The Red(head) White and Blue Take The Chamberlin Trophy
For the third year in a row, team USA was victorious in the world renowned Motocross of Nations. It was an amazing day in Budds Creek, that saw riders from team USA winning every moto. This was the first time in over 20 years that the MXoN's would be held on American Soil, but track promoter Jonathan Beasley did more than his part to make the changes needed to hold a great motocross event.
The first Moto of the day saw MX1 and MX2 (or motocross and motocross lites) class do battle. But to some surprise, it was not team USA's Ricky Carmichael that dominated, but rather his teammate on the small bore, Ryan Villopoto. For some time now, at most nationals, RV and BT101 have been laying down faster laps than any of the 450 riders, and today was no different. Villopoto's fastest lap was as much as 2 seconds quicker than the GOATs. Ricky had a first turn crash that left him near last. But he would come through the pack to finish third behind Austrailias Chad Reed. So it was USA 1-3 after the first moto.
Moto number 2 was more of the same really. RV got the holee and took off without looking back, and this time it was the third USA teammate Tim Ferry, in the MX3 class that was there to represent the stars and stripes. But Ferry had a tough start and had to battle from the back, just like RC did the moto before, and eventually worked his way into the fourth spot where he would stay. Amazingly Villopoto went 1-1 on the day on a freaking 250F!! You'd be lying if you said that wasnt amazing. If only RC hadn't took a spill in moto 1, that woulda been a great race for sure.
The final moto of the day was all about the G.O.A.T. in his final motocross race of his amazing career. Him and Tim Ferry took to the Budds Creek track for the last time this weekend, and closed the door on everyone else's chances at taking the Chamberlin trophy from US hands. Ricky led wire to wire, and Ferry battled through the pack and finished behind him in the silver spot, while South Africa's (and newly crowned AMA champ Grant Langston) Rode like the true champ that he is up to third spot.
It was an amazing, and very emotional day for the Red(head) White and Blue team. But what an amazing day it was. Winning the Motocross of Nations on US soil, Ricky's last ride, and Villopoto and Ferry's amazing performances. God Bless the USA.