Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations back to America after 20 year absence - Euro view

After an absence of 20 years, the Motocross of Nations will return
to US soil this weekend - where the reigning champions, led by
Ricky Carmichael, will seek to defend their title on home soil.

Budds Creek will host the 61st edition of the famous end-of-
season team event, which America has won a record 17 times -
and Team USA are again the overwhelming favourites for 2007.

After missing last year's event through injury Carmichael, the
most successful AMA Supercross/Motocross rider of all time, will
captain Team USA for the final time this weekend before
retirement. RC, a long-time supporter of the 'Nations, will be
joined by Ryan Villopoto and Tim Ferry, the latter replacing the
injured James Stewart.

With RC's skills beyond question in the MX1 class, and Villopoto a
reigning MX2 class champion in both AMA Supercross and
Motocross, Ferry represents the weakest link in a very strong
chain. Nevertheless, Ferry was in contention for the 2007 AMA
Motocross crown, after team-mate Stewart's injury, and Team
USA is considered to have a stronger line-up than the Stewart/
Villopoto/Tedesco team that triumphed - albeit without a moto win
- in 2006.

Individual star of last year's event was retiring ten times world
champion Stefan Everts, who won both his heats but couldn't lift
his country above America alone. This year's Belgian squad
features two Motocross of Nations rookies in the form of Ken De
Dycker and Jeremy Van Horebeek, with MX1 world champion
Steve Ramon completing the team.

At Matterley Basin last year, Belgium was the most successful
team from an individual point of view, with Ramon and Everts
winning the Open and MX1 classes respectively, while Villopoto
had won the MX2.

New Zealand, who finished an excellent third last year, has been
hit by Josh Coppins' shoulder injury, which cost the Kiwi the MX1
crown. Coppins will be replaced by Daryl Hurley, who will race
alongside countrymen Cody Cooper and Ben Townley. Former
world champion Townley will be well known to the American fans,
having won an MX2 class Supercross title and finished a close
second to team-mate Villopoto in the Motocross series.

It was a bitter Motocross of Nations for the Italians last year, who
missed the podium by just two points but look primed for podium
success in 2007. Antonio Cairoli, who dominated the World MX2
championship this season, will be joined by rookie MX1 race
winner David Philippaerts and Davide Guarneri, who won his
maiden MX2 GP this year at Namur. With the exception of Everts,
Cairoli was the only heat winner last year, when he brilliantly beat
his opponents in the MX2/Open class race.

Great Britain is the second most successful country after the USA,
with a total of 16 wins at the Motocross of Nations, and will call
upon a fast but unpredictable line-up of Billy Mackenzie, Tommy
Searle and James Noble.

South Africa will be another strong team, with AMA Motocross
champion Grant Langston joined by Gareth Swanepoel and Wyatt
Avis, while Australia will field experienced AMA riders Chad Reed,
Andrew McFarlane and Michael Byrne - and could cause an upset
on familiar soil.

Among the 35 teams participating in the event, those taking part
for the first time include Iceland, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican
Republic and Ecuador.

2007 Motocross of Nations schedule:
Saturday September 22: Free Practice MX1 at 10:00 am; Free
practice MX2 at 11:00 am; Free Practice Open at 12:00 am;
Qualifying Heat MX1 at 2:30 pm; Qualifying Heat MX2 at 3:30 pm;
Qualifying Heat Open at 4:30 pm
Sunday September 23: Warm-up B-Final at 8:40 am; Warm-up
MXoN Group 1 at 9:10 am; Warm-up MXoN Group 2 at 9:40 am;
B-Final at 11:00 am; MXoN Race 1 at 1:00 pm; MXoN Race 2 at
2:40 pm; MXoN Race 3 at 4:20 pm. crash.net

pictures from tedescophoto.com Ricky Carmichael#4 Grant
Langston#8 Ben Townley#101 & alpinestarsinc.com Chad
Reed#22