2016 MXoN: Australia’s “C-Team”?

You carefully select a three-man national team for the Motocross of Nations, and within two weeks of the annual event, two of them are sidelined through injury. Seriously? WTF? When was the last time that sort of bad luck befell a nation? No, Australia just can’t seem to take a trick when it comes to the MXoN, and recent news of season-ending injuries to both Kirk Gibbs and Jed Beaton suggests our luck ain’t about to change at this year’s event, which takes place at Italy’s iconic Maggiora track this weekend. Or will it?

Literally an hour before Team Australia’s Manager, Gary Benn, jumped on a plane bound for Italy, he buzzed Transmoto HQ to give us an insight into the last couple of hectic weeks, during which time he’s had to sort logistics for two last-minute replacements for Team Australia.

“It’s been a pretty crazy time,” Benn told Transmoto. “Organising for Todd Waters to replace Kirk Gibbs was made that much more difficult over the past couple of weeks because all the European-based teams have been at the final two flyaway rounds in the USA. Then, just when we got everything sorted for Todd, I got a call at midnight on Saturday informing me that Jed Beaton had crashed and broken his collarbone.

^ Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team’s Mitch Evans…

“After careful consideration, we selected Mitch Evans to replace Jed as our MX2 rider. Aside from the fact Mitch has successfully represented Australia five times at the Junior Motocross Worlds – and that his lap times in the MXD class at the MX Nats this year would have put him around fourth or fifth in MX2 – the extremely tight timeframe meant we really needed a Yamaha rider to replace Jed Beaton. In fact, after his operation, Jed will be driving down from Belgium to Italy with his bike, which is what Mitch will race at Maggiora,” Benn went on to explain.

What Benn didn’t mention is that the two riders who joined Beaton on this year’s MX2 series podium – Caleb Ward and Nathan Crawford – were also unavailable for MXoN selection due to injuries.

So, how will Team Australia’s Dean Ferris, Todd Waters and Mitch Evans perform at Maggiora, where Benn actually swung spanners for his CDR Yamaha team boss, Craig Dack, back in 1986? “Well, all three riders have a lot of international experience,” says Benn. “Sure, our preparation hasn’t been ideal. But the two guys we’re bringing in are both proven performers. And sometimes racing without the pressure of expectation can bring out the best in riders. I’m sure all three riders will do their country proud.”

30 YEARS AGO…

According to MX folklore, the 1986 MXoN event at Maggiora remains one of the best des Nations of all time. It was where Team USA’s Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey and Ricky Johnson posted perfect 1-2 results in all three motos; where O’Mara showed the world what a 125cc was capable of; and where Team Australia’s custom-made gear set the precedent for MXoN riders wearing their national strip.

Check out this Ripping Yarn from Transmoto’s March 2013 issue, where Craig Dack reflects on that memorable Italian event.