AUSTRALIA FIRST EVER PODIUM AT THE MXoN

Team Australia has created history, claiming third at the 2011 FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in St Jean d’Angely.


In a brilliant performance by Australian team, the Aussies held off a determined Great Britain to secure the third and final podium position.

Chad Reed by fellow Aussies Brett Metcalfe and Matt Moss the team finished two points clear in third position, behind France and 2011 winners, USA.

Returning to MXoN action after missing last year’s event, Reed did not miss a beat and set Australia on the right path with an outstanding win of the MX1 + MX2 Race.

In one of the great performances by an Australian at the MXoN, Reed claimed the holeshot and fought off the challenges of American Ryan Dungey as the heavens opened on the track.

The two-time Supercross World Champion proved his quality in the outdoor arena, mastering the conditions to take the chequered flag and putting Australia in the box seat for podium success.  Metcalfe built on the efforts by Reed, recording a seventh in MX2 + Open Race, but Australia languished in 19th needing nothing short of a miracle to pull off a podium finish heading into the all-important MX1 + Open Race

Moss under instruction to finish only top 20 in moto one did his job and was told to go for gold in the second moto unfortunately a mechanical failure saw him unable to start. However being able to drop one race (Moss's bike failure) all the races from all three Australian riders finished Australia on the podium for third.

A  jubilant Matt said "I'm so proud to be apart of this history making event, representing Australia at the MXoN is huge and I'm so proud to be apart of the team on the podium for the first time ever-Australia!"


“Every time you come over to Europe the Nations is massive,” Metcalfe said.                         

“It's just good to be part of Team Australia and represent our country, and it's just awesome to get that Monkey off our back and finally feel like we are a  strong country for Motocross so it's great."

MXoN Final Results:
1. USA 26
2. France 39
3. Australia 44
4. Great Britain 46
5. Belgium 54