Motocross News
With less than two months to go before the 64th edition of the Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations, set to happen in Denver, USA, on the September 26 weekend, the announcement of Team France’s line-up with Christophe Pourcel (MX1), Marvin Musquin (MX2) and Xavier Boog (Open) has created momentum around the event, expecting all top Motocross riders to battle for the coveted Chamberlain Trophy.
Having plenty of strong riders in the country, all involved in International Motocross Racing, the job of Team Manager Olivier Robert was no easy task but the French strategist pulled out one of the strongest line-up’s the country has ever had.
With former MX2 World Champion and two time AMA Supercross Champion Christophe Pourcel making his comeback to the team after the 2006 MXoN to steer an MX1 Kawasaki, 2009 MX2 World Champion Marvin Musquin racing the MX2 on a Factory KTM and Xavier Boog completing the team in the Open class onboard the Factory Kawasaki, France aims at mounting one step upper on the podium after finishing second for three consecutive years – 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Olivier Robert says: "This year we hope to do better than the years before and that does not leave a lot of possibilities other than winning. I am pleased to see Christophe coming back into the Team, I have seen him very motivated and even stronger than in the past. His team mates on the other hand have proved how good they are in the 11 GP’s we have already seen."
Then talking about Boog, who injured his left knee ligaments at Lommel last weekend while racing the qualifying heat at the Grand Prix of Limburg and sits out of this weekend’s Czech GP.
Robert continued: "The injury makes things a bit more difficult for him but we will see how he does in the following GP’s, he should be fit in two weeks and his racing will eventually tell how fit he will be. If we will need to find a stand-in rider we do have a wide selection of racers anyway."
Robert has led the team since 2001, the year France collected their first and only Chamberlain Trophy with Luigi Seguy, David Vuillemin and Yves Demaria, therefore hopes in another win to successfully end this decade at the head of the Team.
The 22-year-old Xavier Boog, at his maiden call in the team, has dropped from sixth to seventh in the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship points due to his injury.
Xavier Boog says: "It is a great feeling to be in the French team and I hope to be completely fit when I come back and have the same speed as I had before Lommel. I hope to have very good results with Christophe and Marvin. It is my first time in the Nations and I think we are one of the best teams as we have a Motocross Champion and a Supercross Champion. I seriously think we can be on the podium."
The 20-year-old Marvin Musquin, now at his second MXoN appearance after last year, had this to say.
Marvin Musquin says: "I think it is a very good choice and I am very happy to be again part of the French team. Last year it was amazing for me because I finished first in the MX2 class and fifth in the two races and this year in America I am very excited to be with Christophe and Xavier in the team. And we want to win!"
Not being present at the announcement in Loket due to his racing commitments in the United States, where he leads the AMA Lites Motocross series, 21 year old Christophe Pourcel is also looking forward to the event where he hopes to improve on his 2006 performance.
While waiting for this 64th edition of the Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations, the occasion marking the MXoN’s comeback to the USA after Budds Creek 2007, fans can pre-order their tickets at the race track Thunder Valley’s home page tvmx.net.
With 20 wins to their credit, USA is the most successful nation at this annual competition, followed by Great Britain with 16 wins and Belgium with 14.
