Team France Tops Monster Energy Motocross of Nations

Team France hoists the Chamberlain Trophy in Latvia; Team USA third.

Scott Rousseau

Team France hoists the Chamberlain Trophy in Latvia; Team USA third.

France had a banner day at the 2014 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, claiming the win for the first time since 2001. It was only the second time that the country has ever won the prestigious event. PHOTOS BY TAKURO NAGAMI.
France had a banner day at the 2014 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, claiming the win for the first time since 2001. It was only the second time that the country has ever won the prestigious event. PHOTOS BY TAKURO NAGAMI.

Led by the heroics of Gauthier Paulin (MXGP) and Dylan Ferrandis (MX2), France won the 2014 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations in Kegums, Sunday, to hoist the historic Chamberlain Trophy for only the second time in MxoN history.

Riding in the MXGP class, Team France's Gauthier Paulin was the fastest rider of the day, winning both of his motos to help France to an easy win.
Riding in the MXGP class, Team France’s Gauthier Paulin was the fastest rider of the day, winning both of his motos to help France to an easy win.

France claimed the win with a total of just 17 points, with French team members finishing in the top 10 in all three motos. Defending event champions, Belgium, finished second with 27 points. Team USA finished third, with 33 points, prevailing in a tiebreaker over Great Britain by virtue of better moto scores.

The French team of Paulin, Ferrandis and Steven Frossard set the tone right in the first of the three MXoN motos, with Paulin pulling out to a convincing win ahead of Team USA’s Ryan Dungey in the MXGP ranks, while Ferrandis came out on top of a moto-long battle with Team USA’s Jeremy Martin and posted a ninth-place finish. Martin, who was nursing a broken foot suffered during Saturday practice, finished 11th. Team Italy saw its hopes all but dashed in the first moto when reigning FIM MXGP World Champion crashed in a rocker section and suffered a knee injury. Cairoli was able to return to the pits under his own power, but he was out of the race.

Fracne's Dylan Ferrandis absolutely flew aboard his KX-250F in the MX2 class, putting together 9-9 moto finishes against the bigger bikes to keep France on cruise in the overall points tally, heading into the third moto.
Fracne’s Dylan Ferrandis absolutely flew aboard his KX-250F in the MX2 class, putting together 9-9 moto finishes against the bigger bikes to keep France on cruise in the overall points tally, heading into the third moto.

Frossard did his part with a strong ride in Moto 2, which pitted the MX2 and Open classes together. He finished second, behind Belgium’s Kevin Strijos, while Ferrandis crossed the line in ninth place again. Meanwhile, Team USA’s Eli Tomac and Martin both suffered horrific starts and were forced to battle their way through the field in an effort to salvage as many points as possible. Tomac managed to finish sixth in the moto, while Martin struggled again and finished 13th.

Team USA had a rough day at the MXoN. Hampered by poor starts and first-turn crashes. Ryan Dungey, finished 2-11 in his two motos.
Team USA had a rough day at the MXoN. Hampered by poor starts and first-turn crashes. Ryan Dungey, finished 2-11 in his two motos.

In the final moto, which featured the MXGP and Open classes, Team USA’s Tomac crashed on the first lap, and Dungey once again struggled to find a solid rhythm on the sandy Kegums track. Tomac recovered from his fall and was clearly the fastest rider on the track, but he was only able to finish third, behind the flying Paulin and Jeremy Van Horebeek of Belgium. Frossard was fourth, easily cementing the MXoN win for France and giving the country its second-ever event win, and its first since Yves Demaria, Luigi Seguy and David Vuillemin won for France at Namur, Belgium, in 2001.

Eli Tomac put in an impressive ride to finish third in the third moto after a first-turn fall. His finish, combined with bad luck by Great Britain, helped Team USA squeak onto the podium.
Eli Tomac put in an impressive ride to finish third in the third moto after a first-turn fall. His finish, combined with bad luck by Great Britain, helped Team USA squeak onto the podium.

Although Dungey was unable to crack the top 10 in the final moto—he finished 11th—Tomac’s effort was strong enough to slide Team USA into a tie with Great Britain, which appeared to have third place locked up until Shaun Simpson broke a chain and was forced out of the race.

2014 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations
Kegums, Latvia
Results: September 28, 2014

Overall
1. France-17
2. Belgium-27
3. USA-33
4. Great Britain-33
5. Germany-72
6. Italy-73
7. Switzerland-74
8. Russia-75
9. Estonia-77
10. Netherlands-80

Moto 1 (MXGP/MX2)
1. Gautier Paulin-Kaw/France
2. Ryan Dungey-KTM/USA
3. Max Nagl-Hon/Germany
4. Jeremy Van Horebeek-Yam/Belgium
5. Aleksandr Tonkov-Hus/Russia
6. Filip Bengtsson-KTM/Sweden
7. Glenn Coldenhoff-Suz/Netherlands
8. Tommy Searle-Kaw/Great Britain
9. Dylan Ferrandis-Kaw/France
10. Davide Guarneri-TM/Italy

Team USA rookie Jeremy Martin was hampered by a foot injury but fought gamely for points, tallying 11-13 moto scores for his squad.
Team USA rookie Jeremy Martin was hampered by a foot injury but fought gamely for points, tallying 11-13 moto scores for his squad.

Moto 2 (MX2/Open)
1. Kevin Strijbos-Suz/Belgium
2. Steven Frossard-Kaw/France
3. Dean Wilson-Kaw/Great Britain
4. Tommy Searle-Kaw/Great Britain
5. Fredrik Noren-Hon/Sweden
6. Eli Tomac-Hon/USA
7. Tanel Leok-TM/Estonia
8. Glenn Coldenhoff-Suz/Netherlands
9. Dylane Ferrandis-Kaw/France
10. Mar de Reuver-Hon/Netherlands

Moto 3 (MXGP/Open)
1. Gautier Paulin-Kaw/France
2. Jeremy Van Horebeek-Yam/Belgium
3. Eli Tomac-Hon/USA
4. Steven Frossard-Kaw/France
5. Dean Wilson-Kaw/Great Britain
6. Aleksandr Tonkov-Hus/Russia
7. Tanel Leok-TM/Estonia
8. Arnaud Tonus-Kaw/Switzerland
9. Kevin Strijbos-Suz/Belgium
10. Rui Goncalves-Yam/Portugal

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