World Bragging Rights: Belgium wins the 2003 Motocross des Nations
The 57th running of this classic event - a once per year gathering of all the top riders and teams as they compete country against country, with each nation fielding a team of three riders.
One super Finale decides it, with each country scoring it's two best finishes. Lowest score wins! The track itself is typical of that part of Belgium - mostly flat, and very, very sandy.
The two main combatants: Belgium with it's three world champions (Stefan Everts, Joel Smets, and Steve Ramon) and the USA (Ricky Carmichael, Tim Ferry, and Ryan Hughes).
As individuals, Ricky Carmichael was the winner. But this event is a team event. Belgium, with Everts finishing second, and Smets third, claims the Chamberlain Trophy, and bragging rights for the next year!
Tim Ferry had a poor start & a fall to finish ninth. Ryan Hughes had a fall and a broken chain.
28 teams competed this year. Belgium has won this event 13 times. The USA has 16 victories.
Results:
Belgium - 5
USA - 10
Finland - 16
New Zealand - 19
Great Britain - 20
Japan - 20
Ireland - 27
Estonia - 27
France - 36
Czech Republic - 37
South Africa - 38
Denmark - 55
Individual results:
Ricky Carmichael - USA - HON
Stefan Everts - BEL - YAM
Joel Smets - BEL - KTM
Gordon Crockard - IRL - HON
Josh Coppins, NZL - HON
Jussi Vehvilainen - FIN - HON
Paul Cooper - GB - HON
Akira Narita - JPN - SUZ
Tim Ferry - USA - YAM
Antti Pyrhonen - FIN - YAM