The 2021 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations is of course a tough event with the event being run a week after the Grand Prix in Sardinia and then a week before the German Grand Prix. Tucked between these two GPs and obviously in the middle of the GP season some riders are not showing keenness to race the event.

After all, it is still the MXoN, an event that with the involvment of riders like Team USA rider Justin Barcia, Cooper Webb or Chase Sexton, Team Australia riders the Lawrence brothers, and guys like Jeffrey Herlings, Antonio Cairoli, Glenn Coldenhoff and many more, it can't be missed. 

Of course, many still want to race, including multiple World champions Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings, who both feel their team has the chance to win, and another former World champion Pauls Jonass for Team Latvia has also said he will listen to his federation on if he should ride or not, but is open to racing. 

Jeffrey Herlings: I mean, for some countries, like Tim’s country, it is hard for that team to win, so with no GP points, why would I go, but for Team Holland or Team America, or whatever, we have a chance of winning and it has a point. I don’t know who will go, because it is a risk, but in our sport, there is always a risk and if I was leading and I was in a bad team, maybe I wouldn’t line up, but with my team, with Holland, I hope we can win it.

Antonio Cairoli: It is always a difficult question. Motocross des Nations I am proud to ride for my country of course, but actually this is the only year we have a team to win. Mattia can win and I can do my best and Alessandro has shown he is a top ten MXGP guy and I think we have a good team. I am motivated for it, but sure between the championship it is a strange thing to ride.

Pauls Jonass: As Jeffrey says, he has the team to win. With Latvia, we have the team the first goal is the A final, sure it is a nice race, but I don’t like the idea that it is in the middle of the season. When it is end of the season, it is more relaxed and looser, and you can enjoy it more. So far, the season nobody from the federation has asked me, but time will tell and if they ask me, I will consider that. 

Two other World champions Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser have already decided to pull out of the race, and for Gajser you can understand as his Slovenian team have no chance of winning and might even struggle to race the A final. With Febvre, it is a pity as Team France have such a great history with this event and they will need him to be a shot at victory.

Romain Febvre: It wasn’t a difficult decision. I cannot allow myself to do this. They should change the date; it can’t work in the middle of the season. You can crash anywhere of course, but in a race, you have more chance. For me, it was clear at the beginning, when I saw the date, that was it, I wouldn’t race. My federation agree with that, and they don’t know who to take and I think many good riders won’t do it. They can’t change the program, with points or whatever. I mean we have a lot of French riders in MX2, so what happens with that. Being in the middle of the championship is difficult and we a GP the week before and also a GP the week after, so for me, it isn’t possible.

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the Australian team, which seems likely to be Hunter and Jett Lawrence and Jed Beaton are all keen to race, and speaking to team manager Michael Byrne, he has been awaiting news on the rules of the event before selecting his official team.

Hunter Lawrence: For sure, we sent our resume, so yeah, dude, me and my brother are both trying to get selected for it. What we think for it, obviously with Jed Beaton over there and Mitch [Evans] being unfortunately injured, looking like he probably won’t be ready even though I’m not 100 percent sure, it depends where Jed is with his championship because there is talk of the Nations being a point-scoring round towards the world championship. If that’s the case, does it mean Jett and I would be on 450s, or? There’s so much in the air, even if we get selected. I want to do it, but there’s so much uncertainty in regards to the event itself. I’ve ridden the 450 in Europe pre-season when we had no 250s and then same thing last year with Geico when we were struggling with bikes or whatever, waiting on an engine or something, we had some stock 450s to ride. I mean, we can ride them… [laughs].

Jed Beaton: I think it would be really a great opportunity. I was reading somewhere they will make it championship points. I don’t really know the situation and how they are going to do it, but I think if they don’t make it championship points, it will be hard for teams to let riders do the Nations. I think it would be cool to have those boys over and obviously if they do put points in, I would have to stay on the 250 and them boys would ride the 450’s. I would be up for riding a 450, because Jett is very good on the 250.

We also reported that Team USA are coming, and they have a long list of riders willing to line-up for America, including AMA supercross champion Cooper Webb, Justin Barcia, Chase Sexton and several 250 riders.

Cooper Webb: The Motocross of Nations is just a dream race. When you are a kid that’s the one you always wanted to be on and win and represent your country. You have the whole country behind you. For me it’s a pride thing. I don’t want to go there and get beaten by the Euros. I want to show them that our country’s best. I think when it comes down to it, if you have three guys that want to win, then it’s hard to lose. Obviously, you have to have luck and you have to be consistent. I don’t know what is happening with Italy and the Nations, but I will definitely be down, and I am sure there are other guys now that are more deserving, but if the opportunity arises, I would love to go.”

Chase Sexton: 100% I would love to go. I was nervous there, I knew I was on the list to get picked to go, but there were a few rounds there where I was riding around in 8th and it wasn’t good for me to get picked. I hope this weekend I get put to the top of the list. I would love to go and I really want to represent my country and I really want to race the MXGP guys, that would be fun as well. I am 100% in if I get picked.

As it is now, Team France seem to have major issues with their teams as no doubt Febvre would have been a major player for them and with Dylan Ferrandis also out due, they might have to reply on their MX2 riders to carry the countries hopes. No doubt, they will have a team as they have more than enough riders to select from, but will they be a serious contender, that is doubtful. Maybe Jordi Tixier, and a couple of MX2 guys?

Team Great Britain are willing to race, as are most of the major countries, the only question will be, who follows the lead of Herlings and Cairoli, or who follows the lead of Gajser and Febvre?

Depending how how many spectators are allowed inside, then you can expect with Team Italy in with a shot of victory, and Team USA, Team Netherlands and Team Australia with very interesting line-ups, this is going to be a special MXoN. For those that are going, enjoy the experience.

Ray Archer image