Motorcycling Australia has selected a winning formula for its defence of the FIM Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in the United States of America from October 3-5.
The Aussies will again go with Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Kyle Webster, returning for another tilt at the prestigious Chamberlain Trophy following their winning performance at the 2024 event in England.
The trio will again take exceptional form into the massive international event, as Team Australia sets out to be the first country to go back-to-back since France in 2014-2015.
After injury-interrupted American supercross seasons, Queenslanders Jett and Hunter have both returned to racing with blistering form in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship on their factory Hondas.
They are currently running 1-2 in the USA’s premier 450cc class with three rounds remaining – the same category where Jett produced a remarkable unbeaten season in 2023.
Round nine of AMA Pro Motocross will be held at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana on August 9, which is also the host venue for the 2025 MXoN.
Webster, the defending 2024 national MX1 class champion in Australia currently leads the 2025 series with one round remaining.
Meanwhile, who would New Zealand possibly pick to represent them at the MXoN this year?
Perhaps the Kiwis would select from Hamish Harwood, Maximus Purvis, Josiah Natzke, Cody Cooper, Brodie Connolly, Cole Davies, Madoc Dixon, Cobie Bourke and James Scott.
From rookie first-timers in 1984 to top-10 regulars just over 10 years later, Kiwi motocross riders have boxed well above their weight and often rated among some of the best in the world.
Team New Zealand has finished among the top 10 an incredible 14 times in 30 appearances at the event since they first attended in 1984 – not bad for a country with an entire population less than many cities in some of the nations of their MXoN rivals.
New Zealand has been on the MXoN podium on three memorable occasions over the years – at Foxhills, in England, in 1998 (with Darryll King, Shayne King and Josh Coppins waving the silver fern flag), at Namur, in Belgium, in 2001 (Daryl Hurley, Josh Coppins, Shayne King) and at Matterley Basin, in England, in 2006 (Josh Coppins, Cody Cooper, Ben Townley).
The Kiwis have also finished among the top-five on three other occasions – fifth in Austria in 1993, fourth in Belgium in 2003 and fourth in France in 2005.
But the past few years have been lean times for the Kiwis.
MXoN nations classifications from 2024 – Top 10 teams:
1. Australia 26pts, 2. USA 29 pts, 3. The Netherlands 36pts, 4. Spain 45pts, 5. France 50pts, 6. Germany 62pts, 7. Slovenia 67pts, 8. Italy 70pts, 9. Switzerland 86pts, 10. Latvia 103pts.
Photo courtesy Grant Reynolds
Words by Motorcycling Australia and Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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