Roger De Coster comments

Motocross of Nations is the biggest event of the year in our sport and it’s an event I put a lot of importance to. As a kid when I was growing up Sweden and Britain were dominant, but then in my era Belgium were good and now America is the dominant country. This year we have a young team, Ivan with two victories and we have two young guys in Jake and Ryan and it’s their first time racing outside the American continent. We want to take this race as a normal and just be consistent. I think this is the strong point of the American team that they work together and it is better in those days when I was racing it was competitive between Joel Robert and myself. It’s been so long that I raced a motorcycle, everyone likes to think they were the best of their generation and the riders now are pretty good and the bikes are really good, suspension is now really good. It is important to have one guy in the team that has done it before, it isn’t important if you ride the MX1or the Open, with today’s scoring it doesn’t make that much different.

Ivan Tedesco comments

It is my third time being here these guys are professionals an they know what to do, we need to stay out of trouble and get good starts and we should be in the running for the win. Our series ended a month ago and usually we get into Supercross mode, but we kept riding Motocross and it’s an honor to be here. Jake Weimer comments So far we have had a lot of racing, I have ridden the Genoa Supercross andit was fun then. We had a long plane flight and yesterday we rode a little, I am looking forward to this weekend and I feel the pressure biut pressure is good and we are ready to do what we have to do. Like Roger said we got together in the states and had a team meeting. Ryan and I have neber been here so we went over the whole system here.

Ryan Dungey comments

In this being my best time here this is a dream come true and an unbelievable experience so far. Coming and racing the 450 and not the 250 s different, but preparation is going well and getting together and getting everyone on the same page is good. We are ready.

Giuseppe Luongo comments

Despite the difficult economy we have a problem that we have 40 riders in both MX1 and MX2 and we have a waiting list for 2010. I said when times are difficult we need to invest and I don’t want anyone to lose their job we employ maybe 10 more people for 2010 and we continue to grow, just as the teams have also grown. My biggest race was when I started my career was in Italy, I was 26 years old. It was at Maggiora and it was the American dream team won and the organization was good, of course nobody knew me, we have a lot of good races since that day and we have always believed in the sport. One day I will make a lot of people happy, because one day I will retire, but until that day comes I will do my best, in the moment when there is nothing else to build up then I will stop. If this year is great, then the other event like in America next year will try and be better than this year’s race. I believe on paper and what we see now, everything is very good, we work all together and for the first time to give a boost to the system, we all work together in this project. Mr Bonara (circuit promoter) will realize on Monday what is possible. I think you don’t make this venue for just one race. We need to sit down next week and hopefully stay here (for a Grand Prix).

Ricky Johnson comments

Giuseppe mentioned that we met in 1986 and over the years he had me dress up as batman and some things he felt would be good. He has taken a lot of flack over the years, some people say he is a son of a bitch, but he is the right son of a bitch for the job, he has brought the sport forward better than anyone there is. I was 22 years old in 1986 and it was an honor being a member of that team. Motocross is about passion and when it comes about promoting there are elements about the track and doing a great job. It’s also about the racing and mixing the two. I have been involved in the sport since I retired and I have always been a fan, but I am busy racing and bringing up a family. The FIM has decided to award the riders now with a gold medal for their class victory which I think is great because sometimes I ride can put in a great effort but their team might not do that good so it’s nice now that they can take their medal back home.

Marvin Musquin comments

I am happy to be with Team France and I feel good with these guys and the tack will be perfect with many jumps and whoops. I am excited to be with the American riders and everybody. For sure I am excited to ride against the AMA guys and it’s good for the future and good to race the American boys, if I can fight with Weimer or Dungey that would be good. Next year I stay in America and 2011 I go to America.

Joel Smets comments

I would like to say about the black arm band (Belgian team were wearing a black armband), it is to tell you that we are sad in a country like Belgium and our country puts our country on the map, we have just three tracks to practice on and now Neeroteren is now losing and it’s like the sport is dying and please give this situation some press. You will also have to face this problem sooner or later. A little village that has produced 14 World titles will lose its track and that is frustrating.

Steve Ramon comments

I have done a lot of MXoN and we have a good team and the last couple of weeks I am in good shape and I am looking forward to racing, there are some good countries and we will do our best and maybe win the race.

Clement Desalle comments

I was really happy about this year, it’s the first time with the MXoN and I am sure we have the team for a good result. Sure I like to do these types of track and I have a lot of fun on this track. Joel Roelants comments I feel excited and good, I had a difficult start to the season and I hope for sure we can get on the podium and I hope we take the win. Steve Dixon comments It was last minute for me; the Motocross of nations is no problem for me, just like running a team. We have three of the best riders from the country.

Billy Mackenzie comments

Steve has seen the work I am putting in and he knows I am doing my motos and working hard for it. I have been putting it right and I showed last weekend that I am doing well, and my confidence is up again and we make some improvements. The track looks unbelievable, like a computer track. Tommy Searle comments It is nice to be home, I have been away, I have had some good races and some bad races and to race for Great Britain it’s a good thing, the track looks good and I am looking forward to a good weekend.

Shaun Simpson comments

As you said I broke my leg after two or three GPs, they didn’t go to plan, but I felt good and strong on the bike and it’s been going well. I am enjoying it. I eventually got in the team this week and I have been riding well the 450 and the track looks good, a long start so good for the 450cc.

Antonio Cairoli comments

I am happy to be here and race in my own country. We are a strong ream one of the strongest for Italy and we have a similar chance to win it. I won the MX1 title and David has been good in the MX1 class also and also Davide is riding well. For sure I remember in Matterly Basin, but after USA I wasn’t a lucky race for me and last year I was injured but this race gives me a lot of pressure, but I also have the fans with me and they will cheer me a lot. I like the paddock, but really I like the whole track, it’s a lot fun

Davide Guarneri comments

This track is close to my home town and all my family will be here and it’s important for me and the most important things all the Italian people come and maybe they can give us one gear more.

Gary Benn - Team manager Australia

It’s a great opportunity to show the rest of Europe and the world how good we are.

Chad Reed comments

I am more excited because I am more prepared and I won’t leave anything on the table. It’s been a difficult event for us. I haven’t looked at the rack, but it sounds like it is supercrossy. It’s nice to come over to Europe, I met some great people and it’s nice to see some familiar places. It’s a big cost. I’ve been under pressure in the Supercross series and that helps, I mean we haven’t got the same clout as Team USA, but we have three riders who have ridden this event before and Team USA have two rookies and one on a different class. I don’t really care about James Stewart, he was asked to come to this race and he didn’t come, I think he has let his country down.

Ken Roczen comments

I missed the first four races in the GPs and normally you think the season is over, but finally I nailed it to be top five position and I am so happy to be here and also be in the German team. We have a good team and I am looking forward to it and have some good races. For sure as you know I like the supercross style. It is nice to hear (people saying he could win the MX2 class), but I just take it easy and see what happens, there are a lot of fast guys.

Tyla Rattray comments

My bike has been great this year and I had some good nationals. I love coming to this race, it’s the biggest Motocross of the year and hopefully we can get on the podium. I miss a lot of people in Europe, but I decided to settle my career in America, and I have been having a lot of fun out there. I will get into the Supercross and I can’t wait to get back.