Previewing Motocross of Nations' Teams | Two

The 2025 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations takes its toll on even the world's most powerful nations: a lot is said about what it costs for Team USA to participate each year. The cost versus reward is trickier to justify for smaller nations, those who have no chance to win but instead find some elation in an appearance within the top nine.

There is a top ten team that travels to Ironman with a budget of €60,000 and another that was quoted €25,000 to use a motorcycle. The spirit of competition, as well as the respect for tradition, will drive the motocross collective to Crawfordsville, Indiana. With so many teams wounded, the door has crept open for other nations to dream of a decade-best score or even trophy.

Spain

Like Switzerland in its prime, Team Spain could win if the pieces of the puzzle fall into place perfectly. 2025 is not that year. Jorge Prado's needed and, without him, it is quite unlikely that Spain will be in podium contention. Ruben Fernandez will be reliable and inside the top seven, but Guillem Farres is a question mark. Quick, capable and packed with potential yet wildly unpredictable at the same time, Farres is a star who could win in MX2: he just needs to be 'on' and a little lucky.

Who is the nation's third rider, Francisco Garcia? It's a name that is not familiar to most, but he won two EMX250 rounds and secured bronze in that championship. Garcia will move up to the 450F for the first time – that has its own difficulties – but will compete with Kawasaki support thanks to BUD Racing, the team that he joined at the start of 2025. Helpful is the fact that his season ended after the Grand Prix of Turkiye, so he will have had a full month on the KX450 come Saturday at Ironman.

Verdict: A team that is still capable, despite no Jorge. They will surprise.

Slovenia

Tim Gajser dominated the B-Final ten years ago, but Slovenia still failed to qualify for the main show. The nation could not even prosper with its world champion on top form. A decade later and Slovenia are contenders to finish in the top five. Gajser is still at his best some thirteen seasons after his professional debut – remember his fantastic pass on Jett Lawrence to win last year – and can count on Jan Pancar as back up. This formidable duo can clinch a trophy for Slovenia in the correct scenario.

Gajser is not at one hundred percent as he recovers from shoulder injury but enters the United States with trophies from China and Australia. Pancar is better than last year – he claimed his first MXGP moto podium in July – and should appear in the top twelve in both motos (an improvement on his 15-16 scores in 2024). Jaka Peklaj is the liability, having never scored points in international competition. Slovenia must rely on other nations' misfortune to overcome his shortcomings, but a top five is attainable in certain circumstances.

Verdict: Slovenia's rise is admirable, but they need more than Peklaj.

SUI

Switzerland is on the decline. Jeremy Seewer is still competitive – he had the same number of podiums in 2025 as he did in 2024 – but the Ducati Desmo450 is unpredictable. The bike's best moments are almost a distant memory, as its last podium came in May and '91' has not landed inside the top ten since July's Grand Prix of Czechia. Perhaps being on American soil with Rick Zielfelder trackside could prompt inspiration in the organization.

Valentin Guillod needs no introduction now and is motivated to prove that he has not become slower since he first landed in the United States. There could be an inter-team rivalry between he and Seewer, as he tries to score better than his countryman for the first time since 2015's event. Who is Nico Greutmann, the MX2 rider? Greutmann took fourth position in EMX250 this year but was a little inconsistent and better on softer soil. It's unlikely that he will be outstanding in his Swiss debut.

Verdict: Switzerland falls to obscurity, top five is almost impossible.

Latvia

Few in Ironman's crowd could find Latvia on a map, yet the nation becomes more prominent in motocross with each season that passes. Tenth in 2024 with an injury-riddled team that lacked the star power of Pauls Jonass and Janis Reisulis, it's not unfathomable to consider that those two with Karlis Reisulis (correct, another nation that will field brothers) could land around the top five and unsettle some powerhouse nations. The latter will step up to a 450F on this occasion but does so with momentum from a respectable term in MX2.

Janis Reisulis, the younger of the two and current EMX250 champion, will remain aboard a YZ250FM in MX2. Much better prepared than he was when he debuted at the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations with a 38-28 scorecard, he should land around the top six in MX2 and bank solid points. There is no weakness in this lineup. Jonass will even take to the track in Open, in order to give Karlis the time to recover in his first appearance aboard a YZ450FM.

Verdict: Latvia will be the biggest surprise to come out of Ironman...

Italy

The Italians' decision to recruit Antonio Cairoli screams weakness and a lack of depth, something that does little to inspire confidence in pre-event discussions. Injuries to Alberto Forato and Mattia Guadagnini – the latter was in fine form in Australia, but too little too late – forced the FMI's hand and so the nine-time champ appears in a blue jersey for the sixteenth time. If he can unearth his top ten pace from his Pro Motocross wildcard appearances then he will support the team well.

Andrea Adamo is a potential MX2 winner but, like Simon Längenfelder, has only ended in the top ten in one of his six motos at the MXoN. I believe that he packed better pace this year and should be more competitive than at previous editions. Simply, he has to be. Italy needs to lean on him. Andrea Bonacorsi, a one-time podium finisher in MXGP this year, is better than any American fans will realize. The 'tall man on the Fantic' will raise eyebrows, but he is superb and a star of the future.

Verdict: A good team, just not great. A podium is out of the question. 

Great Britain

There is no downfall that resembles that of Great Britain. Newer fans will be bewildered by the nation's position in pursuit of the United States on the list of all-time wins and, to the surprise of no one, they will not add to their sixteen victories on this occasion. Motocross' pioneers will be lucky to scrape a top nine for the first time in more than three years: the effort will be hindered by the lack of Ben Watson and Max Anstie. Both athletes are omitted due to budget concerns. 

Conrad Mewse broke through in some fashion at 2024's event and must carry the team; he may even capture an individual top five. Dylan Walsh is a curious choice – especially considering that he is focused on the first round of Australia's supercross season that is just one week later – and Josh Gilbert was a controversial selection instead of Adam Sterry. Sterry beat Gilbert at all but two ACU British Championship rounds but was overlooked for no clear reason.

Verdict: This could be Great Britain's most anonymous national trio.