This year’s Motocross of Nations sees Team HRC’s Max Nagl representing Team Germany on the hard pack and sand combination of the Kegums track, Latvia.
This annual event sees some of the largest crowds of the motocross calendar with spectators able to see the very best riders in the world together in one place. Often referred to as the ‘Olympics of Motocross’, it is eagerly anticipated and special to each rider as they have the opportunity to represent their country.
Last year saw Belgium walk away as overall winners with USA and Italy rounding off the podium. This year will see 33 countries battle for the top prize. Alongside Max in Team Germany, managed by Max’s father Hubert, will be Marcus Schiffer in the MX2 class and Dennis Ullrich in the open category. After an overall win at the MXGP of Goias, Max will be looking to improve on last year’s MXoN results where Germany finished 7th overall.
Having been selected for Team Russia, Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev will miss the Nations this year as he continues his recovery from the leg break suffered earlier in the MXGP season. Other Honda-supported riders flying the flag at the Nations this year though will be Eli Tomac, riding the CRF450R for Team USA, and Klemen Gercar and Tim Gajser, both riding the CRF450R for Team Slovenia.
The difficult 1.6km track at Kegums features 14 corners and with the minimum track width at seven metres, there should be plenty of opportunities for overtaking. The leading MX track in Latvia features some big jumps, some tricky corners and, with plenty of viewing spaces, it’s a favourite among spectators.
The event, which has been running since 1947, sees each country’s team made up of one rider from MXGP, one from MX2 and one in the Open class compete for the Chamberlain Trophy, first won by Bill Nicholson, Fred Rist and Bob Ray for Great Britain. There are three races made up of the different classes racing each other; the worst score of the three is then dropped and the lowest combined score wins (one point for 1st, two for 2nd etc.). The USA have been the most successful in the history of the event with 22 wins, Great Britain 2nd with 16 wins and Belgium (who won last year) 3rd with 15 wins.
Max Nagl
“I’m really looking forward to the Nations because it’s always something really special. I’ve raced the Nations every year now for 12 years, so I’m really used to it, but still you don’t recognise the riders on track because everybody has different numbers and different designs of the bike and the shirt, so that makes it really fun, like everyone’s new! It’s a different system to the normal MXGP races, and I really like it.
“Both off the track and also when you’re riding you feel that it’s a different atmosphere with the fans there. At a normal round you normally get the locals coming to the track, but at the Nations you get people travelling from all over to support their country and that makes it so cool. There are lots of country flags, and it’s just a big international race.
“Unfortunately with the German team Kenny [Roczen] is not riding this year, but it’s a team event so you don’t just look at your own performance – you talk with your mates and help each other with lines and what to watch out for. This is what’s so special about the Nations.
“My Dad is the team manager, but it makes no difference for me. He’s treating me the same as the other guys, maybe worse! He’s doing a good job. It’s a lot of work he’s got to do, but he’s really good at this.
“Normally it’s a really nice and rough track. For sure they’ll change it a bit for the Nations, but I don’t know if they only change some jumps or make a completely new track. Usually it’s a medium sand track which should fit well with us but also the Americans and the Belgians.
“It’s always the best if you finish your season with the Nations because after the year it’s a great party atmosphere and on the Sunday night you can really relax and have some fun. I’ve booked my return flight for the Monday evening to have a day to recover!”
Roger Harvey
“The Nations is an absolutely different sort of event to a usual MXGP round. It’s a strange event for somebody coming at it from my side as obviously you have a loyalty for the company you work for, and you want to see them go well, but then you also want to see the team from your own country do well, too. That’s what’s unique about the Nations. It’s a very exciting event.
“Max could well be one of the feature riders at Kegums after his recent performances. It will be interesting to see Tim on the big bike [CRF450R], too. We know he can ride one, but we haven’t actually seen him race one in competition. His is not quite a factory bike, but it’s pretty well close. Last year was really strong with Tomac, and he’s been going well in the US, so you’d expect him to be good as well.
“We went through a lull where people seemingly weren’t that bothered about riding for their country, but now most riders are very, very proud to represent their nation. They’ve got a job to do there, but for the fans it’s very much a celebratory race with a party atmosphere, and the riders can enjoy themselves on Sunday night.”