by Andy Bowyer
Thursday Rev Up: MXoN
Thursday, September 23, 2010 | 5:00 PM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. In what should be the most important motocross event of the year, I think it’s pretty cool that we’re hosting the 2010 Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations for the second time in three seasons. It’s already been a banner year for world events, what with the FIFA World Cup taking place along with the 2010 Winter Olympics. Team USA fared well in both competitions, and now it’s time to shine in the sport we conquer with an iron fist.
Before I go any further, I’m more than willing to admit that I don’t follow the GPs very much. I do respect and admire them substantially. The historic tracks, the huge crowds, and the upscale professionalism of the GPs is impressive. That said, if you want the full low-down, click back to Lord Alford Wiegandt’s "Predux" prose, which pretty much covers it all.
These Ryan Dungey graphics from One Industries are actually available for sale for those of you who want a patriotic bike.
As per the norm, I’m here to get you fired up. And few things if any get my shoulders back like a little patriot games. I’m only 33 years old, but I can make a strong argument that I’ve heard the National Anthem as much or more than anyone reading this. From every drop of the gate as a four-year-old amateur, to every supercross and outdoor event, to every single NASCAR event over the last six years, it’s the hand over the heart and at attention for this bloke. The goose bumps still erupt every time.
I’ve got to say that my favorite is when they do it at Talladega with 180,000 strong on their feet. The fireworks thunder, the fighter jets roar, and a tricked-out Peterbuilt is blowing smoke down the back straight away 90mph attached with a 35 foot "old glory" fighting the wind. It’s 100% pure American. Call me a redneck, call me a flag-waving American, but I love that shit. And it strengthens my love of the fact that we are the best in the world at motocross.
On with the race: This is always a tough event for our riders in the fact that we go not to lose. Every single team involved with the dust up in Lakewood wants to beat Team USA, because if they do, they’ll win. That’s just fine. With the three-pronged attack we’re sending into battle, they’d better all bring a sack lunch.
Trey Canard just might have ridden some of the best motocross in the world over the last two months, and Ryan Dungey has established himself as the undisputed alpha male. It’s hard to call Andrew Short a weak link because he carries the mail at Lakewood, and he’ll holeshot. We’re going to stomp a mudhole in them, and I love it.
It’s going to be exciting to see Antonio Cairoli race in the USA again. He blew the doors off everyone at Glen Helen and has had a rough go in the recent MXoN events. Also, it will be interesting to see how his KTM 350 SX/F looks on the track compared to Mike Alessi’s. Yeah, but like I said, I’m not versed well enough on all of the foreign riders to offer much bench racing.
One is selling these graphics, too.
I hope a huge crowd turns out to watch the event and all goes well with the contenders. A true fight among the big names is what all motocross fans across the world want to see. But I want to watch our boys make sure the world remembers why we still hold the Peter Chamberlain trophy.
Do it for all of the soldiers, past and present, that helped let us do whatever we want to do and say whatever we want to say. There is a reason we have our freedom in the United States and the reason we rule the sport of motocross. Badass Americans.
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Anybody know where to catch the races for those of us not fortunate enough to attend in person?
CR500 - Try this website for the race coverage: http://freecaster.tv/live/mx/1012176/motocross-of-nations-2010-usa
Watch out for estonian express Tanel Leok. If theres an individual that could break a 450 surprise win its Leok
Im surprised that a lot of Euros and some guys think Cairolli is a threat. No way. Short and Canard will give him the business at Colorado. Reason is with colorado altitude the bike loses power and cairoli is already underpowered at 350 so if you do the math Cairolli comes up way short. USA has advantage they've raced there b4 and + mechanics know what to do= total domination. Shorty and Dungey will have wins in their class. The only challenge for Trey is Musquin, Roczen and Wilson on 250 .
Hmmm.. One Industries graphics on Dungey's bike?? Weren't they the Jokers that decided to sponsor J-Law and then Dungey told them to take a hike!!
dgizzy I believe you are right but aren't the GP bikes quite a bit more tricked out because of the different rules in europe? And its a GP sanctioned event.
mrb186..........yep your right, that's because your an OLD and wise man. ;)
dgizzy, I am a Euro (from Ireland to be exact), and honestly believe cairoli will have the pace to match dungey. I'm not here to cause an argument, but canard and dungey will both be very fast, and have a good chance of winning their class, but short is the weakest link. He will have the home support behind him, which will give him an extra 10%, but you can't honestly think he'll have the speed to beat the likes of Desalle. Remember when Desalle rode Unadilla this year (on a completely alien bike) and ran Dungey pace, almost taking 2 wins, beating Short in the process? I know the US will have home advantage, and probably will win overall following injuries to the France and Italy teams, but I don't think any member of the team will win their individual class. My shout MX1 - Cairoli, MX2 - Musquin and MX3 - Desalle. I just think there will be a lot of surprised Americans after this weekend. And yes klockhaven, the FIM rules allow 'prototype' bikes that don't have to be production bikes (like aprillia) and you will see that a lot of the GP bikes have carbon fibre sub-frames and fuel tanks, etc. I just hope the racing this weekend will be good, and hopefully a European team can spring a surprise or two!! :)
lets hope there are some surprised Americans(us), we should have sent 7 instead of 29...maybe this weekend will show us why...29 can't hang at an international pace, he can't even hang in his own hometown...he went 5-8 or something like that this summer at lakewood, no reason why he will do better with MUCH more competition...i like 29, but he is not our fastest dude...not even close...
Here comes the crap talk. True, halfe316, Short had an off day in CO this year ... but he was second overall there last year. He'll be fine. ck323, DeSalle may just beat Shorty, and maybe that was Belgium's strategy by putting the faster guy in MX3, but Short can handle Ramon (as Ferry did three years ago - when Ramon was current GP champ) and Dungey will beat them both ... so no problem for the U.S. I also believe that Canard can handle both Musquin and Roczen. He's handled Wilson more often than not this year - despite Deano's performance at Pala. GB's not a threat anyway. And Andy, this would be the second U.S. MXdN in FOUR seasons, not three. Provided we don’t have any serious bad luck, we should have this covered. Go USA!
Halfe...why would we send 7 into battle, when it was clear he couldn't even do two motos?? GO U.S.A. !!!!!
HELL YEA ANDY!!!!! "BAD ASS AMERICANS" LOVE IT!
@halfe316, did u even think before you typed??? Stewart??? he rode over his head to get third in the 1st moto at dilla and did not even finish the 2nd. If it was a one race format, he MIGHT stand a chance, but its not, so they went with somebody they know will be up front and contending for more than one moto! And plus, Stewart had no right to even be considered for this years MXdN!
Yes I am an American, 28 year Military Vet with combat patches and hash marks on my sleave, I say this only to establish my loyalities and my love of the red, white, and blue! However, dgizzy, about the 350 -vs- 450 power issue. I san a green 250 dominate everybike in the field in 07 at Budscreek, stood by the fence and watched it go down. If you guys don't think Cairoli can get the job done you are seriously underestimating him, his bike, and his team! Seriously, he's had a bad run here in the states, I've seen him ride twice in Europe, he is fast! Fastest enough, I hope not, seriously I do but we'll have to see. As far as Dungey goes, yeah he is fast, in fact he is the best we have right now, no disputing that, fast, fit, and on a great bike with a solid team, same goes for Trey, and Shorty. It should be one hell of an event, I hope there are no upsets, really I do, I hope we Americans lay the wood down and it's all fun and festive but I really think we're going to be pushed, and pushed hard! As far as this race, and these riders (all 40 of them) I hope like hell we're lucky. Skill alone is not going to win it, we're going to need luck, and skill to get the job done. Seriously, you know what I think I'm going to shut the office down, jump on I-40 and head to Lakewood this very moment! Yeah she'll be pissed but Eff it, this is the damn MXDN! Go Team USA!!!!!!!
Yes, Desalle was impressive at 'Dilla but keep in mind that being fast at one track doesn't mean squat. I think it was Robbie Reynard in the 90's that was absolutely on fire at Unadilla. Some tracks just suit riders differently. We'll see about Desalle in CO.
YZF571, you seem to be one of the few American MX fans who truly know motocross, it is a WORLDWIDE sport, with fast riders from most corners of the globe. Cairoli will be very fast, heck even at Budds Creek in '07 he stopped to get a wheel changed (while being last) and came through to 12th or something, a good ride if you ask me! I think a lot of people are underestimating Cairoli and his ability. And for mrb186, your point doesn't really stand. Desalle is a sand rider, and when I say sand, I mean proper sand tracks like Leirop, Lommel and Kegums, not US tracks like Southwick. And Unadilla is FAR from a sand track, being fairly hard-pack dirt, and yet he was still able to smoke most of the field, running Dungey's pace. Plus everyone he was racing had ridden Unadilla before... And if the point you tried to make IS valid, that puts an end to the argument "Townley beat everyone at GH in one race, so the GP riders aren't very fast", a track only he and the American riders had ridden before. Just let the racing do the talking for the next few days, and the World Championship riders will have earnt your respect, considering a lot of you don't respect them now.
It's only 4:00pm Friday afternoon and I'm already getting butterflys waiting for this to go down. Go USA!!!
Geeez Andy I think you are showing your age (lack of it). Firstly the word 'bloke' should be used when talking about the likes of Reed, Metcalfe or Byrne, you strike me more as a 'dude' and secondly there is a saying "Pride comes before a fall" and you are sure showing a lot of it in that rev up!!