Dear Kawasaki,
43 years ago, the American team of Danny Laporte, Johnny O'Mara, Donny Hansen, and Chuck Sun won the 1981 Motocross of Nations. This marked Roger Decoster's first race as acting team manager for Team USA, and since then, we Americans have been blessed with 23 wins at this prestigious event under his tremendous leadership. Throughout this time, we American fans have greatly appreciated the event and what it offers the fans; a chance to see the best in the world go at it. A chance to watch our favorite professional motocross athletes battle for their country, and stand on podium clasped in their country's colors with pride. Some of my favorite MXoN memories feature Ryan Villopoto, like in 2007, when he won his first time at MXdN. In 2008, James Bubba Stewart led the team to yet another victory aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki. There have been many performances that we the American fans got to experience, and many of which were largely thanks to you, Kawasaki.
I'd like to take it back to 2017. Monster Energy Supercross is 15 rounds in, visiting East Rutherford with a close points battle between your rider at the time, Eli Tomac, and Ryan Dungey aboard his Roger-Decoster-led, Red Bull KTM team's machine. Current points leader Eli Tomac starts off the race leading, until crashing early. This crash gives Dungey the race lead, until his teammate Marvin Musquin takes over. Leading until the last lap, Marvin makes a "mistake," allowing Ryan Dungey to pass him and win the race, making for a significant point swing in the championship, with Tomac coming home in 8th. This of course was during a title fight which would ultimately go the way of Ryan Dungey in the end.
It's been stated by some of the representatives in the moto-media sphere that this, for lack of a better phrase, pissed you off. And maybe rightfully so, as in the end, it did seem like race-fixing as a Tomac fan. Because of this, according to said media members, you have opted out of participation in team USA's MXoN efforts due to Roger Decoster being the manager for the team. Why should you be obligated to play nicely for MXoN, with someone whose race team doesn't play fairly during SX? A valid question, sure. After all, when I looked back on this race today, I didn't even remember that Eli Tomac essentially crashed the points lead away... I only remembered the Marvin move. In hindsight though, Tomac should be more to blame for the loss of that title than Dungey, Musquin, KTM, and especially Roger Decoster. Don't you think it's easier to blame the guy who washed the front end and lost, than the guy who didn't and won? Furthermore, Tomac has since moved on from Kawasaki anyway, and has participated since then twice now! If anyone should be holding a grudge, it should be him. He doesn't hold a grudge, so why do you?
This brings us to present day, where our team has struggled to find a group of riders to send to the MXoN for several of the last few years, and as you know, this is partly because you refuse to participate. With that, I bring to you a call to action. The truth is, we need you, Kawasaki. The fans need you. Please don't let personal vendettas get in the way of what could be an experience for your riders to represent their country. Please don't punish the American fans for something you deem ethically questionable from another team, something that happened years ago, and outside of this event. We need you back, we need your riders to have the option to participate in the Motocross of Nations, and it's time to let bygones be bygones. Simply put, it's time to bring this back:
Thank you to anyone who read this. I hope it was at least entertaining if nothing else.
-MX Guy
I think an open letter to infront to pay the riders and teams to be there is well within order too
RV's first one was 06 but still a cool read.
And definitely agree with scott_nz about money.
I didnt even know that was the reason. Thats a dumb reason. Number one because as you mentioned it was tomacs fault for crashing and getting 8th. If tomac doesnt crash and wins the race then theres no way for anyone to let anyone by in the first place. Number two if kawasaki was in the same position theyd do the same thing. In fact they pretty much did. Remember tomac trying to bunch up dungey at the last race and knocking him off the track a few times in order to try to win the championship? Thats even worse than musquin just going a little bit wide in a corner and letting dungey by. They need to get over it by now and let their guys go race…
I personally speak with my wallet and straight up will not purchase a Kawi because they won’t support mxdn.
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What’s lost on them is this stance hinders them on some level when it comes to signing a top tier rider that gives a shit about riding the MXON.
This is the way.
Only thing that a corporation is loyal to is the bottom line.
MXoN does not sell bikes, or even attract much interest from someone 25 and under.
Couple of 85 and 250 fast kids I talk to sometimes at the track (they give me riding tips LOL) don't even know what this race is and when I tell them, they might ask what network it's on, and when Deegs is racing.
Imagine their extreme excitement and anticipation when I tell them they can watch live at 3AM pacific time in a Sunday morning, and they can watch this spectacle for only 50 bucks - but only on their computer or iPhone, and have to listen to some over-caffinated announcer with a thick english accent yelling about whatever.
AND no Deegan, just some old American dudes who have been pros since before they were born, and they were not even the first choices to go race in this event.
And surely they will ask, WTF is the Open Class and how is it different than the MXGP class? I don't think I can answer that one myself...
What young fan wouldn't jump at the chance to spend their hard earned on something as exciting as that?
I don't think that anyone should act too self -important about this exhibition race with "OPEN LETTERS" and shit - MXoN is for old people like me who remember when the event really meant something - now all the racers are basically equal in talent and speed in Motocross - it's not like one side of the Atlantic is that much better than the other anymore.
It keeps going because it makes InFront a shit ton of money to play it up like USA versus the World for old fans and riders (again, like me ) me who have extra cash to buy a ticket, or a video pass to watch.
Even some of the actual MXGP and MX2 riders don't give a two shits about this race and will be on vacation on an island somewhere - I heard of at least one who is on an MXoN team for his country, that really does not want an extra race after enduring 20 GP's...
Point is, I think some bike manufacturers get pressured into going by the American Moto media and insta shit talkers, because they will look Anti-American if they don't jump on the bandwagon.
As a result, InFront knows it doesn't have to pay a nickel to get the USA team overseas to the event, because the American so -called "Patriots" make so much noise online about it if the American team decides not to go.
This isn't war, it's just a dirt bike race in a muddy meadow in English farmland. Don't take it so serious.
Downvote all you want, but change my mind if you have a coherent opinion to offer...
..now you did it.
When the brass at KMC USA sees this post, they are going to call Dan Fahie into their offices and let him go, all because you didn't want to buy their last leftover 24 KX 450 - They were depending on you dude!
Even worse, now that you spoke with your wallet, they can't pay Prado anything but minimum wage, so now he has to drive the Kawi Semi during the week as well as line up to race...
Nice work!
BTW it's MXoN now...
MXON is the biggest race in our sport, without question. Anyone saying otherwise is a FOOL. Praise the MX Gods for allowing this to happen, shame on Kawasaki for their stance. To omit Jorge Prado in 2025 will be the toughest pill to swallow. Hopefully, he can get around the blockage with some outside support.
The good thing is Kawaski riders wouldn't do much to help the US win MXDN anyway.
😏
"MXoN does not sell bikes..."
Maybe, maybe not. Not doing MXon definitely does not sell bikes though. I present Urbanlift707 as evidence.
"...or even attract much interest from someone 25 and under."
Are those people buying bikes? Or is it their nostalgic old man with extra cash? Also, I did a report in 8th grade on it and showed the section from Revelation 199 in class so it's possible some kids still get into it, especially if their pops is passionate about it.
There’s a lot of assumptions to be made before anyone can decide who’s to blame for the situation. Who knows who said and did what to get to that point?
Kawasaki does not currently employ an American mx racer worth having on Team USA . . . maybe next year!
Flashback, 1983 MXdN Team USA Yamaha's Glover, Honda's Bailey, Suzuki's Barnett and Kawasaki's Ward were finally begging to send their racers only after Honda single-handily fielded Team USA in 1981 & 1982 that turned out to be legendary wins and a huge marketing success for Team Honda USA.
Fun fact, the only racer to have won 125, 250 and 500 MXdN on Team USA was Kawasaki's Jeff Ward.
Wardy is undefeated in MXdN.
2025 will be a different story!
Ward doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He's a true God of our sport. Rarely hear his name mentioned. People are all over DeCoster, as they should be, but Ward?
As someone who's been around since the, pre elsinore, DT Yamaha/Hodaka/Penton175 days.
Back when you had to follow cycle news, or physically follow the race circuit to stay informed.
I was always more interested in the yearly ISDT.
2025 is easy when it's most likely going to be at Ironman. Prodo will be able to race then,
But what about 2026 in France? Spain are actually finally at a point where i they could win the event with a bit of luck. I would be very surprised if Prado hasn't demanded MXdN support in his 3 year deal with Kawasaki USA.
Wow... shitting on an historic event AND shitting on the US riders who are proud enough to go there and represent their country.? At least you cover all bases with that rant.
But hey; the "coupla guys" you talk to aren't interested in the world's most historic race so I guess you know best.. 🤡
Pit Row
No it’s not 🤬🤬, it’s MXDN 👍
It's not just about the Musqin incident. Kawasaki has a multi-million dollar, decades long investment in their USA motocross program. To ask them to allow one or more of their employees to work under a rival team manager for a week, to allow their machines to be scrutinized for a week under a rival team manager, is not reasonable. Decoster is a direct competitor to Kawasaki with millions upon millions on the line. Team USA needs an unbiased unattached team manager chosen by the teams themselves, the AMA, and promoters, and agreed upon. The blind Joe Paterno like mania surrounding Decoster is unreal, even Lewis Phillips stated that Decoster said if he couldn't get Tomac he would "give up", he also stated Plessinger's setup was all wrong last year despite Decoster being his regular season team manager. The irony is a manufacturer doesn't agree with the team manager choice, so instead of choosing a different manager, we lambaste the manufacturer.
Genuinely curious what Kawasaki is going to do when Prado wants to race MXdN in 25’.
I’d imagine Jorge and his team discussed this before signing the deal.
Lewis, do you have any inside information about this scenario?
Couldn't the MX of Nations organizers of the American team learn a little bit from our ISDE organizers? Every year another shit show. Everyone makes the point of Kawasaki, but it isn't, no not at all. The point is every year the USA team organizers have another shit show, over and over. Rinse and repeat, shit show this year again. Does anybody think even if Kawasaki allowed their riders to compete it still wouldn't be a total fuck up again every year?
Why? The other rider under the tent is from Spain.
Since Eli moved on, I can’t think of any Kawasaki riders I’d put on the team, anyway. Weird timing for this rant.
So much Righteous Indignation over a business decision here.
This is so over the top 😂😂 so soft
I will say the same thing we all said about Haiden and Star.
IF Tomac really wanted to go during his Kawasaki days, do you guys think that Kawasaki would have said no?.
They were clearly fine with doing it at Redbud when Eli wanted to ride (even if they acted shitty during the event). But they were still there.
And with the spionage bs about Roger, come on… no other team has had any problem sending their bikes other than Kawi over the 40+ years Roger has been the team manager.
Or Bud Light because of their ad nobody saw, or Disney because of their stance on some issues nobody gives a shit about, on and on.....
I’m 26 (sorry 1 year over your stated age range, guess maybe that’s why I care) and I’ve been to 2 MXoNs (both the races at Red Bud) and will be flying out to the UK for my 3rd soon. There’s plenty of young people who still pay close attention to MXoN as I look forward to it every single year even though success for the US hasn’t come quite as frequently as it did pre-2012.
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