MOTOCROSS
68
TH
MONSTER ENERGY FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
KEGUMS CIRCUIT/KEGUMS, LATVIA
P56
back from a broken wrist and in-
jured thumb riding in MXGP this
year (his second term since leav-
ing MX2 and almost challenging
Jeffrey Herlings for the 2012 title)
and had ridden the 250 twice
since being chosen—maybe for-
tuitously—instead of Max Anstie,
who had won his first Grand Prix
in the sand of Lommel this year
but was also unpredictable on
the temperamental Bike It Ya-
maha. The last time Searle raced
a KX250F at Kegums was back
in '12 and an engine problem and
tire issue caused a double DNF
at the Grand Prix, which ultimate-
ly gave Herlings vital breathing
space in the championship duel.
There was some history to ban-
ish in Latvia and Searle set about
erasing it. His MX2 class win with
an 8-4 was exactly what the Brit-
ish—and all their fans—needed
and with Monster Energy Pro
Circuit's Dean Wilson also having
his best Nations outing with a 3-5
the original winners back in 1947
were looking good for a first tro-
phy this century.
The USA was having their own
issues. MX 250cc Champion Jer-
emy Martin was a little wide-eyed
