Past MX Des Nations Team Bench Racing

wpark89
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8/9/2018 3:18pm
Still haven't converted to saying "of nations"

All the US Team discussion for Red Bud has had me thinking..

Why didn't we send Lackey and LaPorte in '82? Was it even discussed?

Some say we gotta send the National Champs...but Micky Dymond never got to go. George Holland never got the chance, nor did Guy Gooper as 125 National Champs (Cooper did go a few years later as a supposed back-up rider/assistant Team Manager). Anybody else?

Some say we gotta pick Covington because he races the Euros all year. We had 125 World Champions like Parker, Schmidt and Moore who never made the team. Parker was heavily discussed in '95 for the Open Class but we went with Hughes who had never rode a 500.

Lets BS
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Fonzarelli
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8/9/2018 3:26pm
Bailey, Johnson, O'Mara. Best team ever sent by any country.
TDeath21
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8/9/2018 4:42pm
Fonzarelli wrote:
Bailey, Johnson, O'Mara. Best team ever sent by any country.
06 and 07 would have eclipsed it if not for the injuries of Carmichael and Stewart.
wpark89
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8/9/2018 4:56pm
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But the guy hadn’t raced a 125 in years. He had had some very mediocre 250 National results that year. He did get a 2nd at Southwick, but finished out the summer going 9-8-19. Plus Suzuki was no way in anyone’s choice for strongest 125. RJ and Wardy had to be a little concerned..
scott_nz
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8/9/2018 4:58pm
wpark89 wrote:
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But...
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But the guy hadn’t raced a 125 in years. He had had some very mediocre 250 National results that year. He did get a 2nd at Southwick, but finished out the summer going 9-8-19. Plus Suzuki was no way in anyone’s choice for strongest 125. RJ and Wardy had to be a little concerned..
i seem to remember reading somewhere that it was done by popular vote at the time,

The Shop

KirkChandler
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8/9/2018 5:52pm
wpark89 wrote:
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But...
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But the guy hadn’t raced a 125 in years. He had had some very mediocre 250 National results that year. He did get a 2nd at Southwick, but finished out the summer going 9-8-19. Plus Suzuki was no way in anyone’s choice for strongest 125. RJ and Wardy had to be a little concerned..
From what I remember the owner of Unadilla, Ward Robinson, wanted Hannah on the team to help sell tickets, since Hannah was the favorite son of Unadilla. Also Hannah had won the 86 250cc USGP at Unadilla. So he wasn’t that far away from race winning speed at Unadilla.

Hannah still argues that Ward should have been on the 125 (due to his size), but Kawasaki said they didn’t have a race ready KX125. After both Johnson and Ward refused to race the 125 (even though Ward ended up racing the 125 in 88), if Hannah was going to be on the team it would be on a Works RM125. Which he had time to develop since he was on a partial schedule in 87.

In the mid 80s when the modern 3 class format of 125/250/500 was introduced in 85, in 86/87/88 team USA used a premiere class racer in the 125 class. Since 1989 it has been a 125/250f regular in the small bore class.
Fonzarelli
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8/9/2018 6:50pm
wpark89 wrote:
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But...
The Hannah deal in 87 is still one of the most bizarre choices. I mean...it was super muddy, Bob was solid and Team USA won. But the guy hadn’t raced a 125 in years. He had had some very mediocre 250 National results that year. He did get a 2nd at Southwick, but finished out the summer going 9-8-19. Plus Suzuki was no way in anyone’s choice for strongest 125. RJ and Wardy had to be a little concerned..
Bob Hannah discusses winning the 1987 Motocross des Nations at Unadilla

In the twilight of his career, Bob Hannah goes to the starting line on Sunday September 13, 1987 for the Motocross des Nations at Unadilla. He’s never won the race and he’s never been a part of a victorious American team. With a hard rain falling and the track quickly deteriorating, Hannah and his Suzuki RM125 will play a huge role in what would be an epic race.

The odds were stacked against me from day one on that deal. I was all set to be the scapegoat. Everyone was on my back. Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward were total pricks. They said they were all about the team and wanted to hold hands and ride together, yet they stuck me on the 125. They tried to get Jeff Ward to ride the 125, but he refused. he wanted to ride the 500 and Johnson wanted to ride the 250. So they tell me I have to ride the 125 and I say "screw it! But then Suzuki comes back to me and says, "Bob, you have to do it! It can be prestigious for us!" So I tell Suzuki to get me two works bikes. I get Suzuki to put two mechanics on my test bike, and then they had them put Randy Bruninga on my race bike. I didn't want anyone messing with Randy. Myself, I ran six miles a day for 21 days straight for that race. I never missed a day. I also rode every single day. Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward were all over me because I wouldn't practice with them. I was more like, "Leave me alone. Don't baby sit me. I know what to do." DeCoster - the team manager - was smart enough to leave me alone. Johnson, Ward and I were teammates on race day, but I wanted to tell them to kiss my ass. I haven't liked either one of them since that race. And, oh shit, it was one of the worst days ever.

It rained like hell and the track was all mud. In the first moto - when the 125s ran with the 500s - I got knocked down on the opening lap and it took me three times to finally get over the Elevator Shaft hill. I was dead last. I rode my ass off in that moto to get back to ninth overall. In the second moto (the 250cc/125cc moto) only Rick Johnson and Eric Geboers - both on 250s - beat me. I beat everyone else and won the overall in the class. It was a no-win situation, yet I had won. Thank God. I was never so happy to have a race over in my life.
BR8ES
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8/9/2018 6:51pm Edited Date/Time 8/9/2018 6:53pm
All I know is Dymond got ripped off and Lamson hardly ever gets acknowledged for his domination and stellar ride while O'Mara gets the gold star.
Park Boys
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8/9/2018 6:52pm
In 1997 Emig raced a 250 in the open, why wasn't this done earlier? The 1995 team could have had MC and Emig but had Hughes on the 500 instead of MC the outdoor champ.
wpark89
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8/9/2018 7:14pm
Bradshaw was also a full time 250 guy in 1990 when he rode the 125 and crashed out in Sweden. I’d argue that Cooper, Kiedrowski, or even Moore, Healey would have been solid small bike riders that year.

Agree that Dymond got screwed. And George Holland as well...maybe he was hurt at the end of the year..but we didn’t have the internet to debate back then.

I wonder about the team selection process through the years....was it just a AMA good old boys decision...was it really just a MXA ballot. Did Decoster pretty much pick himself..
BR8ES
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8/9/2018 7:22pm Edited Date/Time 8/9/2018 7:23pm
Healey was a pretty big guy, he ripped though and was fun to watch him chase Parker in 89. Speaking of him, he never got a second thought either. Funny how American world champs seem to never have really been taken seriously for their respective years of winning. Maybe I am wrong.

Then the whole Dymond thing resurfaced with the Racer X top 100 or whatever. How did he not get mention with 2 titles, but some of those other guys did...I digress.
BR8ES
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8/9/2018 7:31pm
What about the so called B team that won...93? That doesn't get mentioned too much either.
wpark89
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8/9/2018 7:47pm
BR8ES wrote:
What about the so called B team that won...93? That doesn't get mentioned too much either.
I think that was 92 with Billy Liles. I believe besides Covington last year he is the only Euro based rider who made Team USA
BR8ES
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8/9/2018 7:49pm
BR8ES wrote:
What about the so called B team that won...93? That doesn't get mentioned too much either.
wpark89 wrote:
I think that was 92 with Billy Liles. I believe besides Covington last year he is the only Euro based rider who made Team USA
Yep, so long ago. That was awesome. Covington answered the call, wish he'd get another shot.
Sully
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8/9/2018 7:59pm
BR8ES wrote:
All I know is Dymond got ripped off and Lamson hardly ever gets acknowledged for his domination and stellar ride while O'Mara gets the gold star.
I agree about Lamson not getting the credit he deserves for that ride. O'Show's ride was great, but Bailey still beat him. Lammy beat everyone. I'd put his ride a solid second to RV at Budds Creek (it's hard to argue RV was the fastest man on the planet that day).
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BR8ES
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8/9/2018 8:05pm
BR8ES wrote:
All I know is Dymond got ripped off and Lamson hardly ever gets acknowledged for his domination and stellar ride while O'Mara gets the gold star.
Sully wrote:
I agree about Lamson not getting the credit he deserves for that ride. O'Show's ride was great, but Bailey still beat him. Lammy beat everyone. I'd...
I agree about Lamson not getting the credit he deserves for that ride. O'Show's ride was great, but Bailey still beat him. Lammy beat everyone. I'd put his ride a solid second to RV at Budds Creek (it's hard to argue RV was the fastest man on the planet that day).
Good stuff Sully. That was a timeless ride by RV.
wpark89
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8/9/2018 8:08pm
I also feel that Thorpe gets too much crap for getting beat by Omara in 86....when in 1985 he was amazing at Gaildorf and had the Americans handled.

All it seems that gets hyped and discussed is Maggiora.
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BR8ES
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8/9/2018 8:12pm
wpark89 wrote:
I also feel that Thorpe gets too much crap for getting beat by Omara in 86....when in 1985 he was amazing at Gaildorf and had the...
I also feel that Thorpe gets too much crap for getting beat by Omara in 86....when in 1985 he was amazing at Gaildorf and had the Americans handled.

All it seems that gets hyped and discussed is Maggiora.
He was furthered disrespected by being called the world's fastest novice by one of the magazine's here... he gets more crap than deserved.
KirkChandler
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8/9/2018 8:15pm
Park Boys wrote:
In 1997 Emig raced a 250 in the open, why wasn't this done earlier? The 1995 team could have had MC and Emig but had Hughes...
In 1997 Emig raced a 250 in the open, why wasn't this done earlier? The 1995 team could have had MC and Emig but had Hughes on the 500 instead of MC the outdoor champ.
They changed the rules in 1997 from 125/250/500 to 125/250/Open. So you could ride any bike in the Open class.

The rules of the MXdN has changed numerous times over the years including 03 when it was 1 moto and all 3 riders in an Open class.
racerx317
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8/9/2018 8:15pm
David Bailey just posted on his Instagram that there is going to be a past champions party at Red Bud this year that Jeff Stanton is putting together. I was on the fence if I was going to make the trip this year... and now there’s no question. I’m going for sure now! Rare opportunity to see all the former MX of Nations team members in one place at one time.
KirkChandler
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8/9/2018 8:19pm
wpark89 wrote:
I think that was 92 with Billy Liles. I believe besides Covington last year he is the only Euro based rider who made Team USA
Also Ryan Hughes at the 2000 MXdN in the Open class on a Pamo Honda. He was racing the GP’s at the time.
scott_nz
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8/9/2018 8:45pm
Park Boys wrote:
In 1997 Emig raced a 250 in the open, why wasn't this done earlier? The 1995 team could have had MC and Emig but had Hughes...
In 1997 Emig raced a 250 in the open, why wasn't this done earlier? The 1995 team could have had MC and Emig but had Hughes on the 500 instead of MC the outdoor champ.
because you had to run a 500 class machine at the time, , which was 360cc and up,

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