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Supercross & Motocross
MXON: USA Vs. The World
Brandon Short breaks down the global effort to end Team USA’s Motocross of Nation's reign this weekend in Belgium.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Blake Baggett (Photo: Kawasaki)
The 66th running of the Motocross of Nations is now only hours away, as the fastest riders from across the globe converge on Lommel, Belgium, for the one and only chance this year to determine which country is the best in the world.
The endless hours of preparation and long sleepless nights experienced by riders and mechanics alike will boil down to a trio of qualifying heats and trio of motos. In the end, only one nation will stand above the rest with the Chamberlain Trophy in hand.
With a seven-year winning streak in tow, the proverbial target on Team USA is bigger than it’s ever been before. And facing a Lommel circuit made entirely of sand, the Americans are considered to be at a rare disadvantage against their predominantly European counterparts who compete on similar surfances on a regular basis.
Boasting the strongest three-rider squad in the entire field, it's hard to consider Team USA an underdog of any sort. However, the rest of the world is perhaps hungrier than ever to strike during a moment of potential weakness for the Unites States.
Here’s a look at the top contenders this weekend:
Team USA
It’s impossible not to start with the reigning champions. Whether this team is truly an underdog or not, the mere volume of concern surrounding the team’s ability to perform in the sand says a lot about the strength of the riders in America and the recent string of success the team has achieved. Ironically, Lommel is the sight of Team USA’s inaugural MXoN victory 31 years ago, won then by an underdog group of riders. While times have changed, the mentality has not and you can bet these riders know how important it is to win this weekend.
MX1 – Ryan Dungey
For the fourth consecutive season, Dungey will lead the way as Team Captain. In his first three attempts, Dungey has played an integral role in leading the team to victory, including back-to-back-to-back individual MX1 titles. Dungey is looking to become just the sixth Team USA rider to win a fourth Chamberlain Trophy, and on the heels of his second outdoor national title, he will be in the spotlight all weekend long.
MX2 – Blake Baggett
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Baggett’s inclusion on this team is that he now has a year of experience at the Motocross of Nations under his belt. Baggett was the new guy last year but performed well despite having no idea how things are done at the biggest motocross event on the planet. That knowledge will be key in overcoming any potential deficits from the sand, and based on what we’ve seen from him this summer during his championship-winning run, he’s not going to be intimidated by anyone or anything.
MX3 – Justin Barcia
The “new guy” in 2012 is arguably America’s best sand rider. Barcia serves as a nice complement to his championship-winning counterparts and will use this weekend to mark his full-time move up to the 450s. Barcia’s ability on the big bike is exceptional and with momentum being the key at Lommel, he should perform well thanks to his “throttle happy” mentality.
The endless hours of preparation and long sleepless nights experienced by riders and mechanics alike will boil down to a trio of qualifying heats and trio of motos. In the end, only one nation will stand above the rest with the Chamberlain Trophy in hand.
With a seven-year winning streak in tow, the proverbial target on Team USA is bigger than it’s ever been before. And facing a Lommel circuit made entirely of sand, the Americans are considered to be at a rare disadvantage against their predominantly European counterparts who compete on similar surfances on a regular basis.
Boasting the strongest three-rider squad in the entire field, it's hard to consider Team USA an underdog of any sort. However, the rest of the world is perhaps hungrier than ever to strike during a moment of potential weakness for the Unites States.
Here’s a look at the top contenders this weekend:
Team USA
It’s impossible not to start with the reigning champions. Whether this team is truly an underdog or not, the mere volume of concern surrounding the team’s ability to perform in the sand says a lot about the strength of the riders in America and the recent string of success the team has achieved. Ironically, Lommel is the sight of Team USA’s inaugural MXoN victory 31 years ago, won then by an underdog group of riders. While times have changed, the mentality has not and you can bet these riders know how important it is to win this weekend.
MX1 – Ryan Dungey
For the fourth consecutive season, Dungey will lead the way as Team Captain. In his first three attempts, Dungey has played an integral role in leading the team to victory, including back-to-back-to-back individual MX1 titles. Dungey is looking to become just the sixth Team USA rider to win a fourth Chamberlain Trophy, and on the heels of his second outdoor national title, he will be in the spotlight all weekend long.
MX2 – Blake Baggett
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Baggett’s inclusion on this team is that he now has a year of experience at the Motocross of Nations under his belt. Baggett was the new guy last year but performed well despite having no idea how things are done at the biggest motocross event on the planet. That knowledge will be key in overcoming any potential deficits from the sand, and based on what we’ve seen from him this summer during his championship-winning run, he’s not going to be intimidated by anyone or anything.
MX3 – Justin Barcia
The “new guy” in 2012 is arguably America’s best sand rider. Barcia serves as a nice complement to his championship-winning counterparts and will use this weekend to mark his full-time move up to the 450s. Barcia’s ability on the big bike is exceptional and with momentum being the key at Lommel, he should perform well thanks to his “throttle happy” mentality.
SX Seattle
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