* 2016 FIM Motocross of Nations
* Sep 24 (Sat) & 25 (Sun), 2016
* Venue: Maggiora Italy
* Weather Condition: Fair
* Temperature: 24 deg C
* Course Condition: Dry

Motocross of Nations Report

The Motocross of Nations took place in Maggiora Italy, a commune located near Milan, Italy. It is a world team competition held at the end of the grand prix season every year, and it’s been called the “Olympics of Motocross”.

Maggiora is a place which features the legendary race track where one of the best matches of the Motocross de Naciones (the former name) took place in 1986. Since this race was to be held after an interval of 30 years, the three US winners of those days were invited as commemoration guests: David Bailey (HONDA CR500R), Ricky Johnson (HONDA CR250R), Johnny O’Mara (HONDA CR125R).

Motocross of Nations is a team competition, in which teams of three riders representing their countries contend for victory. The final race is composed of three races, MXGP/MX2, MX2/Open, and Open/MXGP, mix races of two classes.

Each team races 6 times, and out of the six result points they get, the worst score is dropped. The remaining five scores will be added up (i.e. first place is awarded one point, second place two, etc.), and the team with the lowest combined score wins.

Ryo Narita (MX2), the IA1 class winner of the All Japan Motocross Championship, Tomohiro Nozuka (MX2), the IA2 class winner, and Kei Yamamoto (Open), who’s been participating in the world championship, were chosen as the member of the Japanese team this time. They were all the member of the HONDA team.

Though Tim Gajser (Slovenia), the MXGP world champion, had been ruled out of this MXON due to an injury, HRC riders such as Gautier Paulin of France or Evgeny Bobryshev of Russia fought for the honor of their country.

The starting grid orders of the qualifying race are decided by drawing. Lately, the Japanese team had been out of luck, and this starting grid was one of the reasons for their tough matches. However this time, they drew the second place out of the 38 countries. The Japanese team finished the 11th at the qualifying race competed by each class (Narita of MXGP the 9th, Nozuka of MX2 the 16th, and Yamamoto of Open the 10th), and got through to the finals.

Final Race 1 (MXGP/MX2)

While riders like Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), or Kaven Benoit (CAN, KTM) took the head, Narita finished the first round in the 14th place, and Nozuka the 30th.

Antonio Cairoli rose to the top at the 4th round. At the 5th round, Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha) who started at the 4th place came up and attempted a one-on-one battle with Cairoli. Febvre won by 4 seconds. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki) finished the third and Cooper Webb (USA, Yamaha) finished the fourth.

Narita once slid off the track and stepped back to the 34th place, behind Nozuka. Yet, he hung on at the last phase and finished in the 29th place.

Final Race 2 (MX2/Open)

The final game’s starting grid of the Japanese team, who ranked 11th at the qualifying race, was the 11th and the 31st (20+11). It depends on the team’s strategy, but it stands to reason to give priority to Narita and Yamamoto who ride the 450cc machines. Still, Nozuka with a 250cc motorcycle, had to start from an unfavorable starting grid two times in a row.

This time Yamamoto made a big scene. In spite of the fact that he lost the holeshot position for Jason Anderson (USA, Husqvarna), he finished in the second position at the first corner. He actually drew the world’s attention, yet the engine of his motorcycle stalled at the first round and made him back off till the 24th place. Nozuka finished his opening lap in the 37th place.

The top place was competed by Anderson and Jeffery Herlings (NED, KTM), and they’ve swapped the lead several times up till the middle of the race. Unfortunately, Herlings high-sided and Anderson became the race winner. Herlings finished in the second place, and Gautier Paulin of the France team got the third place.

Yamamoto finished in the 29th place, and Nozuka finished in the 32nd, the chequered flag position. After the two races, the provisional rank of the Japanese team was 18th (124 points). The US (23 points), France (28 points), Switzerland (36 points) and Netherlands (42 points) were to compete for the victory at the final race.

Final Race 3 (Open/MXGP)

Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM) got the top from the beginning, and Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM) followed. Cooper Webb (USA, YAMAHA) of the temporary top team got the 5th place, and Romain Febvre (FRA, YAMAHA) who was 5 points behind took the 9th position. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HONDA) started late and got the 11th place. Narita made an acceptable start, but he fell at his first round and backed off till the rear most (37th place). Yamamoto finished in the 23th place at his opening lap.

While the local fans of Italy got thrilled seeing the battle of Herlings and Cairoli, the circumstances of the competition shifted fast. As Cooper Webb (USA), who had positioned in the 5th place in the final stage, fell at his last second round, Netherlands got the huge chance to rise. Yet, Romain Febvre (FRA) came up till the fourth place at the final round, and changed the order.

The team total record results were: 1st France (29 points=1+3+4+10+11), 2nd Netherland (30 points=1+2+6+7+14), 3rd USA (33 points=1+4+9+9+10), and Japan finished in the 18th place (145 points=25+29+29+30+32).

→ Read the full article (Japanese).

Original Source [ Honda ](Japanese)