It must be tough to be beaten when you are the defending champions and one of the favourites to win again in 2021, but it was no Dutch treat this year.
Team Netherlands won the Motocross of nations (MXoN) the last time it was staged, on Dutch soil at Assen, in 2019, with Jeffery Herlings, Calvin Vlaanderen and Glenn Coldenhoff the riders on that occasion.
But a lot can change in two years and, with the world in the meantime ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the entries were a little different to what might have been expected.
There were no Americans, no Australians and no Kiwis this time around, not to mention that several leading Grand Prix riders and a couple of the top European and Australian riders (France’s Dylan Ferrandis, Germany’s Ken Roczen and Australian brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence), who actually dominated the domestic season in the US, also not contesting the MXoN this time around, it really was anyone’s for the taking.
As is typical for this iconic event, the 2021 Motocross of Nations in Mantova, Italy, at the weekend saw the overall nations lead changing race by race.
The 2019 MXoN champions, Team Netherlands, had held the advantage at one stage during race day and, in the end, just two points separated the top three and The Netherlands weren’t on top.
Discover the secrets of the Team Netherlands and listen to the comments from the Dutch riders, Glenn Coldenhoff, Roan Van de Moosdiijk and Jeffrey Herlings (pictured above).
But instead it was the team from Italy – Antonio Cairoli, Mattia Guadagnini and Alessandro Lupino – who took the top honours for 2021.
Nations Classifications 2021 – Top 10:
- Italy 37pts; 2. The Netherlands 38pts; 3. Great Britain 39pts; 4. MFR 44pts; 5. France 50pts; 6. Belgium 74pts; 7. Estonia 78pts; 8. Switzerland 80pts; 9. Austria 82 pts; 10. Denmark 84pts.\
Photo courtesy Infront Moto Racing
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