The Motocross of Nations came to America for the first time in 20 years, and Team USA dominated the racing. Ryan Villopoto holeshot both motos against bigger bikes and pulled two leads that you had to see to believe. Ricky Carmichael made an exciting come-from-behind charge in his first moto and then a fitting runaway victory to dominate his final Motocross of Nations (and possibly his final outdoor) moto. And Timmy Ferry, a replacement for the injured James Stewart, proved he was more than worthy to represent America with a day similar to Carmichael's-one great charge through the world's best and a second moto class win.
But there's more to the story of the 2007 Motocross of Nations. The pits were filled with riders from 35 different countries. Many knew their chances of winning the race were slim, for others even qualifying into the 20-country main program was unlikely, but they made the trek and went out and did battle for country and pride and ... fun.
The Czech team almost didn't make it when their travel visas were pulled just two weeks before the event. The team manager had listed too many people in each team role. Jiri Cepelak and teammate Michal Kadlecek went to the American embassy and cleared things up a week before the race. Jiri's reward: "From first two lap I go so free, and I make all jump over and I realize I am here! This is something special!"
Team New Zealand was out before the end of practice when Ben Townley landed on his shoulder and Daryl Hurley landed on his head.
Team Italy had their bikes stuck in customs when food items were discovered with the machines. The bikes arrived on time-just barely-but the Italians' bad luck continued. MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli bent a disc in Moto One and damaged a wheel in Moto Two.
Kazumasa Masuda rides for factory HRC in Japan on a fuel-injected Honda, but he rode a production 2008 250F with a Yosh pipe for Team Japan at the MXoN.
The Latvian team felt the MX2 and MX3 classes would be less competitive overall, so they put their stronger riders there. Ivo Steinbergs, who normally races a 478cc in the MX3 class, raced the MXoN on a 250F. "I hope next year maybe I ride full season here. I don't know who will be my sponsors or team, but I like it, I like it more than Europe."
Martin Davalos of Team Ecuador was racing, "Just to have fun, represent my country, to say we were at the Nations. Ecuador was there trying to make it."
Tarah Geiger made moto history as the first woman to compete at a MXoN. She rode for her country, Puerto Rico. "Competing against all the people from all over the world, really, it's awesome. Then to line up on the gate with Villopoto, Carmichael and all, it's definitely going to be a memory."
Team Chile was made up of three brothers-Jeremy and twins Vincent and Benjamin Israel.
Team Australia riders Chad Reed and Michael Byrne suffered mechanical problems, and Andrew McFarlane's day ended just a few feet out of the gate in Moto One when he went down hard.
"A lot of countries make a long journey, but hopefully one day they'll get the chance to have a home Motocross of Nations. I think in that sense it's good because it creates a lot of worldwide interest again." -Grant Langston, Team South Africa
Greg Albertyn wasn't only the team manager for Team South Africa, he was the title sponsor with his U.S. real estate company, Diamond Capital Group. "Everybody puts in time, everybody puts in effort, nobody gets paid, and it means a lot to everybody to contribute to the greatness of the sport."
Britain's MX3 rider James Noble seriously injured his shoulder and could only manage a handful of laps in each of his races.
Team Greece had to get used to unfamiliar strokes-their riders compete on two-strokes at home but all rode KTM four-strokes for the MXoN. Panagiotis Kouzis explains, "It's new bikes for us, it's no problem."
Neccarios Papavasiliou of Team Greece is a big Dirt Rider fan but doesn't speak, read or write English. Our photographers love to hear things like this.