Although the Australian motocross team won't be competing in this year's
Motocross of Nations, the World Cup of Motocross in California yesterday
proved beyond doubt that Australia's motocross riders are right up there
with the world's best.
The event, hastily organised in the wake of the cancellation of the
Motocross of Nations in San Jacinto, California, was held on Sunday at Glen
Helen Raceway in San Bernardino.
Australians Chad Reed, Craig Anderson and Michael Byrne defeated a strong
international lineup and added weight to the view that had the Motocross of
Nations gone ahead as scheduled, Australia would have at least won a podium
position.
The sport's controlling body, Motorcycling Australia, withdrew the
Australian team from the Motocross of Nations following the rescheduling,
because the new date ? October 20, in Spain - conflicts with some of the
team members' long standing commitments to events in Australia and
elsewhere, making it impossible to field the strongest team.
Chad Reed, who this year became the first Australian to win the prestigious
AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series (125cc), rode brilliantly and led the
Australian team to tie with the USA before the third and final race.
To break the tie, the team with the best combined two riders' scores in the
final race would be declared the winner, and with Reed in fine form
supported by Michael Byrne and Craig Anderson, the Australians took out the
title, widely regarded as the most accurate indication of world's best
motocross nation, following the cancellation of the official international
event.
Other countries who competed yesterday have reportedly decided not to
contest the official Motocross of Nations on October 20, making yesterday's
event a truly global one.