:16.291

40 3 Ullrich, Dennis GER DMSB KTM 6:35.236

 

Race 3 (MX1 + Open) – Classification

 

1 13 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 34:41.993

2 4 de Dycker, Ken BEL FMB KTM 34:44.842

3 31 Bobryshev, Evgeny RUS MFR Honda 34:45.138

4 1 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB Honda 34:46.602

5 22 Searle, Tommy GBR ACU Kawasaki 34:52.476

6 16 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM Kawasaki 34:54.491

7 7 Dungey, Ryan USA AMA KTM 35:05.683

8 28 Metcalfe, Brett AUS AMA Kawasaki 35:21.254

9 10 de Reuver, Marc NED KNMV KTM 35:24.048

10 15 Philippaerts, David ITA FMI Honda 35:25.423

11 9 Barcia, Justin USA AMA Honda 35:26.255

12 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR ACU Yamaha 35:28.027

13 30 Waters, Todd AUS MA KTM 35:35.114

14 55 Guillod, Valentin SUI FMS KTM 35:47.501

15 72 Walkner, Matthias AUT OeAMTC KTM 35:47.908

16 25 Goncalves, Rui POR FMP KTM 35:48.428

17 21 Leok, Tanel EST EMF TM 35:54.506

18 19 Krestinov, Gert EST EMF Kawasaki 36:04.860

19 54 Larsen, Nikolaj DEN DMU Honda 36:13.650

20 73 Barragan, Jonathan ESP RFME KTM 36:24.490

21 61 Smola, Frantisek CZE ACCR KTM 36:27.794

22 63 Michek, Martin CZE ACCR KTM 36:30.062

23 57 Auberson, Killian SUI FMS KTM 36:33.792

24 58 Tiainen, Santtu FIN SML Honda 34:50.561

25 70 Schmidinger, Günter AUT OeAMTC Honda 34:53.497

26 49 Heibye, Even NOR NMF KTM 35:00.513

27 60 Söderberg, Ludvig FIN SML KTM 35:19.158

28 75 Lozano, Alvaro ESP RFME Yamaha 35:24.755

29 40 Justs, Augusts LAT LAMSF Honda 35:30.169

30 18 Charlier, Christophe FRA FFM Yamaha 35:55.016

31 27 Santos, Hugo POR FMP KTM 36:10.593

32 45 Cooper, Cody NZL MNZ Suzuki 36:17.312

33 12 Brakke, Herjan NED KNMV Yamaha 35:09.731

34 43 Carter, Rhys NZL MNZ Suzuki 35:46.062

35 42 Karro, Matiss LAT LAMSF KTM 24:50.551

36 33 Mikhaylov, Evgeny RUS MFR KTM 19:20.227

37 51 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR NMF Kawasaki 36:20.870

38 52 Lynggaard, Kasper DEN DMU Yamaha 6:37.934

39 3 Ullrich, Dennis GER DMSB KTM 0:00.000 0

 

Nations Classification

 

1 Belgium 27

 

2 Race 3 4 DE DYCKER, Ken FMB KTM

3 Race 2 6 DESALLE, Clement FMB Suzuki

7 Race 2 5 VAN HOREBEEK, Jeremy FMB Kawasaki

7 Race 1 5 VAN HOREBEEK, Jeremy FMB Kawasaki

8 Race 1 4 DE DYCKER, Ken FMB KTM

 

2 USA 30

2 Race 2 8 TOMAC, Eli AMA Honda

4 Race 2 9 BARCIA, Justin AMA Honda

6 Race 1 7 DUNGEY, Ryan AMA KTM

7 Race 3 7 DUNGEY, Ryan AMA KTM

11 Race 3 9 BARCIA, Justin AMA Honda

16 Race 1 8 TOMAC, Eli AMA Honda

 

3 Italy 33

1 Race 3 13 CAIROLI, Antonio FMI KTM

1 Race 1 13 CAIROLI, Antonio FMI KTM

8 Race 2 14 LUPINO, Alessandro FMI Kawasaki

10 Race 3 15 PHILIPPAERTS, David FMI Honda

13 Race 1 14 LUPINO, Alessandro FMI Kawasaki

14 Race 2 15 PHILIPPAERTS, David FMI Honda

 

4 Australia 40

4 Race 1 29 FERRIS, Dean MA Yamaha

5 Race 2 29 FERRIS, Dean MA Yamaha

8 Race 3 28 METCALFE, Brett AMA Kawasaki

10 Race 1 28 METCALFE, Brett AMA Kawasaki

13 Race 3 30 WATERS, Todd MA KTM

20 Race 2 30 WATERS, Todd MA KTM

 

5 France 44

5 Race 1 16 PAULIN, Gautier MCM Kawasaki

6 Race 3 16 PAULIN, Gautier MCM Kawasaki

9 Race 2 18 CHARLIER, Christophe FFM Yamaha

12 Race 2 17 TIXIER, Jordi FFM KTM

12 Race 1 17 TIXIER, Jordi FFM KTM

30 Race 3 18 CHARLIER, Christophe FFM Yamaha

 

6 Great Britain 49

3 Race 1 22 SEARLE, Tommy ACU Kawasaki

5 Race 3 22 SEARLE, Tommy ACU Kawasaki

11 Race 2 23 NICHOLLS, Jake ACU KTM

12 Race 3 24 SIMPSON, Shaun ACU Yamaha

18 Race 2 24 SIMPSON, Shaun ACU Yamaha

18 Race 1 23 NICHOLLS, Jake ACU KTM

 

7 Germany 57

1 Race 2 2 ROCZEN, Ken DMSB KTM

2 Race 1 2 ROCZEN, Ken DMSB KTM

4 Race 3 1 NAGL, Maximilian DMSB Honda

11 Race 1 1 NAGL, Maximilian DMSB Honda

39 Race 3 3 ULLRICH, Dennis DMSB KTM

40 Race 2 3 ULLRICH, Dennis DMSB KTM

 

8 Russia 78

3 Race 3 31 BOBRYSHEV, Evgeny MFR Honda

10 Race 2 32 TONKOV, Aleksandr MFR Honda

14 Race 1 32 TONKOV, Aleksandr MFR Honda

15 Race 2 33 MIKHAYLOV, Evgeny MFR KTM

36 Race 3 33 MIKHAYLOV, Evgeny MFR KTM

40 Race 1 31 BOBRYSHEV, Evgeny MFR Honda

 

9 Switzerland 87

9 Race 1 55 GUILLOD, Valentin FMS KTM

14 Race 3 55 GUILLOD, Valentin FMS KTM

17 Race 1 56 SEEWER, Jeremy FMS Suzuki

23 Race 3 57 AUBERSON, Killian FMS KTM

24 Race 2 56 SEEWER, Jeremy FMS Suzuki

31 Race 2 57 AUBERSON, Killian FMS KTM

 

10 Estonia 92

6 Race 2 21 LEOK, Tanel EMF TM

17 Race 3 21 LEOK, Tanel EMF TM

18 Race 3 19 KRESTINOV, Gert EMF Kawasaki

21 Race 1 19 KRESTINOV, Gert EMF Kawasaki

30 Race 2 20 KAHRO, Erki EMF KTM

32 Race 1 20 KAHRO, Erki EMF KTM

 

11 The Netherlands 99

9 Race 3 10 DE REUVER, Marc KNMV KTM

16 Race 2 11 COLDENHOFF, Glenn KNMV KTM

19 Race 1 11 COLDENHOFF, Glenn KNMV KTM

22 Race 1 10 DE REUVER, Marc KNMV KTM

33 Race 3 12 BRAKKE, Herjan KNMV Yamaha

37 Race 2 12 BRAKKE, Herjan KNMV Yamaha

 

12 Austria 107

15 Race 3 72 WALKNER, Matthias OeAMTC KTM

19 Race 2 72 WALKNER, Matthias OeAMTC KTM

23 Race 1 71 RAUCHENECKER, Pascal OeAMTC KTM

25 Race 3 70 SCHMIDINGER, Günter OeAMTC Honda

25 Race 1 70 SCHMIDINGER, Günter OeAMTC Honda

26 Race 2 71 RAUCHENECKER, Pascal OeAMTC KTM

 

13 Spain 117

17 Race 2 74 BUTRON, Jose RFME KTM

20 Race 3 73 BARRAGAN, Jonathan RFME KTM

20 Race 1 74 BUTRON, Jose RFME KTM

28 Race 3 75 LOZANO, Alvaro RFME Yamaha

32 Race 2 75 LOZANO, Alvaro RFME Yamaha

38 Race 1 73 BARRAGAN, Jonathan RFME KTM

 

14 Denmark 118

15 Race 1 52 LYNGGAARD, Kasper DMU Yamaha

19 Race 3 54 LARSEN, Nikolaj DMU Honda

21 Race 2 54 LARSEN, Nikolaj DMU Honda

27 Race 2 53 OLSEN, Stefan Kjer DMU Honda

36 Race 1 53 OLSEN, Stefan Kjer DMU Honda

38 Race 3 52 LYNGGAARD, Kasper DMU Yamaha

 

15 Czech Republic 121

21 Race 3 61 SMOLA, Frantisek ACCR KTM

22 Race 3 63 MICHEK, Martin ACCR KTM

25 Race 2 62 NEUGEBAUER, Filip DMSB Kawasaki

26 Race 1 61 SMOLA, Frantisek ACCR KTM

27 Race 1 62 NEUGEBAUER, Filip DMSB Kawasaki

29 Race 2 63 MICHEK, Martin ACCR KTM