MXGP Insider No.30: USA Entry List

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the MXGP Insider, penned by David Bulmer, presented by KTM Australia. 

So after umming and ahhing, we finally have the entry list for the MXGP of Glen Helen, and while there could still be changes, it does give us a 95% look at who will be lining up in the USA next weekend. Of course, a lot of the riders still have to get through this weekend’s race at Leon in Mexico first before they can think about anything red, white and blue related.

Last year proved to be one of the craziest races I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing (something you can read more about in the “Ripping Yarn” feature in Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine‘s 2015 September-October issue, on sale now), but in case you need a little reminder, it was the race that Jeffrey Herlings competed in with only one leg as he tried to retain his MX2 crown ahead of Jordi Tixier. He failed, but it certainly wasn’t through a lack of trying.

The track itself is pretty good, although definitely more in the “outdoor SX” style of Qatar, than the all-natural style of Argentina, but it is a pretty cool facility, with all the riders and teams housed in what looked like an aircraft hangar and hopefully with an extra 12 months to build upon the venue, it’ll be even better this time around.

Unfortunately though, it’ll very much be in the shadow of its American counterpart because Glen Helen is all anyone stateside is talking about right now. As I mentioned, the entry list is out and fingers crossed we’ll get to see Josh Grant, Marvin Musquin, Ben Townley, Davi Millsaps, Cooper Webb, Dean Wilson, Brett Metcalfe, Christophe Pourcel, Jason Anderson and Cody Cooper all mixing it up with the regular MXGP guys. Add to that list Australian MX1 champ, Kirk Gibbs, who is also showcasing his talent in what is a very smart move as teams both sides of the Atlantic are looking for talent. Overall though, it should be a cracking race and will give us a little glimpse at what could happen at the Motocross of Nations the following week, although perhaps the most interesting will be seeing how the French riders compete against each other as Febvre, Paulin, Musquin and Pourcel will all be on big bikes. Can the “crafty” one show the French Federation they were wrong to ignore him?

For me though, I have to admit that I’m most intrigued to seeing how Ben Townley will do in this race. He’s always been one of my favourite riders and I’ve followed his career in America and Europe quite extensively. In the past few years he obviously raced in Australia and New Zealand and has announced his retirement at least once from what I remember, then this year he came over to Europe to help coach Josiah Natzke and when I spoke to him in Trento, Italy, he gave no indication that he’d be giving Pro racing another shot, especially at the highest level. Just need Josh Coppins to dust off the cobwebs and we’d finally get to see the Kiwi team that everyone had been hoping to see for the last ten years.

In the MX2 class there isn’t so many American entries but in Joey Savatgy, Chris Alldredge, Shane McElrath and Jessy Nelson there are still some big names that will provide some extra interest to what should be a great championship decider between Pauls Jonass and Tim Gajser.