When we talk about the Motocross of Nations, we often talk about the great Belgian legend, Roger De Coster. De Coster was somebody who enjoyed success in the MXoN, winning in 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1979. He also won a handful of Trophee des Nations in his career, 11 in fact, from 1969 to 1978, but maybe his biggest victories have come with Team USA. 23 times the American's have won the Chamberlain Trophy and De Coster was there on every single occasions.

We have to go all the way back to 1981 at the Lommel circuit in Belgium to remember the first time Team USA showed the Grand Prix riders that they were good enough to win a Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (It was actually the Tropee des Nations). With Roger De Coster keen to send a team to Belgium, he selected his Honda factory team riders Johnny O’Mara, Danny Laporte, Chuck Sun, Donnie Hansen and David Bailey for the job.

With full support from Honda America, that young team arrived in Belgium early and it was a feeling of confidence that this young American line-up had enough to trouble the Belgian sand specialists.

“Our team went over early,” De Coster remembered. “We went to sand tracks and practiced and practiced and practiced. We initially had a lot of bike problems because we had no experience in the US riding on sand like that. But we worked through the whole thing, and by race-time we were ready.”

Although suffering mechanical issues, De Coster felt the Honda machines of the 1981 season were special and with some extra work could easily give his team some type of result to surprise the Grand Prix riders.

“We could see the potential in the Honda bikes and team members for those events. Our guys were not winning at the time though. Suzuki had Mark Barnett winning the 125 class and in supercross. And Kent Howerton on Suzuki was strong in the 250 class. Our team was Johnny O’Mara, Chuck Sun, Danny LaPorte and Donnie Hansen. Towards the end of the year, our results started to improve. We thought ‘We need to go to the Nations’.”

De Coster, being a Belgian legend in the sport didn’t feel comfortable bringing a team to beat his beloved Belgians, but a job is a job, and he went in 100% to bring the Chamberlain trophy back to America with his Honda team.

“I had problems with myself to a certain extent because it felt strange coming and representing the US. I had always tried to win as a rider for Belgium. In the Trophee des Nations, as a member of the Belgian team, I was part of the winning team ten years in a row. We also won six times in the open class (500cc – Motocross des Nations).”

Amazingly, now more than 43 years later De Coster will take Team USA Matterley Basin, and after a decade of not winning the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations as often in the Team USA golden era, his motivation remains the same as back in 1981. Victory is the only goal, and who knows, maybe the old veteran can once again share the taste of champagne with Team USA.

Amazingly, the call from a handful of American media have been consistent in calling for De Coster to be put into retirement and have somebody else run the team. I, as a fan of the sport since the 1970s find these calls ridiculous. De Coster is as much about the Nations as the current riders and his involvement with Team USA should be his position, until he decides he is too old, or lost interest.

“I like des Nations; I like the event a lot and I think it is one of the best events of the year. I like to help, but if they like somebody else to do it and they can do a better job, I am on board. I have been thinking about the format, I would like to see two motos 250 and two motos 450, and not them racing against each other. That would be better. It would cost a little bit more, because it would mean four riders, but I think it would be better, more balanced, I think the racing might be better. Now, the guy who has to ride the 250, it is no fun, because you know you will most likely have a poor start and the 450 roost, the whole thing.”

One thing that has change a lot is he politics of the sport in America and the fact many US team managers have big egos and don’t feel the Nations is important enough to be involved. Rather than look at the event as the biggest race of the season, they would rather diminish it. A sad and sorry sight, but fortunately, people like De Coster and AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, Team USA still matters.

“Yes, it used to be (important to everyone), whoever you wished to go, they would be happy to go, and the team would be happy to go, but now, some of the riders are not interested, or the rider is interested, and the team isn’t interested. Oh, damn. It is hard to say, it is hard to say. I hope the people will get back on it and maybe something can be done long term. They seem to be a better cooperation from both sides, from the European side and the American side. So, maybe, down the road we can get it better again.”

So now, with Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger and Cooper Webb, Team USA will arrive in England and to the Matterley Basin circuit and I for one, would love to see them win it. They are not the favourites, and might not even make the podium, but a victory, for their riders and their team managers, is well deserved and as we have seen more often in recent time, Team USA are probably loved more now, than in their golden era, at least in Europe.