News 15 Aug 2013

The Point: 2013 Motocross of Nations team

We poll riders and industry figures for their three-man team picks.

With the Monster Energy MX Nationals drawing to a close, focus is starting to turn towards the Motocross of Nations that will be held in Teutschenthal, Germany at the end of September.

New Zealand has already announced their team of Cody Cooper, Rhys Carter and Kayne Lamont, and we should expect Motorcycling Australia to follow suit in the next couple of weeks.

With that said, we thought it’d be interesting to talk to a bunch or riders and industry figures to find out who they’d pick for their three-man Australian team if they had to play selector.

Here’s what they said.

Recently-crowned Canadian Motocross Champion Brett Metcalfe was a leading pick. Image: Simon Cudby.

Recently-crowned Canadian Motocross Champion Brett Metcalfe was a leading pick. Image: Simon Cudby.

Sam Martin – DPH Motosports Suzuki rider

I’d pick Luke Styke, Todd Waters and Brett Metcalfe.

Styke has killed it this year and both him and Todd Waters rode really well last year in the sand at Lommel. I think that they’d both build on that experience, especially as they want to race in Europe in the near future. Todd’s consistency and the speed he showed at the beginning of the year would make me pick him.

And I’d choose Metty because he seems to be on the gas at the moment. He just won the Canadian Motocross Championship and I think he’d give the other boys some advice and experience to learn from.

Chris Apps – Jetpilot marketing manager

My choice would be Luke Styke, Matt Moss and Brett Metcalfe.

Styke has been way too dominant in the MX2 ranks to not make the cut and he’s so focused.  
Mossy knows what it takes to win and he’s determined. He works hard and has a bit of mongrel in him, which is needed at that top level of racing.

Metty has been riding solid in Canada and had a seventh overall at the weekend’s round of the AMA Motocross Championship at Unadilla. He proved there he’s just as fast as he’s ever been and is still a class act.

Chris Urquhart – Y-AIM coach

I would pick Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe and Dean Ferris.

To me that would be the most logical choice right now: Chad brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and you can never ever count CR22 out. Metcalfe has European experience and is riding awesome right now, and Ferris has done what only a handful of Australian riders ever have and has multiple podiums in the MXGPs. Dean’s team also based in Germany and he lives there.

Todd Waters, Matt Moss and Luke Styke are riding fantastic and I am sure as Chad steps away from riding the MXoN they’ll step into the positions nicely.

Form and focus have current Monster Energy MX Nationals MX2 leader Luke Styke a popular pick. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Form and focus have current Monster Energy MX Nationals MX2 leader Luke Styke a popular pick. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Kevin Williams – MX Nationals promoter

I’d run with Todd Waters, Luke Styke and Dean Ferris.

I think all three would put in a strong effort and show that there is a new generation developing in Australia. Todd is going to Europe next year and Luke is aiming for Europe, and with three class riders in the World Motocross Championship in the future, it’d be great to bring a World GP back Down Under.

Mick Sinclair – Monza Imports marketing and product manager

Obviously we need the three fastest guys Australia has, but it’s also important that those three guys want to be there.

If we put Australia’s best in one race, the top three results would be Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe and most likely Matt Moss.

I don’t think Matt would want to take his focus off the MX Nationals Championship and I don’t think Todd would be as quick as Styke on an MX2 bike, so my picks would be Reedy, Metty and Styke.

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