The 2010 motocross season will come to an official conclusion this weekend with the 2010 Motocross of Nations. The annual global competition for national pride has long been the stage for the fastest riders in the world to go head-to-head in a battle amongst nations to determine who has the best motocross athletes.
For the last five years -- and on 20 previous occasions throughout the 63-year history of the event -- Team USA has stood above the rest, holding the stars and stripes high and staking its claim as the most dominant country in the sport.
Last season Team USA fielded what many considered to be quite possibly its weakest team in recent history. The country carried a four-year winning streak into the event, but most figured that streak was destined to come to an end. The lineup of Ryan Dungey, Jake Weimer, and Ivan Tedesco was dubbed the 'B' or even 'C' team by critics, but at the end of the day in front of thousands of rabid fans in Italy, Team USA again stood atop the podium thanks in large part to an incredible effort by Dungey, who was competing in his first professional motocross event on a 450. The underdog team accomplished the unthinkable and completed the drive for five.
One year later, Team USA has all the momentum going for them. The rotation of venues from year-to-year has led to the 2010 edition of the Motocross of Nations to be hosted on American soil for the second time in four years (but just the third time ever). Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, CO, is a familiar stomping ground for Team USA 2010 -- Ryan Dungey, Trey Canard, and Andrew Short -- in addition to the several other regular competitors of the AMA Motocross circuit taking part for their respective nations.
Almost instantly, the red, white and blue was given an advantage, but given the caliber of the talent participating at the Motocross of Nations, that advantage will become somewhat of a moot point by the time the gates drop on Sunday.
However, the advantage the team holds is further bolstered by the fact that Dungey and Canard arguably carry more momentum than any other riders in the world. Dungey has built upon the foundation he established at the Motocross of Nations last year to become the dominant force in the 450 class. As for Canard, he’s used the 2010 AMA Motocross season as his own personal stage to show the world he's matured to become one of the elite 250 riders on the planet. Both men captured their respective AMA Motocross titles for and have immense confidence coming into Colorado.
And while their championship counterparts from the FIM World Motocross Championship also enjoyed tremendous seasons of their own, they will represent different countries at Thunder Valley. Italian Team Captain Antonio Cairoli wrapped up his second consecutive World GP title in convincing fashion on a lesser-powered 350cc machine. Frenchman Marvin Musquin followed suit with his second straight MX2 championship in his final season in Europe before heading to the States full time in 2011. He was dominant and many consider him to be the top 250 rider in the world.
