Putting aside your own national loyalties, who would bet on to win the upcoming Motocross of Nations this season?
Set for Matterley Basin, near Winchester, in England, on the weekend of October 4-6, the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) is the biggest and best motocross event on the world calendar and naturally the riders lining up will be the cream of the crop.
The host team – the three countries that make up Great Britain – is yet to be named, but here we have a list of entries so far:
The Defending Champions:
Team France are the reigning MXoN champions and they are gearing up to defend their title on British soil. With Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux and Tom Vialle to wave the tricolour flag, and a history of dominance, the French team is determined to keep their crown. Expect fireworks as they bring their A-game. Having won five consecutive titles from 2014 to 2018, their strategic prowess and strong team co-ordination make them a formidable force.
Australia’s Rising Stars:
With the two Lawrence brothers, Jett and Hunter Lawrence, and Kyle Webster riding for the green and gold team, Australia is more motivated than ever to claim their first-ever MXoN title. After a thrilling second-place finish last year in France, the Aussies are back with a vengeance. Leading the charge are the sensational Lawrence brothers, who have been tearing up tracks worldwide. Their chemistry, skill, and sheer determination make them formidable contenders.
A Force To Be Reckoned With:
Never to be underestimated, Team USA returns with the firepower and passion that have made them legends in the sport with Chase Sexton, Aaron Plessinger and Chance Hymas representing them this time around. Known for their aggressive riding and strategic brilliance, the American riders are set to make a significant impact. With a legacy of triumphs and a hunger for victory, they are sure to light up Matterley Basin.
Can you spot Kiwi riders Hamish Harwood and Josiah Natzke in this shot taken at the Motocross of Nations at Maggiora, in Italy, in 2016? Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
The Bullet And The Wolf:
Watch out for the man they call “The Bullet”, multi-time world champion Jeffery Herlings, and the Wolf, MX2 world championship leader Kay de Wolf. Herlings is a five-time world champion and his speed, precision, and experience make him a rider to watch closely. Alongside him, the MX2 leader’s red plate holder de Wolf brings youthful energy and skill, making the Dutch team a serious threat to any contender. Calvin Vlaanderen is the third rider for the Dutch.
Belgium’s Young Guns:
With the Coenen brothers, Sacha and Lucas Coenen, Belgium’s strong and youthful team is making waves, especially with these rising stars. Their impressive performances and rapid ascent in the motocross world have marked them as riders to keep an eye on. Liam Everts, the son of record 10-time world champion and multi-time MXoN winning team member Stefan Everts, is Team Belgium’s other team rider. Their combination of raw talent and relentless drive is poised to challenge the best in the world.
German Steel:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen is the superstar here and a regular top performer at the MXoN. Roczen will race the MXGP class, ably backed by Simon Längenfelder (MX2) and Max Nagl (Open). Germany has won the MXoN only once, in Belgium in 2012, but it’s interesting to note that current team members Roczen and Nagle were also in that winning squad 12 years ago.
The Flying Kiwis:
New Zealand has named Tauranga’s just-crowned Australian MX2 (250cc) motocross champion Brodie Connolly, West Auckland’s current national MX1 champion Hamish Harwood (pictured above, in action at the MXoN at Matterley Basin in 2017) and two-time former national 125cc champion and current Canadian 450cc class No.2 Josiah Natzke, from Tauranga, giving the Kiwis good reason to hope they can again finish among the top 10, as they have done 14 times in 32 appearances since they first attended the MXoN in 1984.
The Others:
Japan: Haruki Yokoyama, Yuki Okura and Kainosuke Oshiro will be a representant of the Asian continent with Japan bringing speed and skill to the event.
Brazil: Fabio Santos, Enzo Lopes and Bernardo Tiburcio will represent Brazil, aiming to make their mark on the world stage.
Denmark: Mikkel Haarup, Mads Fresoe and Nicolai Skovbjerg will represent Denmark, aiming to compete strongly against the world’s best.
Latvia: Karlis Reisulis, Mairis Pumpurs and Edvards Bidzans will bring their A-game to qualify for the A Final.
Ireland: Cole McCullough, Martin Barr and Jason Meara will represent Ireland, bringing a mix of experience and tenacity to the track.
South Africa: Tristan Purdon, Camden McLellan and Cameron Durow will represent South Africa, bringing youthful energy and determination.
Czech Republic: Petr Polak, Julius Mikula and Jakub Terešák will carry the Czech flag, with Terešák fresh off his EMXOpen Championship win.
Austria: Michael Sandner, Michael Kratzer and Marcel Stauffer, fresh of his 2024 European EMX2t title, will hold the Austrian flag.
Lithuania: Domantas Jazdauskas, Marius Adomaitis and Erlanda Mackonis will be the hope for their country this year.
Canada: Dylan Wright, Kaven Benoit and Jess Pettis will represent Canada, combining youth and experience.
Portugal: Luis Outeiro, Sandro Lobo and Paulo Alberto will ride hard in an effort to get the best positions for the Portuguese flag.
Venezuela: Anthony Rodriguez, Lorenzo Locurcio and Daniel Bortolin will be on the track for Venezuela, hoping to showcase their skills.
Iceland: Iceland will be represented by Mani Pétursson, Eiour Palmarsson and Alexander Kuc in the aim to give their best on the world’s stage.
Switzerland will have Jeremy Seewer (MXGP), Arnaud Tonus (MX2) and Valentin Guillod (Open Class) once again flying the flag for them. This same combination put the team in sixth place last year, tied on points with the fifth-placed team (Belgium) last year. Experience is the name of the game for the Swiss – this will be the 11th participation for Tonus, the 12th for Seewer and the 13th Guillod.
Photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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