Selecting a team for the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations isn’t an easy job, and as we saw with Team France last week, sometimes the three riders picked can be a surprise.

Mark Chamberlain, who is the team manager of Team Great Britain is currently going through the process of selecting his team, and it isn’t as easy as many might think. Budgets are an important part of sending a team to USA in 2018, and while many countries have already selected their line-ups, Team GB are having some issues with budget, something Chamberlain hopes will be organized this week.

We caught up with him and again, the team manager gave us an honest look at what goes into picking the best team possible.

Marge: Mark, thanks for your time. Firstly, tell me about the race you ran last weekend?

Chamberlain: It was not just a race, it was about getting kids active and try different action sports. We had electric mini bikes, skate ramps, BMX, then we also had supercross, freestyle and the Dougie Lampkin show. It was a real action sport show. It was something I wanted to do for a while.

MXlarge: How did it go?

Chamberlain: Positive in that the kids loved it, and the riders liked the track and format. We did a speedway format, with short races, so it was easy for normal punters to understand and to follow. You scored pointed and there was an A and a B final. Crowd wise it wasn’t overly supported, and I have no idea to the answers to that one, but we gave it a shot.

MXlarge: Obviously this week you will select the British team for the MXoN. I don’t know if you can tell me how and I hold the interview until you have the official statement?

Chamberlain: It has been, way more difficult than I anticipated, and that is down to budget and that isn’t a criticism of the ACU or anyone involved. They have pushed as hard as they can and given more than what was discussed in the early meetings. It is great we have some top riders in top teams, but that comes at a price when it comes to a race like this. We looked at the figured when the team went to Colorado, the budget back then (in 2010), and compared to now, we have double the budget, but it still isn’t enough, and that just shows how the sport has changed. This isn’t a criticism, just a fact and people don’t understand it. The guys need to ship what they need to do the job, and the way they need to do the job now, is completely different to the job back in 2010, in fact to even five years ago. They are running at such a high level now. I have never run a team at this level, but I understand the team costs. Also from the federations side, they have an annual budget and they set the budget and that has been tested. That is why I haven’t selected the team yet, because to be honest, I don’t know what the team will be, and until we get some answers this week, I won’t know. I had mentioned to you last week that we could do this interview today, and I expected the answers yesterday, but I didn’t get them yet.

MXlarge: So it is possible, if you don’t get the budget that you need, it will be a different team to what it would be if you get the budget?

Chamberlain: Yes, there is an element of that. We are talking to some people and it pads the budget, but we are still more than on the limit with bikes coming from here, going to there and that is what everyone wants. We are discussing the issue, and it isn’t like I am hitting brick walls, but everyone wants the best for themselves and the team and I want the best for Team GB. Most teams might not talk about this stuff openly, but I think it is important, because this is where fans can get mislead and they can get upset and understandable so. I mean people will ask why I didn’t pick so and so, and this is why. I always try and be open and honest in the way I do things. I prefer to explain the situation. The Nations is such a big race now, and its important for the sponsors and us, but finding a sponsor might be a problem, because the riders have their sponsors and its frustrating in a way.

MXlarge: Without dissecting the budget, what you are getting from different people, what does it cost to run a team at this year’s event?

Chamberlain: Again, it will depend on the selection. If we go with the most expensive selection, it will cost around 50,000 pounds, so that is for us not achievable and we need to make something out of that. We are working closely with the teams and we have to find a compromise.

MXlarge: Is it cheaper if you have full-factory riders, like say Belgium, or Holland?

Chamberlain: No, in our case, it isn’t, in fact it’s the other way around.

MXlarge: Ok, I thought maybe the factories would support it more than the private teams?

Chamberlain: Like I said, it’s a difficult situation. I think about this, and maybe with us, we are spoilt, because we don’t have to make this big trip that often. For a team like the Aussies, they are used to putting together this budget, because they do it every year, but they still have to do it, which I feel for them in that sense. It must be hard, but it’s more straight forward, because it is the same all the time. All those teams, even the US team, I believe that the US team do get support from the manufactures and that is why they often have a split of manufactures in the team. They maybe haven’t sent the strongest team, but there is also a budget element, and maybe sometimes they have budget restraint and have to send a particular rider who rides for a particular brand. We are lucky, we only have to do this every five years or so.

MXlarge: When you talk about the budget, you wonder why France didn’t go with Musquin?

Chamberlain: Obviously that is a shock for everyone, but nobody knows what the deal is, and the options are we reach out to other countries to share the freight. You never know what goes on, but for me, Musquin is a great rider and its straight forward for the cost.

MXLarge: So you think you make your selection this week?

Chamberlain: I want to know this week and I am pushing hard, because it isn’t nice for the riders, and we are working on it and I think we will announce it this week.

MXlarge: Changing the topic a little, but still on the Nations. Tomac vs Herlings, what do you think happens?

Chamberlain: Tomac to be fair to him, he is riding closer now to the form he had a few years ago. If he is going to give Herlings a run, it might have to be now. Personally, Herlings is the best rider in the World at the moment, but Tomac is at home, but I hope they get into each other a bit.

MXlarge: I think everyone would like to see that. Thanks again Mark and let’s talk after the team is selected.

Chamberlain: Sure Geoff, we can talk again, and I will keep you informed.