Although not in the same number as its Austrian rivals, Husqvarna, Honda’s Team HRC will nonetheless be well-represented in the 2017 Motocross of Nations (MXoN).
Former MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser will represent Slovenia while teammate Evgeny Bobryshev will ride for Russia during the 71st edition of the event, which is referred to as the “Olympics of Motocross.” Slovenia has never won the Motocross of Nations. Russia (formerly the USSR) has one Motocross of Nations (MXonN) win with a team that featured three-time FIM 250cc Motocross World Champion Guennady Moisseev (1974, ’77, ’78). France is the defending champion of the 2016 Motocross of Nations.
Gasjer said that he is excited to have been selected to represent Slovenia in the Motocross of Nations (MXoN)—as if he wouldn’t have been selected anyway so long as he was fit to race.
“I love the track there,” Gasjer said of Matterley Basin, which was constructed specifically for the 2006 Motocross of Nations and has been used in the FIM Motocross World Championship sever since. “I know there have been a couple of changes there so hopefully it hasn’t changed the layout too much. The nations is always a really fun event, and the atmosphere is totally different to a GP, so it should be an enjoyable weekend.”
Bobryshev added that the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) is always a special event with which to be involved.
“You are racing in a team of three people, for your country,” Bobryshev said. “It is also strange as although the pressure is off for the championship, you are racing for your country, so it is a different pressure. I feel honored to have been asked to represent Russia again this year. The track at Matterley is really good for fans to view all of the racing. So, the atmosphere as it always is at the nations, will be on another level.”
In MX2, Team HRC’s Michele Cervellin will line up alongside fellow Honda rider Alessandro Lupino and nine-time FIM MXGP World Champion Antonio Cairoli to represent Italy. Cervellin missed the last two FIM Grands Prix of the year due to a groin injury suffered at the MXGP of Americas, but he is fit to race for his home country in the Motocross of Nations.
“This is the third time I would have competed in the Nations and to ride for your country means you give it 100 percent,” Cervellin said. “Although my physical condition isn’t quite as good as it could be following the injury I picked up in the US. I will always try to do my best on track with the new CRF250RW. This will be my last race with HRC but I think it is a good race to end with as we are a solid team especially having the world champion Antonio Cairoli on the team, so hopefully we will get on the podium.”
The Motocross of Nations (MXoN) gets underway October 1 for practice and qualifying. The racing gets underway on Sunday in three races pitting MXGP, MX2 and Open class riders against each other.
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