The intrigue of us versus them, GP vs AMA, it is, without question the greatest question every single year and it will remain the greatest question every single year forever. Who is the best, which riders are the best. It doesn’t matter how you look at it, Europe vs America is number one on the want list of any real motocross fan.

This isn’t something that was invented in the last decade, or even the last 40 years, it goes back further than that, all the way back to the 1970s, when the first European riders headed to America to spank the yanks in the Trans-AMA series.

Of course, Europeans were racing motocross or scrambles all the way back in the early 19 hundreds. The Brits of course founded motocross, and it grew at an alarming rated until the world motocross championships began in the 1950s. Since then, the European riders had dominated the world, however, it should also be announced, the world of motocross was in fact, only Europe.

In the 1970s, the Americans caught on, and those early Trans-AMA events were run with a lot of the American riders racing bikes not really suited to dirt bike racing. The Trans-AMA Motocross series (1970–1978) was a legendary fall championship that pitted European Grand Prix stars against emerging American riders.

Initially dominated by foreigners, it sparked the evolution of American motocross into a global powerhouse, ultimately paving the way for the Trans-USA series and modern AMA outdoor Nationals. The Trans-AMA was created to showcase international talent and give Americans a chance to compete against the best riders in the world.

Riders like GP legends Roger DeCoster, Heikki Mikkola, Ake Jonsson, Joel Robert, Sylvain Geboers, Dave Nicoll, Jeff Smith and Adolf Weil dominated the early years, showcasing superior speed, endurance, and bike control. In 1973, Kawasaki's Jim Weinert became the first American to win an overall race in the Trans-AMA series. In 1978, Yamaha's Bob "Hurricane" Hannah made history by becoming the first American to win the overall Trans-AMA Motocross Championship.

As we all know, it was just a few years later, in 1981 that Team USA won the Motocross des Nations and the Trophee des Nations. Europe was never the same again, as the American steamrolled the euros in just about anything they raced.

Riders like Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Ricky Johnson, Ron Lechien and Jeff Stanton made sure Team USA won 13 straight. Of course, the 1990s the playing field began to level out and names like J. M. Bayle, Stefan Everts, Joel Smets, Alessio Chiodi, Marnicq Bervoets, Andrea Bartolini showed strength against the might of USA and MXdN victories were shared.

Frenchman Bayle even dominated in their backyard, winning a handful of AMA championships, before heading back to Europe to race MotoGP. In the same era, Stefan Everts made the trip to America to race an AMA National.

In the late summer of 1997, the reigning 250cc World Champion Everts travelled to the United States to test his skills against the American AMA regulars. The historic Robinson family farm circuit in New Berlin, New York, with its elevation changes and loamy, rutted terrain, provided the perfect "European-style" testing ground.

Everts adapted quickly to the track, riding to an impressive 3rd place finish and in the second moto, was running strong and positioning himself to battle for the overall race win before tangling with Yamaha's John Dowd near the notorious "Screw-U" downhill section, ultimately finishing 5th. Overall: His 3-5 moto scores secured him 4th place overall, just missing the podium but earning the massive respect of the American motocross scene.

Many GP riders would follow for a one-off shot at the Americans on home soil, from Sebastien Tortelli, Josh Coppins and Ben Townley, Joel Smets, Marc De Reuver, Kevin Strijbos, Clement Desalle, Dean Ferris, Antonio Cairoli and the most notable, Jeffrey Herlings. The appearance of Herlings at the Ironman National in 2017 will always be the stand-out performance by a Grand Prix rider on USA soil.

Herlings made a spectacular U.S. professional debut when the MXGP star dominated the event by sweeping both 450 Class motos to win the overall (1-1). In moto one, Herlings battled at the front and took a decisive win against American regulars, including Marvin Musquin and Blake Baggett. After a first turn crash left him in 38th place on the opening lap, Herlings put on an incredible charge, passed Musquin late in the race, and won the moto and the National.

Not before or after, has a Grand Prix rider performed like Herlings did on that day and it will take a huge step for Lucas Coenen to win the 450 class at Thunder Valley, but it is very much a possibility. With names like Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Haiden Deegan, Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton, Jorge Prado and many more, the job will be a difficult one, but do not count out this young Belgian.

Brother Sasha has a much better shot at winning the 250 overall, as his opposition won’t be the same as his brothers. Still, Max Anstie, Levi Kitchen, Jo Shimoda and Cole Davies will be waiting for the diminutive Belgian and look forward to the battle.

One thing is for sure, when the Coenen’s arrive at the Thunder Valley circuit, you can be sure, the whole world will be watching the first timed practice, and all eyes will be on where the two Belgian brothers finish on the list. Once the racing started, thousands of motocross fans around the world will be logged in to watch.