MX of Nations: Team USA Wins!

It wasn't the Dream Team of Maggiora 1986 - the last time the Motocross of Nations was entertained and watched first hand by rabid Italian fans - and to some it was rather cruelly the B-Team after high profile declinations of participation, but the line-up of Ryan Dungey, Jake Weimer and Ivan Tedesco successfully defended Team USA's honor in the biggest and most prestigious motocross event in the world. The trio, two of whom were racing motocross outside and of the States for the first time, survived three different motos under hot sunshine at Franciacorta to give their country a 20th victory in the competition and a fifth consecutive title.

An entirely believable weekend attendance of 90,000 people further confirmed the Nations' status as the crown jewel of motocross and the lively cosmopolitan atmosphere further embedded the event as a unique opportunity for the three best riders selected for the 36 countries entering the team contest.

The impressive circuit constructed at Franciacorta provided a litter of technical sections and a variety of different soil textures that overall meant a rough test for the 20 nations qualifying for the three motos on Sunday.

It was a day of three tales. The first moto was vintage Nations. The two champions, World and AMA, went head- to-head as Tony Cairoli (Yamaha Red Bull De Carli) and Chad Reed (Makita Suzuki) enacted a close race-long duel that thrilled the burgeoning contents of the circuit. Dungey was a lonely third while Jake Weimer was the second-best MX2 rider in 7th.

In the second affair Gautier Paulin escaped to win his maiden outing on a 450 (Bud Kawasaki) to put France on a level pegging with the USA for points. MX2 World Champion Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) was again the main 250cc protagonist but the real attention was grabbed by 2008 MX1 World Champion David Philippaerts. The Italian, blood bubbling with the adrenaline charge of avid public support, hunted down a nine second gap to Tedesco in second place and demoted the Italian with three corners to go thanks to a final lap two and a half seconds quicker than anyone else. Needless to say the roof was excised once more as he crossed the line. Jake Weimer crashed but re-entered the race for points and made 25th. Australia's Michael Byrne had a huge midair collision with Italy's Davide Guarneri that took both riders out of action.

The final sprint produced drama at the start with Cairoli down and out after a spectacular multi-rider spiral down the start straight. Reed, Paulin and Clement Desalle (LS Motors Honda) were also first-lap victims. As a result France and Italy were effectively eliminated from the chase for the win. Cairoli had a sore neck but was okay, while Paulin went to hospital with a suspected broken nose and a painful chest. Dungey was free to clinch his first win on the 450 from Belgium's Steve Ramon (Teka Suzuki WMX1), while Philippaerts' maintained the interest of the fans with another charge to third.

"I knew we would have to be consistent," said MX1-class winner Dungey. "This definitely ranks near the top for me. It has been a dream to come over here and a real experience to be a part of this, nevermind actually winning it. A lot of people told me what it would be like but when you arrive you can't help but be amazed. We had a good time and full credit to Jake and Ivan; I had a break between the motos but they went back-to-back and that takes a lot of heart and dedication. I am glad we could work together and pull this one off."

"A lot of people were pretty bummed back home because we were sending the B-team; well the B-team just won!" advocated Weimer.

"It is tough doing the back-to-back motos, but I have some experience in that, still you always forget just how quick that turnaround is! I was tired going into that second moto," confessed Tedesco. "Some other guys had bad luck, but it doesn't matter how we won it. I am three for three at the Nations. There is nothing like the Nations crowd and I love coming over here. They love racing and go crazy. I love this race and winning make it feel even better."

The 2010 Motocross of Nations will take place at Thunder Valley in Colorado.

Results
Motocross of Nations RACE 1 (MX1+MX2)

1. Tony Cairoli (Yam, ITA); 2. Chad Reed (Suz, AUS); 3. Ryan Dungey (Suz, USA); 4. Clement Desalle (Hon, BEL); 5. Marvin Musquin (KTM, FRA); 6. Josh Coppins (Yam, NZL); 7. Tommy Searle (KTM, GBR); 8. Jake Weimer (Kaw, USA); 9. Gareth Swanepoel (Kaw, RSA); 10. Ken Roczen (Suz, GER); 11. Billy Mackenzie (Hon, GBR); 12. Jonathan Barragán (KTM, ESP); 13. Tyla Rattray (Kaw, RSA); 14. Steven Frossard (Kaw, FRA); 15. Joel Roelants (KTM, BEL); 16. Davide Guarneri (Yam, ITA); 17. Brett Metcalfe (Hon, AUS); 18. Antti Pyrhonen (Hon, FIN); 19. Rui Goncalves (KTM, POR); 20. Andreas Hultman (Hon, SWE);

Motocross of Nations RACE 2 (MX2+OPEN)

1. Gautier Paulin (Kaw, FRA); 2. David Philippaerts (Yam, ITA); 3. Ivan Tedesco (Hon, USA); 4. Tanel Leok (Yam, EST); 5. Marvin Musquin (KTM, FRA); 6. Max Nagl (KTM, GER); 7. Steve Ramon (Suz, BEL); 8. Ken Roczen (Suz, GER); 9. Brett Metcalfe (Hon, AUS); 10. Tyla Rattray (Kaw, RSA); 11. Joel Roelants (KTM, BEL); 12. Scott Columb (Suz, NZL); 13. Shaun Simpson (KTM, GBR); 14. Arnaud Tonus (KTM, SUI); 15. Carlos Campano (Yam, ESP); 16. Antonio Jorge Balbi Jr. (Hon, BRA); 17. Tommy Searle (KTM, GBR); 18. Harri Kullas (KTM, FIN); 19. Matiss Karro (Suz, LAT); 20. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM, NED); 25. Jake Wiemer (Kaw, USA).

Motocross of Nations RACE 3 (OPEN+MX1)

1. Ryan Dungey (Suz, USA); 2. Steve Ramon (Suz, BEL); 3. David Philippaerts (Yam, ITA); 4. Jonathan Barragán (KTM, ESP); 5. Steven Frossard (Kaw, FRA); 6. Josh Coppins (Yam, NZL); 7. Ivan Tedesco (Hon, USA); 8. Max Nagl (KTM, GER); 9. Chad Reed (Suz, AUS); 10. Shaun Simpson (KTM, GBR); 11. Tanel Leok (Yam, EST); 12. Julien Bill (Apr, SUI); 13. Aigar Leok (TM, EST); 14. Billy Mackenzie (Hon, GBR); 15. Luis Correira (Yam, POR) 16. Harri Kullas (KTM, FIN); 17. Andreas Hultman (Hon, SWE); 18. Gregory Wicht (Hon, SUI); 19. Antonio Jorge Balbi Jr. (Hon, BRA); 20. Mike Kras (KTM, NED);

Motocross of Nations MX1 Classification
1. Ryan Dungey (Suz, USA); 2. Chad Reed (Suz, AUS); 3. Josh Coppins (Yam, NZL); 4. Jonathan Barragán (KTM, ESP); 5. Steven Frossard (Kaw, FRA)

Motocross of Nations MX2 Classification
1. Marvin Musquin (KTM, FRA); 2. Ken Roczen (Suz, GER); 3. Tyla Rattray (Kaw, RSA); 4. Tommy Searle (KTM, GBR); 5. Brett Metcalfe (Hon, AUS);

Motocross of Nations OPEN Classification
1. David Philippaerts (Yam, ITA); 2. Steve Ramon (Suz, BEL); 3. Ivan Tedesco (Hon, USA); 4. Max Nagl (KTM, GERM); 5. Tanel Leok (Yam, EST);

Motocross of Nations - Nations Classification
1. USA (22), 2. FRA (30), 3. BEL (39), 4. GER (55), 5. GBR (55); 6. ITA (59); 7. AUS (73); 8. EST (78); 9. RSA (84); 10. (88);