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Supercross & Motocross
MXON: Burning Q - Who Will Comprise Team USA?
Who will represent the United States in the upcoming 'Olympics of Motocross'?
Red Bull/KTM Racing's Ryan Dungey (Photo: Hoppenworld.com)
With the Olympics in full swing, invigorating the American Spirit through the various disciplines showcasing the limits of human ability, it seemed appropriate to discuss the impending announcement of Team USA's roster for this year’s Motocross of Nations in Belgium on September 30.
After all, the MXoN is motocross’ version of the Olympics, serving as the one and only opportunity for the planet’s best riders to do battle in one place, at one time. It is undoubtedly the biggest event in the world for dirt bike racing and continues to be the ultimate way to bring each season of competition to a close.
The big question at the moment is who Team Manager Roger DeCoster will select as his three-pronged attack against the world. Currently, the United States enjoys a seven-year run of dominance of the prestigious event, which not only brings its own sense of pressure for the riders who will ultimately represent our nation, but also makes the U.S. a huge target for the rest of the world’s all-star lineups.
It’s been proven repeatedly that the best riders and the best racing can be found here on American soil, but every other team would like more than anything to be the ones who can say they dethroned Team USA and demonstrated -- at least one year -- that the mighty can fall.
Looking to the actual Olympics, perhaps the best comparison can be found in basketball. From the “Dream Team,” to the “Redeem Team,” and whatever this summer’s group will ultimately be called, America is expected to win gold in the sport. When they failed to do so in 2004, it became one of the biggest stories of the entire Athens Olympics and ultimately overshadowed the teams that played for the gold. It also left sports fans in the U.S. deflated and even fearful that that we might no longer be kings of a sport we created.
I can only assume that the same emotions would be felt stateside among MX enthusiasts if Team USA were to suffer a similar fate in the sand of Lommel. While America did not create the sport of motocross, it has been the leader in progressing the sport to where it is today, a fact that has resulted in 22 MXoN wins over the last 31 years -- the most all time.
This year's incarnation of Team USA should be as strong as it’s ever been. It’s safe to say that Ryan Dungey will captain the lineup for a fourth consecutive year, looking to keep his unblemished record intact. Dungey has stepped up every year in representing his country, despite the perceived pressure that can come from competing in the deeply-talented MX1 class.
This season, Dungey has turned around the fortunes of KTM on American soil and made the brand a true global contender. He’s riding better than ever before and is extremely comfortable on the same machine that dominates in Europe. To see the American-tuned orange bike line up alongside its foreign counterparts will be an added storyline, but for Team USA, Dungey is the clear cut pick to lead the way yet again.
After all, the MXoN is motocross’ version of the Olympics, serving as the one and only opportunity for the planet’s best riders to do battle in one place, at one time. It is undoubtedly the biggest event in the world for dirt bike racing and continues to be the ultimate way to bring each season of competition to a close.
The big question at the moment is who Team Manager Roger DeCoster will select as his three-pronged attack against the world. Currently, the United States enjoys a seven-year run of dominance of the prestigious event, which not only brings its own sense of pressure for the riders who will ultimately represent our nation, but also makes the U.S. a huge target for the rest of the world’s all-star lineups.
It’s been proven repeatedly that the best riders and the best racing can be found here on American soil, but every other team would like more than anything to be the ones who can say they dethroned Team USA and demonstrated -- at least one year -- that the mighty can fall.
Looking to the actual Olympics, perhaps the best comparison can be found in basketball. From the “Dream Team,” to the “Redeem Team,” and whatever this summer’s group will ultimately be called, America is expected to win gold in the sport. When they failed to do so in 2004, it became one of the biggest stories of the entire Athens Olympics and ultimately overshadowed the teams that played for the gold. It also left sports fans in the U.S. deflated and even fearful that that we might no longer be kings of a sport we created.
I can only assume that the same emotions would be felt stateside among MX enthusiasts if Team USA were to suffer a similar fate in the sand of Lommel. While America did not create the sport of motocross, it has been the leader in progressing the sport to where it is today, a fact that has resulted in 22 MXoN wins over the last 31 years -- the most all time.
This year's incarnation of Team USA should be as strong as it’s ever been. It’s safe to say that Ryan Dungey will captain the lineup for a fourth consecutive year, looking to keep his unblemished record intact. Dungey has stepped up every year in representing his country, despite the perceived pressure that can come from competing in the deeply-talented MX1 class.
This season, Dungey has turned around the fortunes of KTM on American soil and made the brand a true global contender. He’s riding better than ever before and is extremely comfortable on the same machine that dominates in Europe. To see the American-tuned orange bike line up alongside its foreign counterparts will be an added storyline, but for Team USA, Dungey is the clear cut pick to lead the way yet again.
SX Seattle
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