The biggest names in Australian motocross have been selected to
represent Australia at the 56th Motocross des Nations in San Jacinto,
California, in September this year.
Motorcycling Australia?s Motocross Commission has chosen Chad Reed,
Craig Anderson, Andrew McFarlane and Michael Byrne to represent
Australia.
One of the squad will be the team?s reserve rider and this decision will
be made after an assessment of the fitness levels of all four riders.
Chad Reed won the second moto in last year?s Motocross des Nations in
Belgium, and his performance in winning the 2002 AMA/EA Sports
Supercross (125cc) ? the first Australian to do so - confirmed his
status as a superstar of the sport.
Reed will be joined by his cousin, Craig Anderson, who has already won
this year?s Maxxis Tyres Australian Motocross Championship and is
currently competing in both the ADB Thumper Nats and the Supercross
Championship. Anderson recently signed a two-year contract with the
Boost Mobile Yamaha of Troy team in the USA, commencing at the end of
2002. The 24 year old from NSW has also competed in the 250cc class in
previous Motocross des Nations events.
Reed and Anderson?s talent, combined with that of Queenslanders Michael
Byrne and Andrew McFarlane, themselves no strangers to the Motocross des
Nations, having represented Australia in the past, is certain to make
this year?s event a memorable one for Australia. McFarlane finished
eighth in last weekend?s Motocross World Championship GP in Bulgaria and
will hopefully continue to impress leading up to the Motocross des
Nations.
MA Motocross Commission Chairman Mark Luksich said today that the
international experience of all four riders will be telling.
?This is the best team we?ve ever put together, considering the amount
of international experience they have as a combination,? Luksich said.
?The exposure and success they?ve enjoyed in recent times can?t help but
give them a great chance of having an impact at this year?s event,
especially as they?ll all be supplied and supported by a factory
effort,? he said.
The event has been dominated by European and American teams in recent
times, with France winning in 2001 and the USA taking the title in 2000.
Last year, the USA withdrew from the event in the wake of the September
11 New York terrorist attacks.
The 2002 Motocross des Nations is scheduled for September 29.
The overall top six teams from 2001 are as follows:
1. France (Seguy, Vuillemin, Demaria)
2. Belgium (Ramon, Smets, Everts)
3. New Zealand (Hurley, Coppins, King)
4. Great Britain (Sword, Nunn, Nicoll)
5. Germany (Kanstinger, Beirer, Eckenbach)
6. Australia (Byrne, Reed, McFarlane)