Edited Date/Time:
Ok so here's my early predictions of what the teams might look like come September 29th (I know there's a lot of racing to go but shit man, I love this race.. 50 days to gooooooooooo!!)
America - MX 1 Dungey, MX2 Bagget, MX3 Barcia. Maybe I'm wrong and Alessi will get the nod over Barica, but I doubt it. And with not only factory Honda no doubt helping out with a bike for JB, and his already proven sand riding skills who could blame Rodger, Mitch and DC for going that way.
Belgium - MX1 Desalle, MX2 van Horebeek, MX3 de Dyker. I could be wrong about de Dyker going, and they might send Strijbos who's been in pretty good form recently, and I think either last year or the year before, de Dyker felt he should of been the man to be picked for the team, and they didn't pick him, so he might say bollocks to ya and not go anyway. Either way I can see Belgium up on the box this year, solid team.
France - MX1 377, MX2 Musquin, MX3 Paulin. No brainer really.
Holland - MX1 Herlings, MX2 Coldenhoff, MX3 de Reuver. Coldenhoff may be pretty unknown to most Americans on here, but the dude is sitting 11th in the MX2 points, and seeing as he's Dutch, I'm thinking the dude is bound to have some sand skills. Not really sure about de Reuver, and if he's healthy, but seems like the most obvious pick to me, either him or that Brakke guy who raced last year for Holland. Saying that though, haven't seen his name at all this year. Tough call.
Germany - MX1 Nagl, MX2 Ullrich, MX3 Roczen. If I'm honest, I have no idea what the Germans are gonna do. I know Roczen is riding in the MX1 class at the German GP next month, which kind of tells me the bike he uses there is an option for the MXdN, and Nagl is a no brainer, but after that they have no one. Not even in MX3 is another German making an impact.. And Ullrich, I don't believe, has even raced a GP before, but he did race in the first EMX250 round in France earlier this year and had a second in moto 2, but after that he must of gotten injured because he didn't enter the next few rounds. But he is listed to race the next EMX250 round at Matterly Basin, so I will be keeping my eyes on him for sure. EDIT : Marcus Shiffer - I forgot this guy. And he is leading the German Masters series, so maybe Kenny will be riding the MX2 after all. Although Marcus is still young and could ride the MX2 class. At least they got options.
Italy - MX 1 Cairoli, MX2 Lupino, MX 3 Guarneri. With Philippaerts out, and I'm not sure when he's back, this is pretty much all Italy have. I think AC222 will be a threat, I really do, but the other 2 will struggle in the deep sand. Be surprised if they make the top 5 this year.
GBR - MX1 Searle, MX2 Nicholls, MX3 Simpson. If there ever was a year we could pinch a podium, it's this year. I believe, and I could be wrong, Simpson lives quite close to Lommel (as do many riders) and Searle was real fast on the 450 last year in France. I expect something good from our boys this year. Shame Deano ain't healthy (I know they said they wouldn't of took him anyway) because with him on board we would have a really solid team. Get your act together Dixon/ACU for next year, GBR needs Deano!!!!
Russia - MX1 Bobryshev, MX2 Tonkov, MX3 Parshin. I know, I know, I haven't heard of Parshin either, but the dude sits in 13th place in the MX3 standings and he missed the first three rounds, so seems like the next obvious choice.
Australia - I have no freaking idea..
Canada - They couldn't care less about this race, so who cares about them going..
Puerto Rico - Erm... Osborn, Alessi maybe?? Who knows!!! Hopefully someone good though!
Well I think I covered all the main teams, obviously you'll also have guys like Rattray (especially without Swanepoel backing him up), maybe Tonus (??) and guys like that who's teams won't finish anywhere, mixing it up. So yeah man, stacked
50 DAYS AND COUNTING
America - MX 1 Dungey, MX2 Bagget, MX3 Barcia. Maybe I'm wrong and Alessi will get the nod over Barica, but I doubt it. And with not only factory Honda no doubt helping out with a bike for JB, and his already proven sand riding skills who could blame Rodger, Mitch and DC for going that way.
Belgium - MX1 Desalle, MX2 van Horebeek, MX3 de Dyker. I could be wrong about de Dyker going, and they might send Strijbos who's been in pretty good form recently, and I think either last year or the year before, de Dyker felt he should of been the man to be picked for the team, and they didn't pick him, so he might say bollocks to ya and not go anyway. Either way I can see Belgium up on the box this year, solid team.
France - MX1 377, MX2 Musquin, MX3 Paulin. No brainer really.
Holland - MX1 Herlings, MX2 Coldenhoff, MX3 de Reuver. Coldenhoff may be pretty unknown to most Americans on here, but the dude is sitting 11th in the MX2 points, and seeing as he's Dutch, I'm thinking the dude is bound to have some sand skills. Not really sure about de Reuver, and if he's healthy, but seems like the most obvious pick to me, either him or that Brakke guy who raced last year for Holland. Saying that though, haven't seen his name at all this year. Tough call.
Germany - MX1 Nagl, MX2 Ullrich, MX3 Roczen. If I'm honest, I have no idea what the Germans are gonna do. I know Roczen is riding in the MX1 class at the German GP next month, which kind of tells me the bike he uses there is an option for the MXdN, and Nagl is a no brainer, but after that they have no one. Not even in MX3 is another German making an impact.. And Ullrich, I don't believe, has even raced a GP before, but he did race in the first EMX250 round in France earlier this year and had a second in moto 2, but after that he must of gotten injured because he didn't enter the next few rounds. But he is listed to race the next EMX250 round at Matterly Basin, so I will be keeping my eyes on him for sure. EDIT : Marcus Shiffer - I forgot this guy. And he is leading the German Masters series, so maybe Kenny will be riding the MX2 after all. Although Marcus is still young and could ride the MX2 class. At least they got options.
Italy - MX 1 Cairoli, MX2 Lupino, MX 3 Guarneri. With Philippaerts out, and I'm not sure when he's back, this is pretty much all Italy have. I think AC222 will be a threat, I really do, but the other 2 will struggle in the deep sand. Be surprised if they make the top 5 this year.
GBR - MX1 Searle, MX2 Nicholls, MX3 Simpson. If there ever was a year we could pinch a podium, it's this year. I believe, and I could be wrong, Simpson lives quite close to Lommel (as do many riders) and Searle was real fast on the 450 last year in France. I expect something good from our boys this year. Shame Deano ain't healthy (I know they said they wouldn't of took him anyway) because with him on board we would have a really solid team. Get your act together Dixon/ACU for next year, GBR needs Deano!!!!
Russia - MX1 Bobryshev, MX2 Tonkov, MX3 Parshin. I know, I know, I haven't heard of Parshin either, but the dude sits in 13th place in the MX3 standings and he missed the first three rounds, so seems like the next obvious choice.
Australia - I have no freaking idea..
Canada - They couldn't care less about this race, so who cares about them going..
Puerto Rico - Erm... Osborn, Alessi maybe?? Who knows!!! Hopefully someone good though!
Well I think I covered all the main teams, obviously you'll also have guys like Rattray (especially without Swanepoel backing him up), maybe Tonus (??) and guys like that who's teams won't finish anywhere, mixing it up. So yeah man, stacked
50 DAYS AND COUNTING
"And if ya don't know, now ya know, yer!" - The Notorious B.I.G.
"If you're not doing well in motorsports, forget about it" - Ayrton Senna
Follow me on twitter @looper148
