There is no doubt that the United States is the top nation in the world when it comes to motocross, having won the Motocross of Nations an astounding 22 times since the competition’s inception in 1947.

But what will surprise many is that, while one American rider – Kawasaki ace Jeff Ward – is a standout individual in the history of this “Olympic Games of Motocross”, he has to share the top spot with a British rider, Jeff Smith (pictured above, in 2008).

Ward was a winning team rider in Belgium in 1983, in Belgium in 1984, in Germany in 1985, in the USA in 1987, in France in 1988, in Germany in 1989 and in Sweden in 1990.

Smith was a winning team rider in Belgium in 1956, in England in 1957, in Belgium in 1959, in France in 1960, in England in 1964, in Belgium in 1965 and in The Netherlands in 1967.

BikesportNZ.com was fortunate to have interviewed Smith a couple of years ago and was impressed by his affable and modest character.

Top dogs Smith and Ward have each been members of winning teams on seven separate occasions, while Belgian rider Roger DeCoster has six wins to his credit.

American David Bailey is another stand-out, taking five wins in a row in the 1980s, while 10-time world champion Stefan Everts, of Belgium, was also a winning team rider on five occasions.

Current American team captain Ryan Dungey has been a member of a winning team on three occasions – in Italy in 2009, in the USA in 2010 and in France in 2011 – and he could make it four if his team wins in Germany this weekend.

The odds are heavily in favour of the Americans winning again this weekend, although they can take nothing for granted after last season’s shock loss in Belgium.

Check back with BikesportNZ.com as we keep you up-to-date from the track throughout the race weekend.

Countries with the most MXoN wins:

1. United States – 22 wins

2. Great Britain – 16 wins

3. Belgium – 14 wins

4. Sweden – 7 wins

5= Italy – 2 wins

5= USSR – 2 wins

7= Czechoslovakia – 1 win

7= France – 1 win

7= Germany – 1 win

Individuals with the most MXoN wins:

1= Jeff Smith (GB) – 7

1= Jeff Ward (USA) – 7

3. Roger DeCoster (Bel) – 6

4= David Bailey (USA) – 5

4= Stefan Everts (Bel) – 5

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