USA deny France Motocross of Nations title

Team USA picked up their 22nd Motocross of Nations title at Saint Jean d’Angely after denying home favourites France in the final heat, while Australia scored their maiden MXoN rostrum.

While the battle for the 65th awarding of the Chamberlain Trophy went right down to the wire, it was ultimately luck that decided its fate. Just nine points separated USA and leaders France going into the final MX1/Open heat but when Christophe Pourcel had no choice but to retire when his rear-wheel’s mousse broke, Ryans Villopoto and Dungey needed only a podium to take the title. Their 1-2 finish therefore proved more than enough with Gautier Paulin back in eighth.

One of the pre-event favourites Italy struggled to match their billing once multiple world champion Antonio Cairoli twice crashed during the opening heat, breaking bones in his left hand. Only the performance of Guarneri ensured they finished as high as 16th.
 
The opening race, shared by MX1 and 2 and machinery, saw Australia’s Chad Reed lead from start-to-finish, although it was the performance of Ken Roczen, who finished just three seconds back on his 250cc KTM, which astonished everyone.

Ryan Dungey was the first American home in third while the combined efforts of Tommy Searle (4th) and newly crowned AMA MX 250 champion Dean Wilson (9th) saw Great Britain take the early points lead.

Tyla Rattray finished fifth for South Africa ahead of Tanel Leok (EST), Jonathan Barragan (ESP) and Marvin Musquin (FRA).

After Musquin’s eighth place in race one, Paulin then had French fans dreaming of success on home turf when he converted the holeshot into Open/MX2 victory. 

Both Jeffrey Herlings and Villopoto hounded him throughout but had to settle for second and third respectively ahead of the ever-impressive Roczen and Belgium’s Kevin Strijbos. Great Britain meanwhile saw their hopes of victory end when Brad Anderson and Wilson could manage no better than 14th and 27th.

Australia also looked like missing out when Matt Moss failed to take the start after his bike developed a mechanical problem. Fortunately Brett Metcalfe’s seventh place bagged them decent points to maintain their hopes.

With the Americans finishing first and second to make sure of the title in the final heat, attentions switched to the battle for the final podium position. Rattray secured South Africa a place in the top six with third overall ahead of Searle, while Reed carried the hopes of Australia in seventh after Metcalfe crashed out while running fourth. But with Anderson only 15th, the difference between the two came down to just two points.

Belgium meanwhile ended the event fifth.

Nations top ten:
1.    USA 26
2.    France 39
3.    Australia 44
4.    Great Britain 46
5.    Belgium 54
6.    South Africa 56
7.    Germany 68
8.    Spain  68
9.    The Netherlands 81
10.    Estonia 86


Tom Hornsby