Mr Motocross of Nations

That's pretty incredible!!

BTW, if you look back, after the admitted powerhouse teams (USA, France, Italy, etc., it's Estonia that is
right there, year after year.

Indeed, they performed very well.

2001: 11th
2002: 7th
2003: 8th
2004: 4th
2005: 6th
2006: 9th
2007: 11th
2008: 12th
2009: 8th
2010: 15th
2011: 10th
2012: 7th
2013: 10th
2014: 9th
2015: 4th
2016: 9th
2017: 8th
2018: ???

Absolutely proud to have a team leader like Leok, guy will be representing our country for 18. year straight: riding for every manufacturer in the pits (exept Vertemati ) - he has had to deal with lots of team changes goin in to MXON, riding injured, postponing several surgeries after long seasons for representin his country, not to mention missing birth of one of his three sons and two of his own three weddings for representing his country!
Despite all that he's still putting in some of his best rides at the event. Absolute legend in Estonia, should get a statue someday

Nickname Estonian Express wasn't given for nothing. I'm prety sure there will be at least 20 MXDNs on his name

Rui Goncalves is racing for Portugal for the 17th time this weekend as well. Another veteran who always performs well at this event but goes under the radar

Much respect! I'll be watching for his number.

Dude is a machine!! Had no idea Gonclaves was such a veteran, let alone on his 17th Nations!!! Unbelievably impressive runs by both men

keinz wrote:

Nickname Estonian Express wasn't given for nothing. I'm prety sure there will be at least 20 MXDNs on his name

I can see him hitting 20 in a row and retiring, or saying screw it and keep doing them!

RG1 wrote:

Rui Goncalves is racing for Portugal for the 17th time this weekend as well. Another veteran who always performs well at this event but goes under the radar

Nagl must have a lot under his belt as well, anyone has a number?
I remember seeing him at Ernee in 2005, and I believe he already raced 1 or 2 events before.
I don'T think he has missed many either

DeStouwer wrote:

Indeed, they performed very well.

2001: 11th
2002: 7th
2003: 8th
2004: 4th
2005: 6th
2006: 9th
2007: 11th
2008: 12th
2009: 8th
2010: 15th
2011: 10th
2012: 7th
2013: 10th
2014: 9th
2015: 4th
2016: 9th
2017: 8th
2018: ???

Look at all of those top 10's!! I never realized that!

DeStouwer wrote:

Indeed, they performed very well.

2001: 11th
2002: 7th
2003: 8th
2004: 4th
2005: 6th
2006: 9th
2007: 11th
2008: 12th
2009: 8th
2010: 15th
2011: 10th
2012: 7th
2013: 10th
2014: 9th
2015: 4th
2016: 9th
2017: 8th
2018: ???

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Look at all of those top 10's!! I never realized that!

That's seriously impressive the level he can compete at year after year.

He's a legend for sure. Nothing but respect for Tanel.

Kulpa wrote:

Absolutely proud to have a team leader like Leok, guy will be representing our country for 18. year straight: riding for every manufacturer in the pits (exept Vertemati ) - he has had to deal with lots of team changes goin in to MXON, riding injured, postponing several surgeries after long seasons for representin his country, not to mention missing birth of one of his three sons and two of his own three weddings for representing his country!
Despite all that he's still putting in some of his best rides at the event. Absolute legend in Estonia, should get a statue someday

How do you miss two of your own three weddings?! That is an even more impressive feat than the # of MXoN!!

Great rider. Much respect

Kulpa wrote:

Absolutely proud to have a team leader like Leok, guy will be representing our country for 18. year straight: riding for every manufacturer in the pits (exept Vertemati ) - he has had to deal with lots of team changes goin in to MXON, riding injured, postponing several surgeries after long seasons for representin his country, not to mention missing birth of one of his three sons and two of his own three weddings for representing his country!
Despite all that he's still putting in some of his best rides at the event. Absolute legend in Estonia, should get a statue someday

Gilby122 wrote:

How do you miss two of your own three weddings?! That is an even more impressive feat than the # of MXoN!!

Hahaa! Putting the DesNations before your wedding now thats a MXer

He didn't miss that one

keinz wrote:

Nickname Estonian Express wasn't given for nothing. I'm prety sure there will be at least 20 MXDNs on his name

I wanted to ask him what he was shooting for when i did the interview... But i didn't want to jinx him. Was even a little nervous because this was done before race day at Imola

And yes, Rui Goncalves also deserves a lot of credit for his total.

Tanel leok is mxon personified and be shows that EVERYONE should prioritize mxon before any damn off season race. This is the olympics of mx, being picked is the highest honour you could possible get as a mx racer and its a damn shame some ppl seems to take being picked for granted . In my eyes if you turn down this race just because you wanna race mec, rbsr or and other race you are a retard and should not even get asked to race it again because no mx/sx race could possibly be held in higher regard than mxon!.

Rs444 wrote:

Tanel leok is mxon personified and be shows that EVERYONE should prioritize mxon before any damn off season race. This is the olympics of mx, being picked is the highest honour you could possible get as a mx racer and its a damn shame some ppl seems to take being picked for granted . In my eyes if you turn down this race just because you wanna race mec, rbsr or and other race you are a retard and should not even get asked to race it again because no mx/sx race could possibly be held in higher regard than mxon!.

You're kidding, I hope.....

The MXdN is a cool event, and I love its history and everything, but these riders aren't actually going to war to defend their country or anything.

I think that the race was quite a bit more back in the day, but now it definitely seems like more of an opportunity for YS to pocket a good sum of cash with unpaid performers risking injury to their livelihood.

I'd love to see the event evolve just a little bit so that YS waives their cut, track promoters make a little bit, but profits made go towards each country's equivalent of a Road2Recovery organization. Winning team gets the largest share for their chosen charity, etc.

If I were risking my career for practically free, I'd much rather know that proceeds were going to help a good cause rather than lining Luongo's pockets.

Of course I was joking about Tanel missing his own wedding, but he will be at this race 18th time in a row, and always finds motivation and time to go and ride the best he can. And I bet he doesn't regret a single Mxon event he has taken part of. Later in your life you regret the chances you din't take not the ones you did. Everything in life is not measured in money, yeah Mxon doesn't pay you anything, but ask Ryan Hughes what is his proudest moment as a motocrosser, ask JMB wich throphy he wishes he had won but never did. Its sad when some of the best riders turn down the invitation to ride for their country because of team change or some personal grief.

Rs444 wrote:

Tanel leok is mxon personified and be shows that EVERYONE should prioritize mxon before any damn off season race. This is the olympics of mx, being picked is the highest honour you could possible get as a mx racer and its a damn shame some ppl seems to take being picked for granted . In my eyes if you turn down this race just because you wanna race mec, rbsr or and other race you are a retard and should not even get asked to race it again because no mx/sx race could possibly be held in higher regard than mxon!.

APLMAN99 wrote:

You're kidding, I hope.....

The MXdN is a cool event, and I love its history and everything, but these riders aren't actually going to war to defend their country or anything.

I think that the race was quite a bit more back in the day, but now it definitely seems like more of an opportunity for YS to pocket a good sum of cash with unpaid performers risking injury to their livelihood.

I'd love to see the event evolve just a little bit so that YS waives their cut, track promoters make a little bit, but profits made go towards each country's equivalent of a Road2Recovery organization. Winning team gets the largest share for their chosen charity, etc.

If I were risking my career for practically free, I'd much rather know that proceeds were going to help a good cause rather than lining Luongo's pockets.

good thing you started with youre kidding

I did some races against him when i was younger. That seems like a lifetime ago! And he´s still in it, Impressive!

Kulpa wrote:

Of course I was joking about Tanel missing his own wedding, but he will be at this race 18th time in a row, and always finds motivation and time to go and ride the best he can. And I bet he doesn't regret a single Mxon event he has taken part of. Later in your life you regret the chances you din't take not the ones you did. Everything in life is not measured in money, yeah Mxon doesn't pay you anything, but ask Ryan Hughes what is his proudest moment as a motocrosser, ask JMB wich throphy he wishes he had won but never did. Its sad when some of the best riders turn down the invitation to ride for their country because of team change or some personal grief.

Hästi õeldud Kulpa. Ja vaadates meie tänast seisu, siis Tannil tuleb kindlalt 20+kui katki pole.. Kahju. aga ega vist enne Tanni ja Aixi poisse meil tippu asja ei ole