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2014 MXoN: The Contenders

9 years ago | Words: Jackson Reardon

With the MX Nationals, AMA Motocross and MXGP seasons complete for another year, excitement for the 2014 edition of the Motocross of Nations is building. Transmoto’s Jackson Reardon analyses the contenders heading to this year’s event, set to be held in Kegums, Latvia on September 27-28.

Belgium

The winners of the 2013 event in Teutschenthal, Germany, the Belgium team of Ken De Dycker, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Clement Desalle was extremely consistent, scoring individual results of third, third and ninth, respectively. For 2014, Belgium is sending over a revised team, with Van Horebeek in MX1, Julien Lieber in MX2 and Kevin Strijbos in the Open class. With Desalle and De Dycker undergoing recent surgery for injuries, Belgium has plenty of depth in Lieber and Strijbos for replacements; with Strijbos finishing third in the MXGP World Championship and Lieber rounding out the season with a sixth Overall in Mexico. I can’t help but feel the team is slightly weaker, however, they are still a very strong chance to defend their title.

United States

The most successful country in MXoN history, with 22 wins, and a most recent streak lasting from 2005 until 2011, the USA is nearly always the favourite. They have been held to second and third in the previous two events however, particularly struggling to adapt to the sands of Belgium in 2012. This year, the team comprises Ryan Dungey, Eli Tomac and Jeremy Martin. With Martin wrapping up the AMA 250 title, Dungey battling Ken Roczen to the final round for the 450 title, and Tomac coming on strong late in the season, I believe the USA are deserved favourites this year. Across the three classes they have no clear weakness and although I don’t expect them to dominate, it will take a special effort to top the Americans in 2014.

Italy

Italy is coming off a strong third in 2013, highlighted by a dominant Antonio Cairoli performance – it doesn’t get much better than going 1-1, does it? This year, they are again sending Cairoli and David Phillipaerts, along with Davide Guarneri. They have made an extremely interesting decision in swapping Cairoli from the MX1 class he last year dominated to the MX2 class to ride a 250F. This, in my opinion, will be the story of the event, as we watch how Cairoli adapts to the smaller bike. Guarneri & Phillipaerts finished ninth and tenth in the MXGP World Championship respectively, and will no doubt be consistent top ten finishers with the potential for even better results; Phillipaerts finished third in the Open division at last year’s event. But with Cairoli dropping down to a 250F, and Phillipaerts having a difficult year so far, it will be a tough task for Italy to match their result of 2013. I see them slipping off the podium.

Australia

Last year’s effort to get fourth was an extremely underrated ride, considering Chad Reed was absent. The media was buzzing with talk of Dean Ferris’ second to Ken Roczen in the MX2 class while Todd Waters put in a fantastic fifth in the Open class. Brett Metcalfe was also strong in MX1, but will this year be absent as Reed returns to MX1 and Matt Moss takes the place of the injured Waters in the Open category. Dean Ferris was again slated to ride MX2, however an injury towards the end of the season sees 2013 MX2 MX Nationals champ, Luke Clout, replace him for his first professional international race. There has been much debate over the riders selected, however the reality is it is likely Metcalfe had insufficient support to warrant racing this year. As a team, they will again be aiming for a top five result, but I think a podium may be out of reach this year. It will be great to see how Clout and Moss fare after winning the Australian MX titles, and Reed will no doubt be looking to improve on a poor MX season in the USA.

France

Last year’s French team rode to consistent individual results which added up to a top five Overall finish. This year’s team has been plagued by selection questions as Christophe Pourcel, Marvin Musquin and Jordi Tixier (recently crowned MX2 World Champion) were all left off the team. The French have a wealth of talent to choose from however and the all-Kawasaki team of Gautier Paulin, Dylan Ferrandis and Steven Frossard will be extremely strong. I see the French as again being a top five team with possible podium credentials; however I have a bad feeling that 2014 will be a year of “what if” for the French as the riders left off the team in my opinion could have been potential winners.

Great Britain

Great Britain would have been disappointed with last year’s sixth and will be looking to improve vastly on this result. This year, the Brits send Shaun Simpson, Tommy Searle and Dean Wilson – a team that should podium and has the potential to win the event. Wilson will be riding his last event on a Kawasaki before making a switch full-time to the 450 class on a KTM, and it will be an interesting insight into how he may do next year in the premier class. Searle had a disappointing year plagued by injury and will be looking to put in a big result. I think they are a real threat for a podium or even the win this year.

Germany

The German team last year was let down by Dennis Ullrich, whose day was plagued by crashes. Ken Roczen won his MX2 class while Max Nagl finished sixth in MX1 – with a third solid result there is no doubt they would have finished on the podium. The team this year has been weakened with the loss of Ken Roczen, who after wrapping up the 450 Outdoor title in the USA, is changing teams during the off-season to RCH Suzuki. Instead, Germany will be sending Nagl and Ullrich again, while adding Marcus Schiffer. I can’t see the German team improving on their 2013 result with the loss of Roczen; it will be a tough year for the Germans.

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