Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but paid users have great benefits. Paid member benefits:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
The main thing that stood out to me that day is how much better Jessy Nelson and McElrath were than the other 250 riders, but how stylish that #243 on a Honda looked behind them.
Or Anderson at Maggiora? Beat the "World" riders, including Herlings in his first moto before he had ever won an AMA outdoors moto. The US team was robbed on that day, but hey you have to do it on the track and after the incident, he couldn't ride moto 2.
These dudes are fast on both sides of the pond... PERIOD. But if a single selected event is your standard, that standard can be destroyed in an instant.
The Shop
MXoN is a great race and historically a place where racers rise to the occasion with legendary rides with Magoo's Trophees des Nations and Motocross des Nations sweep coming to mind. Roczen 2014 Latvia overcame bike issues and helped bring home the title to Germany. Max Anstie waxing the field both motos 2017 Matterley Basin. Team France winning five years in a row.
Not to mention the all time upset, Team USA's first win in 1981. Funny I don't remember Hansen, Bailey, LaPorte or Sun complaining about the lack of points or purse money either.
The GP riders are incredible at Motocross, the top 10 - 15 guys over there in each class are really fast and talented for sure. But, as it has been noted on here thousands of times, it is always hard to compare American riders to Euro riders simply because the Euros have a huge advantage in the amount of seat time they get on motocross tracks despite the difficult European weather in the winter.
Honestly it is pretty freaking amazing the US guys are even in the same conversation given how much time they spend per year training for supercross. The American riders have really learned to adapt, which is not easy. And for those that have not ridden a proper supercross track, the difference between the two styles of riding is crazy huge (I have spun laps when I was younger and dumber and it was always friggin scary! lol). IMO GNCC is better motocross training than Supercross is by a mile. You hold it wide open on a supercross track and you will be in the hospital after half a lap.
So that said, I do think the top 15 -20 Euro guys are every bit as fast as the top 15-20 American riders on motocross tracks for sure, and the US has looked really bad at Nations most of the last 10 years (though we let a couple slip away, Ernee and Maggiora)
I think the MXGP series is marred by some of the track choices/locations. The US has had a few crappy tracks over the years, but generally the track quality is a lot more consistent. My boys and I watch every MXGP round and some the tracks are incredible, some are absolute garbage I would not drive 20 minutes to ride (admit I am spoiled). And ending your series in Turkey and Oman on terrible tracks in front of 100 fans is a bummer. I am assuming Oman will be bad, have no idea what it actually will look like. I know they are trying to grow the sport, but still...
Still love watching both series and will be excited to go nations this year. Watching the Euro fans is half the fun!
Oh, and it would be awesome if Herlings came over, he would do great if he handles the heat ok (which I think he does), but I doubt it happens.
I also wonder how the factories fund their US/GP teams. If each is given a specific amount to run their own program, then you'd have a tricky negotiation to determine the value of the swap. Kawi USA would put a huge number on him, the MXGP operation probably less.
It'd be fun to see a full-on effort by a top rider switching over, but it's super unlikely.
Lots of you guys think it’s trolling when we mention US riders are national riders. But it’s isn’t trolling, it’s just being factual.
Nothing should come before the pride to represent your country at the Mxon, or the chance to be a true world champion racing MXGP.
It’s sad in general the US riders don’t get it. Legacy’s arnt made from bank balances.
Ironically though IMO a US MXGP champ
Would make more then a US SX champ, when uu consider all revenue streams. Social media etc
Pit Row
As an American, I am embarassed the importance of the MXoN to many here clearly varies depending on if the US is dominating or not. For the popularity debate, people who care more than I do could research TV numbers further to add more than social media numbers into the discussion.
Glad LaPorte, Hansen, Bailey, and Sun felt differently.
Your "logic" about the MXGP riders and 50K has zero to do with motivation for the MXoN. Hope you didn't hurt your back making that stretch.
So why your plucking 50k out the sky is a bit strange.
Point is if you AMA champ your already a made man, then heading to MXGP to become potentially secure a world title & go down is history as best in the world priceless.
Off course there would be huge salaries involved whichever series your at the sharp end. So in that case money doesn’t hVe to be the main focus.
Pride to win for your country.
It’s not the MXGP fault you don’t leave your own country.
Post a reply to: Sould Herlings go for AMA motocross this year ?