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Written by web mistress
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Tuesday, 28 November 2006 |
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Page 3 of 3
Three times in the 1970s Team USA threatened a breakthrough victory in the Motocross of Nations, but had to settle for silver medals in 1974, 1976 and 1977. By the end of the decade, American motocross battlegrounds were no longer easy pickings for the more-experienced Europeans. And in 1981 the unlikely foursome of Danny LaPorte, Johnny O’Mara, Chuck Sun and Donnie Hansen shocked the world with America’s first victory in the Motocross of Nations. That began a win streak that lasted through 1993, a time span in which commercial trends and the emergence of Supercross changed the motocross world dramatically.
A healthy flow of talent between the FIM and American motocross circuits had developed in the 1970s and peaked in the 1980s, as evidenced by numerous American World Motocross Champions and foreign-born AMA champions in that time frame. Beginning in the late 1980s, however, a trend toward a European talent drain developed as numerous international champions and emerging stars left the world tour to race in the United States for AMA Championships.
Since the US motorcycle market is the world’s largest, the sport’s top manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha) and sponsors offer lucrative contracts to lure top talents to America. American stars and US-based stars from around the world found it difficult to commit to the Motocross of Nations on the heels of a grueling 30-race AMA season.
As already explained, the terrorist attacks in September of 2001 caused Team USA to miss that year’s event in Belgium. They also passed on the 2002 Motocross of Nations when its Southern California venue was replaced at the 11th hour by a Spanish circuit. American interest in the Motocross of Nations was arguably at an all-time low, but forces were at work that would spark that interest.
Many companies and individuals have played important roles, but special recognition should be given to Youthstream for its renewed commitment to aggressive promotion of the Motocross of Nations; to then AMA President Robert Rasor and Motocross Manager Steve Whitelock for their efforts to rekindle the Team USA fires; to Jonathan Beasley and his lifelong dream of hosting the Motocross of Nations at Budds Creek; and to two of the sport’s all-time great riders, Roger DeCoster and Ricky Carmichael.
DeCoster, a five-time world champion and winner of numerous Motocross of Nations as a rider for Team Belgium, has lived in California and served as team manager for Team USA for many years. Perhaps more than any other individual on the US motocross scene, he understands both the valuable tradition of the Motocross of Nations and its challenge to retain relevance in a changing commercial climate. His unflagging belief that the event has a rightful place at the top of the motocross pyramid has helped it weather many a storm.
Carmichael, meanwhile, has charisma to match his incredible string of victories. Still in his 20s, and with the deceptive look of a teenager, his opinions carry the weight of an elder statesman. When he committed to riding in the 2005 Motocross of Nations in France, he almost single-handedly brought an isolationist American motocross scene back into the international fold. During the meat of the racing season, the AMA National Championships and FIM Grand Prix Series would continue to unfold an ocean apart…but in September they would again converge for an epic annual confrontation. Friendly rivalries were rekindled and mutual respect restored.
The mood at the 2005 Motocross of Nations in France was electric…the British followed up by providing a track that produced sensational racing in 2006…and now the mantle falls to the United States, the AMA and Budds Creek Motocross Park to write the next chapter in the story.
Youthstream and the FIM look forward confidently to an exciting future for the Motocross of Nations and to bringing their premier event to the United States in the fall of 2007. If early response is any indication, the event will have strong fan support and will assure that 20 years will not again elapse between US-hosted Motocross of Nations events.
Heartland Media and Events of Mount Vernon, Ohio, represents Youthstream in the United States and holds promotional rights to the FIM Motocross of Nations when it is staged in the United States. Its owner, Bill Amick, was a member of the American Motorcyclist Association staff from 1974-2004 and has represented the AMA on the Motocross Commission of the FIM since 1987.
Contact:
Heartland Media & Events LLC
118 East High Street, Suite A
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 USA
Phone and Fax: (740) 397-1647
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 November 2006 )
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