Can Team Australia win the 2015 MXoN?

This year, Australia will send a team full of youthful exuberance and potential to the annual Motocross of Nations – Todd Waters and Dean Ferris will lead the charge in the MX1 and Open classes, while newly crowned Australian MX2 champ, Jay Wilson, will represent the Aussies aboard his Altherm JCR Yamaha YZ250F.

With Chad Reed turning his focus to the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, Michael Byrne retired and Brett Metcalfe now in his 30s, this year’s event will help provide an insight into the years that lie ahead for the Australian motocross scene.

Australia’s history at the MXoN has been inconsistent – especially in the last decade where we have often had incredibly talented teams, yet only been able to stand on the podium once. Australia can be proud of the riders it has produced over the years; guys such as Jeff Leisk, Craig Dack, Glen Bell, Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, Brett Metcalfe – the list goes on. To only have one podium to our name shows the importance of all three riders doing well, and proves just how difficult it is to pull together a successful run at the MXoN.

^ Team Australia’s 2011 MXoN podium. Image: Steve Cox

Todd Waters had a successful year in the MXGP championship, finishing ninth Overall. Todd has been consistently within the top ten, often fighting for top-five moto finishes. In Italy he scored a career best 4-4 for third Overall – a fantastic achievement. Todd now has two years of international experience under his belt – a real advantage heading into the event in France – and will be expected to lead the team on the track.

Dean Ferris, on the other hand, has had a rollercoaster of a year, full of highs and lows, but has shown flashes of the massive potential we have seen in Australia. In France, Dean was unlucky to miss out on the podium with 4-4 moto scores, and two rounds later in Uddevalla (Sweden) Ferris finished fourth Overall just in front of Todd. A few poor results and missing the Italian round through injury has kept Dean outside the top ten (eleventh) Overall in 2015, however I expect Dean will be aiming for nothing less than a top-five personal result at the des Nations event. Let’s not forget those epic holeshots he pulled on his YZ250F back in 2013!

^ Dean’s 250cc holeshots at the 2013 MXoN were phenomenal. Image: Simon Cudby

The potential of Jay Wilson is not in question after his outstanding performance on home soil this year, claiming the MX2 championship in only his second year competing in the class. The MXoN will be a completely new experience for Jay, however the experience of Todd and Dean will help calm his nerves and hopefully result in strong finishes. I believe Jay has the ability to compete overseas and let’s hope he can use the event to work towards that.

For 2015, a podium will be difficult – not impossible by any means, but tough against teams such as France (Marvin Musquin, Gautier Paulin and Romain Fevbre) and the USA (Cooper Webb, Justin Barcia and Jeremy Martin). Ernée is renowned as quite a tight track, so if our boys can get good starts I believe we can be in the fight for a top-five finish Overall, which would be considered a great result.

To watch the MXoN from home head to http://tickets.mxgp-tv.com/MXLIFE/en/2396-mxgp-tv/ to sign up (there is a fee). Keep an eye on Transmoto’s social media channels and website throughout the weekend for regular updates.