The 2009 Red Bull Motocross of Nations, held in the Autodromo Di Franciacorta, near Brescia, Northern Italy, was indeed an action-packed event. Nearly 90,000 spectators witnessed one of the best races of the year as well as a historic milestone with Team USA capturing their 20th Chamberlain Trophy. This is the second time Team USA has won in Italy, the first in 1986 when the team of Johnny O Mara, Ricky Johnson and David Bailey made a clean sweep winning every race.
Thirty-seven national teams competed in the MX1, MX2, and Open categories over two days of intense racing. Between an insane battle, mid-air collision, and a couple of surprising crashes in the final moto, this was one racing weekend you didn’t want to miss.
Moto 1(MX1 & MX2) was an intense battle between 2009 AMA Motocross Champion, Chad Reed, who was representing Australia, and 2009 MX1 World Champion and Italian home hero Antonio Cairoli. Cairoli ended up winning the moto barely edging out Reed, while first time Motocross of Nations competitor and Team USA’s, Ryan Dungey, started 8th and fought his way up to 3rd.
Race 1 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha); 2. Chad Reed (AUS, Suzuki); 3. Ryan Dungey (USA, Suzuki); 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda); 5. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM); 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha); 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM); 8. Jake Weimer (USA, Kawasaki), 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki); 10. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki)
Nations top ten: USA, Italy, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, France, Republic of South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Germany.
Moto 2(MX2 & Open) belonged to ONE Industries’ Gautier Paulin who led the charge for France in Moto 2 and kept a steady pace in front of USA rider Ivan Tedesco. It wasn’t until David Philippaerts of Italy came charging up on the last lap where he passed Tedesco and grabbed 2nd. Another shocker was the mid air collision over one of the track’s biggest jumps between Australia’s Michael Byrne and Italy’s David Guarneri, forcing both riders to DNF the moto.
Race 2 top ten: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki); 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha); 3. Ivan Tedesco (USA, Honda); 4. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha); 5. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM); 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM); 7. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki); 8. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki); 9. Brett Metcalfe (AUS, Honda); 10. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki)
Nations top ten: France, Belgium, USA, Great Britain, Republic of South Africa, Italy, Germany, Australia, Estonia, and New Zealand.
Moto 3(MX1 & Open) was complete mayhem within the first minute of the race. First, Carioli got caught in a huge tangle at the start busting his bike and forcing him unable to compete followed by a crash involving Chad Reed out of the third turn on the course. Jonathan Barragan and Team USA’s Ryan Dungey managed to escape both messes to pull away from the pack. Barragan held the top spot for the beginning of the moto with Dungey right on his tail. On lap eight Dungey seized an opportunity and never looked back. Taking a commanding lead, he pulled over ten seconds ahead of the pack to clinch the top spot and lead Team USA to victory. Barragan slipped back to 4th while Steve Ramon of Belgium took 2nd and David Philippaerts grabbed 3rd.
Race 3 top ten: 1. Ryan Dungey (USA, Suzuki); 2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki); 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha); 4. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM); 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki); 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha); 7. Ivan Tedesco (USA, Honda); 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM); 9. Chad Reed (AUS, Suzuki); 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM)
Nations top ten: USA, France, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Estonia, Republic of South Africa, and Switzerland.