FOX Motocross of Nations – ERNEE (France, September 24th-25th)

Motocross of Nations more than ever the “Olympic Games” of Motocross

The 2005 FOX Motocross of Nations seems to be one of most promising in the long history of this event. With a record of thirty-six countries, the return of the American team and a renowned track, Ernée (France) will be the place to be on September 24th and 25th.

Oldest Motocross event with a first edition in 1947, a few years before the individual Championships (1957 for the 500cc, 1962 for the 250cc and 1975 for the 125cc), the Motocross of Nations has always been in the history of our sport the most prestigious event of the season. And the 2005 seemed to be one of the most promising event of the XXIst century.

“ It’s possibly the biggest attendance we ever had in the history of the event, as the FIM received entries of 36 countries from all continents, including nine overseas. We have all the top teams there, it’s really our “Olympic Games” and we have to celebrate this event like this. I’m sure that Ernee will do what they can to make an event that people will not forget for years,” offered Wolfgang Srb, the FIM CMS president. “That’s also really interesting to see new countries coming to the event, such as Columbia or Iran. It’s really good that they come to us and take part at this race. It’s like Olympic, everybody has to be there and once a week in the year you have to race for your country, for your flag, with your heart and that’s all about the Nations. Whatever you look, whatever you read, whoever you talk, it’s seems that nobody can wait for this event and everybody wants to be there! I’m really happy because Ernée did an unbelievable job, they changed the circuit totally and it has to be like this in the future because it’s Motocross of Nations. It’s the last MX event of the season, it has to be the best one and I’m sure it will be,” he added.

Working hard to prepare the event since fifteen months, the club did an incredible job on and around the track. One month prior the event everything is ready in Ernée. “When the FIM and the FFM told us that we would be the organizers of the MXoN we knew that it would give us a lot of work, but we were ready for this as it was our goal to welcome this event since fifteen years now. During one year we had people working on the track every day, and due to the nice weather we are ready earlier than expected, we just need now to water the track. We renewed the layout; when you look at the pictures it seems to be the same track, but in fact we changed the design in some places, built wider tracks, rip the soil and insert sand so we’ll have a softer surface. We did a test with this mixture last year for the MX3 Grand Prix on the starting line and the first corner, and all the riders enjoyed it so now it’s like this on all the circuit,” explained president Raymond Demy, who is member of the club since his creation in 1972. The public will be well treated for the event, and will see the entire track from any point of the circuit. “Our track always offered a great visibility for the public, and now they can really see 100% of it and will not miss any race action. We are ready to met 40000 spectators, as well around the track, in the camping (15 hectares) or the parking (33 hectares). There are three different access roads to avoid traffic jams, and we prepare a full program with several activities for the fans on Saturday evening with Freestyle exhibitions and a concert. We want everyone to go back home with nice memories,” added the president who already organised eight GP’s since 1990.

Back to the old format - which includes the MX2 class – last year in Lierop, the event will have the same program as in the past. The thirty-six teams will enter one rider in the MX2, MX1 and Open class, and on Saturday twenty of them will qualify for the main event. Then on Sunday they all of the riders will race two moto’s against the other classes. The best five results (on a total of six) of each team will count for the final result, and the suspense will be there till the last lap of the third and last race.

For more info please check www.motocrossMX1.com the official web site of the FIM Motocross World Championships and www.motoclubernee.com the official web site of the event.