The Motocross Des Nations – A Lengthy Trek

Rupert X Pellett

“ You claim to be heading to a motocross race – then WHY are you wearing skate-boarder shoes?” – the annoying cop interrogated me roadside on Interstate 70, not far west of Topeka, Kansas. I peered down wearily at my snazzy grey and black DC sneaks and glanced back at the cop with a “Really? ” expression – then proclaimed that often motocross people don colorful treads like these – and try to look cool doing it. My accomplice in this vicious journey, a deviously trendy cat I’ll call “Steve” (okay , that’s his name, as  odd as it sounds),  was actually piloting my badass ,big, brown BMW with the twelve-cylinders -when we were abruptly shown to the berm by this prairie policeman. We’d been driving all night from Ohio and were about halfway into our too-long journey to Lakewood, Colorado – for this prestigious running of the Motocross Des Nations ( you’ll not catch me referring to it as the MX “OF” Nations  – tradition and what-not) – a contest in which the world’s top motocross racers, on three-man teams – race against other nation’s worthy squads. It’s always huge, no matter what country it’s held in – and fans from all over flock to cheer on their respective homeboys, often sporting bizarre costumes, chanting patriotic slogans and downing toxic fluids from parts unknown – in dangerous quantities. Ask someone that’s attended a Des Nations and they’ll testify- there’s no cooler race. If you’re a motocross fan, it is THE place to be. This Kansas kop – determined to slow our progress and convinced we were running weapons, drugs – or other contraband (his words) – was really getting on my nerves. Steve had been driving – allegedly following too closely in the fast-lane, and that was why they pulled us over for a half-hour investigation, interrogation and, intolerable massive search of my pristine car’s contents. It was a major hassle and knowing it’s often better to keep one’s mouth silent in these instances, especially since we were numb from the overnight haul – we were eventually released and continued our passage to Colorado.  At the next rest- stop, two poorly attired stoners in a beat-up pick up truck snickered in our direction “ hehe – saw you guys pulled over…hehe…”. Yeah, yeah.  Big fun . Party. Excellent. I should mention, too – for the record – that two other buddies were supposed to be on this road-trip and we were to pilot my antique, yet worthy RV out from Ohio. This never developed because these two, lame-ass, pathetic goons came up with unbelievable excuses just days before take-off. One claimed he had to “wash his dog” (must’ve been a big one!) and the other burn-out pretended to have a headache.

Way back in 2007, Budds Creek in Maryland hosted America’s last Red Bull Motocross Des Nations, it was a noisy, raucous affair with a boisterous crowd of somewhere between 45 and 80,000 – depending on who you believed. It was a wonderful weekend of international racing with America’s win – the absolute domination by Ryan Villopoto and a last Des Nations ride for the retiring Ricky Carmichael. Prior to that, it was Unadilla in 1987 – the first and only other Des Nations held in America. This one in Colorado, the second held in the States in the last four years and, the third ever over here – signals a new trend by the FIM and Youthstream – promoters of the GP’s and the Des Nations – where the lucrative display of the world’s motocross best – shall be reviewed and received by a host American audience – on a much more regular timetable. Already plans are in place for the 2013 Motocross Des Nations in America – rumored to be at California’s Glen Helen – with a great many fans hoping it to be at the Midwest’s RED BUD facility – a world-class American motocross landmark in Buchanan, Michigan.

Leaving Ohio on a Tuesday evening – without benefit of MapQuest, navigation, sextant, motocross-shoes or contraband, we pulled into the Denver area in time for dinner Wednesday eve – approximately twenty-three hours later. About thirteen- hundred dreary miles of I-70, with a full, angry day of Kansas behind our wagging tails. Seriously, I’ll never (mark my words) drive through Kansas again. That would be idiotic. And Kansas was stupid-hot, too – it reached a windy ninety-seven degrees before we escaped that chicken-feed state into “Coolerado”.  Reaching friends late Wednesday night, we told and retold our harrowing tale of the storm-trooper’s assault on our progress, before sleepy beers and nightfall. Thursday morning we’re in Breckenridge – a snooty ski-town of the playful people – we’d drive through a snowy pass and thirty-seven degrees, flew past the “real” Southpark (where they film it…ahem…) in a sleepy hamlet called Fairplay,( I think) – then had a roadside pee next to a sign that warned that we were in a “Covenant Community” and, we were being observed. Sham-wow ! Breakfasting in Breckenridge was enlightening – all the talk in the egg-mess of this little eatery was of locals growing marijuana, and they were very open about it. With full tummies and fully learned in the farming of cannabis – we thrust the V-12 onwards thru Frisco and up to Vail, where my buddy George, over beers and nachos in a quaint little downtown pub –( where the TV was displaying the Benelux GP (!! ?) ) – had told of us a mother moose and her charge – seen traipsing about shop-side streets, just a day before we got there. Insert your trumpeting moose calls here.

Friday we were back in Lakewood, arranging for our passes, picking friends and relatives up at the airport and, checking ourselves into our Marriott-Residence Inn, a long-term facility that more resembled a nursing-home than a hotel – but, the rooms were cavernous, the breakfast slimy and edible and – the clientele – both diverse and intriguing.  The nearby Red Rocks Amphitheatre was hosting a concert by a couple of ex Grateful – Dead guys, so, besides a ton of motocross team members ( New Zealand and Team Ireland amongst others) -  our nursing home was inhabited by a party crowd of rowdy vagrants. Smoky halls and tie-dyed grey hairs with bandanas and permanent grins.

Flying the BMW early into the mountainside track, we nailed down a sweet parking-spot for the limo-like conveyance, and strode into the facility, passed the “ Watch For Snakes” sign and proudly strutted about -as if were Kansas cops. Running into my old British buddy Bulmer – I asked about the Snakes sign – “ No snakes, but  a fellow cameraman saw a mountain-lion up the hill yesterday!” For real ? “Yup”.

Practice and qualifications were an eye-opener. Italy’s Antonio Cairoli – on his orange-framed and very trick KTM 350 (many say it’s no 350) absolutely blew away the pack in his race, leaving America’s Ryan Dungey back about fourth place – with Cairoli issuing a lengthy look-back over the very-tough uphill quad jump – as if to announce cockily -“ Where’s everybody at? ” Saturday’s spectators were an international fondue -pot of worldwide motocross fans, decked out and adorned in their country’s respective flavors – I’m guesstimating about 33, 464 fans milling about the hillside – spread over the extensive pits, the many RED BULL hospitality areas and the infield -and outfield viewing areas , but an axle-nut’s throw off the Colorado freeway. After Cairoli and other International riders’ impressive rides and times, in Saturday’s practice and qualifiers – the mood amongst American fans and teams – both on the arid hillside and in the busy pits – was calm, tentative and, not as confident as the host country- with the massive talents of Trey Canard, Andrew Short and THE RYAN DUNGEY – should or could, have been. After all, Dungey has been pretty much unbeatable in American motocross for the last few years, snatching up wins and titles as if he were plucking Gummi-bears from a snoozing bambino.

Fearful of an even bigger crowd Sunday, we were consuming our Breakfast Des Nations at the nursing-hotel very early and, as usual, my buddy Dan somehow brake-checked New Zealand’s team rider Josh Coppins between the waffle-maker and the cheesy-eggs. The morning before he had, allegedly, accidentally cut –off and closed the door on Coppins, nearby the coffee and oatmeal sections. Breakfast Des Nations can get brutal, run and tell that.  Later, hastily signaled into the VIP  – parking zone by an experienced  and enthusiastic rent-a-cop, we dove straight into Des Nations feet first, hell – this was game-day, baby. Crossing fingers for the Yanks.

You may know what went down, here’s my sporadic recollections, odd observances and profound thoughts on Sunday’s races:

Not too many would have predicted that after Saturday, we’d be worrying more about Dungey than Short or Canard – yet both the Honda riders won their heats, with Dungey seemingly cruising about..

Moto one (MX1/MX2) would see Dungey quickly escape into first, dominating in spectacular fashion, while Canard, down in the first corner- would have to meander through traffic. Eventually moving from 27^th on the second-lap to third (in MX2) by the finish – America looked strong.  Dungey(MX1) and his Suzuki had a BIG WIN. Cairoli ? Not a factor, really…

Moto two (MX2/MX3) was really all about the AMAZING German Ken Roczen and his RMZ250 – the kid – just sixteen, led for awhile after passing American SHORT for the lead – only to get passed by New Zealand’s Townley, who had “gently” taken out SHORT after the finish-line table-top. Short would slowly re-mount  to take thirteenth, while Townley, Puerto-Rico’s Kyle Regal and Roczen – held the top-three spots.

The third moto (MX1 / MX3) saw a scandalous double-holeshot by the Americans with SHORT and DUNGEY co-sponsoring the start. With Dungey following close, Short took the lead – but would eventually wave (a few times) to Dungey for him to go by – which he finally did, with Townley closing in on third. Townley got by Short, without conflict, yet would crash out hard and leave the 1-2 to Dungey and Short ,respectively. Game over. America wins. Belgium second, Germany third.

And we all owe Andrew SHORT an apology – all those of us that doubted him. Three holeshots and two wins in two days ? Un-shabby.

One of the Japanese riders had the best graphics – by far of any bike. Random nature scene. Bizarro and sickosaurus.

No two-strokes in the field, TMs were the oddest bikes of the group, without mention of the V-twin Aprilias.

Parachutists arriving for the opening ceremonies – a nice touch –“ look out for power-lines, yo.”

Team Germany’s KEN ROCZEN and his corner-speed,” scrubability “powers and overall talent level ? Phenomenal.  Bind-moggling. Consider this, too – Roczen was on a 250 passing 350’s and 450’s as if they were forklifts. This, on a track with serious elevation changes, major uphill sections, thin-air and “RIDONKULOUS” launches. Watch this kid.

Dean Wilson was using two (2) set up race bikes for team UK. The Scottish-Canadian- Californian with the Martha’s Vineyard accent was brilliant all weekend – fastest MX2 rider behind Roczen.

Wilson’s 2010 KXF250’s had some ultra-trickery in the carburetor department – Kawasaki spokesmen were silent on details, but they looked very factory.

The Japanese were reportedly the only ones running a 2011 Kawasaki.

Props to the Irish team for winning the B main Sunday morn only to have to compete in the A main thereafter.

The carbon-fiber airbox/ subrframe on Zach Osbourne’s bike ? Marvelous.

KTM had the most professional pits – very GP’ish…

France’s Christophe Pourcel was seen hanging out in the French pits – looked uncomfortable with his tweaked shoulder.

Former world BMX superstar Gautier Paulin – on a KXF450 wowed the crowd in Saturday practice by “manualing “ his green bike through a section of rollers. He only did it once. Jaws dropped.

Marvin Musquin was a no-show in terms of competition – the world MX2 champ and soon to be U.S. contender had bike problems with his KTM all weekend. Fans were bummed, he’s a rocket.

The GP tradition of having the bikes leave the “paddock” area and with little time to spare – enter the start area – without mechanics  or team personnel attending and then, on a quick and strict timetable, starting the race – is a classic maneuver that we should adopt in our American series – she’s a doozy. And far more professional.

What was missing at the “ DES NASTY” ? Not much – perhaps  James Stewart, Chad Reed, Italy’s David Philippaerts and France’s Pourcel brothers – other than that – it was a BRILLIANT show.

Attending motocross celebs ? Stefan Everts, Ricky Carmichael, Timmy Ferry, Jimmy Spacklebottom (!) . Denny Stephenson out there along the fence, acting up – all like a common spectator !

Top-notch. Plenty of bathroom facilities, ample parking, loads of vendors, very short queues – an extremely well planned – and executed Motocross Des Nations. Pageantry, color, flags, décor and accoutrements? World-class. The Thunder Valley race-track was just an awesome venue for this fantastic round of -  “ The Olympics Of Motocross.”

Monday morning came bright and early – as it will, and we ambled out passed Denver’s empty housing lots and their thousands of wacky prairie dog holes, slogged through eight more endless hours of Kansas boredom – slept the night near Springfield, Missouri – then limped on home to Ohio the next afternoon, another thirteen – hundred miles behind us – and one more wickedly wonderful Motocross Des Nations sticker to adorn our refrigerators, applied appropriately and with great pomp.

• Next “Motocross Of Nations” will be in France, September 2011. Lommel, Belgium in 2012 and America in 2013. Drop everything and plant to attend – one – or all.
• As a motocross fan, it is a must.
• Don’t think about it – seriously plan on it.
• Prepare thyself
• Overall results Below:

1.       USA

2.       Belgium

3.       Germany

4.       Great Britain

5.       Italy

6.       Australia

7.       France

8.       New Zealand

9.       Portugal

10.   Puerto Rico

11.   Switzerland

12.   Austria

13.   Spain

14.   Finland

15.   Estonia

16.   Canada

17.   Latvia

18.   Brazil

19.   Japan

20.   Ireland

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