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For these teams it's a demonstration of their nation's love for the sport.
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Earlier this year, Eli Tomac was on the whiskey throttle show. They asked him if he would race the 2019 mxon in Athens if asked to. He said YES HE WOULD. He said he would like the chance for redemption. He also said he regretted declining to be in the 2017 mxon. He SAID THAT SHIT. LOOK IT UP.
These are facts that you clearly aren't aware of, yet you're telling me I'm saying things I know nothing abOUT. Then you say Anderson rides with heart and can win anywhere, which is basically agreeing with what I said about him.
You agree with my opinion on Anderson, yet dispute well known facts about him and Tomac. Learn some things and know something before telling someone they don't know anything. There is nothing I stated that isn't fact, well known, and proven. STAMP THAT.
You can't be suprised that people then revelled in the US finally getting beat, it was mostly just to see the arrogant fans squirm.
Based on Anderson's statements about last year's mxon, and in the two years prior. He has always been eager to race it even though injuries wouldn't allow it in 2017 or 2018. Why would it be different if he's healthy and ready? Its a strong opinion. I know he hasn't publicly stated that he wants to go to Athens. Or at least not that I'm aware of.
Many Euros are doing the same thing and have been for quite some time now. It's what people do. Not all Euros do it, and not all Americans did it when we were on top. Eventually the tide will turn and many Americans will want to see the euros squirm who are gloating right now. Then it will turn again and...
People are people. It will not change. Gloaters gonna gloat.
Pit Row
It seems some Americans want to play the victim, each year. It's everyone (Each respective Team) for themselves at the event. If, as so many think, that other countries would 'gang up', or 'pick on' (And I use such childish descriptions to emphasise just how childish that attitude is), your riders wouldn't make it through the first turn. Just endless, victim culture bullshit being expressed by some .
The USA Team will undoubtably win again. They've just as much chance of winning at Assen as any other, major, Team. It's on a track that no one has an advantage with - because it sure as hell is anything but the 'normal' Euro sand track, being a 'pop up' track that uses the weirdest sand I've ever seen.
Remember Lommel, in the 80s, Americans (look it up, if you don't). Your Team won. It was the beginning of an incredible record of wins.
They can, and will, Certainly win again, but, Only If They Turn Up.
Matthes put up the question about how willing would people be to spend $10,000 of their own money, to represent their Country.
I've been privileged to represent my Country at several World Championships, in different sports, over the decades. Each time it was totally on My wallet, and each time it cost a damned sight more than $10,000. I've also contributed a lot of time, money and my machinery to other Australians efforts at World Championships and International events. All, up, near on / just (well, probably a Lot more, as my records are missing a fair few expenses) over $150,000. And, I don't get things like $50,000/$100,000 (they are the sort of numbers blithely thrown about, so often) Bonuses that are attributed to US race winners. All, My hard earned money - I could have used other companies bikes, for sponsorships, but, f**k that, I make, and ride my own frames. And, to repeat, I've been privileged, grateful, and Proud to represent My Country - even though I didn't place particularly well.
Most other Countries Riders pay their way, or at least part of it, to go to the MXDN. If, their Federation, or even Government ( usually through a form of Sports Fund/Lottery Fund - that it takes a massive effort to get a hold of as they are, inevitably, set up for more 'mainstream' sports) well, more bloody power to them. If one's Team / Federation can't do that, well, it's your problem that You need to address. Special events, Raffles, holding reluctant donors by the ankles and shaking out their spare change, and many other methods, are used by so many CountriesTeams and Riders to get to the MXDN.
There's a fair few Countries that travel enormous distances ( further than the usual US hop over the Atlantic), at Big expense, every year. Australia, since at least 1985, have been at the MXDN, other than the replacement event for that disasterous US MXDN in 2002. They were already in the US, for the aborted event, and didn't get to the replacement, Spanish(?) event - the money was spent, to get to the USA. What a royal stuff up that was ........
I truly hope the USA Team does go to the MXDN. Your Team are treated like royalty at the event. They are, for the vast part, adored by the Spectators, and the Media. If they turn up, they Can win. Then, I'm sure that it will become an 'important' event, to many of those that are so disinterested since the recent defeats.
I've a fair few American friends and acquaintances, from decades of going there and working with them. All, have been very proud of their Country, and it's achievements. Pretty much all of them Motorcyclists, and very much into the MXDN. I've spoken to them, some very recently, and, through your 'dry spell' with regards to wins. None have shown a desire for their Country not to attend. None have said they must have special treatment and get paid to attend. Indeed, they've been aghast / insulted by the thought or suggestion their Team, or Riders, wouldn't, or couldn't afford to pay their way to the event, as so many Countries do.
Go.
Go for the Win.
And, if your Team doesn't win, cop it in the guts, and try again. Americans don't shy away from a challenge - well, that's what I believe. Hopefully, you Americans, do too.
The only thing more annoying than every American fan whining about Tomac losing, might be what they’d do after Tomac winning.
That being said, I hope Tomac never does another MXdN again.
Osborne reportedly rode the factory Husky 250 recently to evaluate its shock setup and was super pumped at how much better the bike was than the 250s he raced. There's precedent for the switch and it's not a slap in the face to AC and other current 250 contenders here, it's mooning their bosses who don't want to go. Keeps everyone in the same pit on race day; just trundle over a bin of KTM-specific parts. These guys train together already, they're all gamers as they call it in baseball, guys who mean to win and find ways to do it, and Roger D could wield his full powers of commanding support in Europe. It might be a last hurrah for KTM's US push under RD, if corporate is bent on MotoGP as the future.
If Tomac wants to go, if AC wants to go, they must train and pit together with Anderson or Osborne as one team, brand notwithstanding. If their bosses won't agree to that or can't arrange it, then send riders who can get with that program. It's going to be necessary these days to have the best shot at beating European nations whose focus is motocross, year-round.
I admit that although Osborne supposedly loves how good the Husky 250 has become, he probably won't like how good the European 250 riders have become. Still, he can mentally process world-class speed on a track, and would set himself to doing it on a 250 if that was the mission assigned him. If he would rather stay on a 450 because that's his job now and he intends to do better next year, that's his prerogative--send Mosiman on a 250, because he doesn't have to win his class, just finish and do well enough.
To paraphrase the immortal words of my avatar: "Enough with the negative waves already!!" Hashing out who the three best riders are and how to send them is making it too complicated. Send the best TEAM, a cohesive unit, a compound, not a mixture: this is most readily done by a single manufacturer, and there's an obvious candidate.
And be ready to employ a different strategy next year. But right now, send a real team. The US has the depth to do that on one brand. Tomac+AC+Forkner is scary good. Ditto with Yamaha. But likely only the Austrian mfgr. will have a full-strength crew available this year.
As for riders from other countries affecting the US industry and teams, I agree 100% the costs should be covered if they don’t do it already, but it should be the country and the federation the rider represents that covers it just like they do for their other non US based riders from their budget they put together in all the different ways mentioned above.
And with some talk about how many riders showed up at Red Bud last year on borrowed bikes and just some parts and still ran in front of US riders, if the factories don’t want to support it and money is really an issue how about team USA tries that too? The riders do it all the time in the winter when they show up for some of the euro supercross events and they perform well. Might take the pressure off a bit and make for one hell of a story.
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