Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1037465
CN III ARCHIVES BY LARRY LAWRENCE B y the time you read this we'll know if Team USA 2018 was able to keep the streak alive and make it four for four. The streak I'm talking about is Team USA's perfect record in the three previ- ous Motocross des Nations held in America. If that tradition holds during the 72nd running of MXdN at RedBud, Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia and Aaron Plessinger will lift the Chamberlain Trophy for Team USA for the first time in seven years. Here's a quick look back at the three previous times the prestigious Olympics of moto- cross were held in the U.S. Mudder at Unadilla – 1987 It took 15 years, but America finally hosted its first Motocross des Nations in 1987, held at Un- adilla, in New Berlin, New York. The 15 years refers to the first time Team USA fielded a squad in the prestigious international competition in 1972 when Brad Lackey, Jim Pomeroy, Jimmy Weinert and Gary Jones repre- sented the red, white and blue in The Netherlands village of Norg. So, a decade-and-a-half after America began participating in the event, it was finally granted its first hosting duties. The announcement of the '87 Team USA squad was not with- out controversy. Jeff Ward and Rick Johnson were named to the P128 DES NATIONS HOME COOKIN' of his motos. With great rides also turned in by Ward and Han- nah, Team USA beat the Nether- lands by two points (5-7). Belgium was third with nine points. "I had a bad feeling we weren't going to pull it off because the European teams, like the Bel- gians, are so tough and such good mud riders," Johnson said. "But our team pulled together really strong. Budds Creek Beatdown – 2007 It was a long 20 years before America would once again play host to the Motocross des Na- tions. Budds Creek, Maryland, was the site of the second MXdN in America, where a massive crowd of 40,000 packed Budds Creek MX Park to watch a great Team USA squad of Ricky Car- michael, Ryan Villopoto and Tim Ferry do battle with the rest of the team, which made all the sense in the world. Honda's Johnson was a double MX champ in '87, winning both the AMA 250 and 500cc crowns. Wardy was AMA Supercross Champ and runner-up to Johnson in the 250 nationals, plus he had ample 500cc experi- ence, so again, a no-brainer. The controversy came in the naming of the rider to represent Team USA in the 125cc class. Micky Dymond was class champ, and by the estimation of many fans, should have been the third rider. Instead the AMA named Bob Hannah, who by 1987 was riding part-time for Suzuki, hadn't raced a 125 in five years and hadn't raced des Nations since '78. Regardless, the Hurricane got the nod and shocked ev- eryone with his performance, which included a 125cc win and an amazing come-from-behind charge to fourth in class after get- ting knocked down in Unadilla's infamous Screw-U twice. An estimated 22,000 hardy fans endured rain and mud to watch their heroes do battle on home soil. Johnson, the absolute star of the '87 domestic series, dominat- ed the des Nations, winning both Tim Ferry, Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto were featured on the cover of Cycle News after dominating the MX des Nations at Budds Creek.