Glory belonged to Tom Vialle and Andrea Adamo as Team France and Team Italy classified 1st and 3rd at the 76th Motocross of Nations. The steep valley setting of Ernee in northern France basked in hot sunshine and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing officially closed the 2023 motocross season in front of a momentous crowd at the biggest international off-road motorcycle event of the year. Vialle rode to 1st overall in the MX2 class while Adamo was 4th with their KTM 250 SX-Fs. Liam Everts was an excellent 2nd overall in the MX Open category with the KTM 350 SX-F as Belgium classified 5th.
- The annual Motocross of Nations reaches edition #76 and visits the atmospheric Ernee circuit after previous incarnations in 2005 and 2015 at the hard-packed, narrow and windy French track
- The unique team race in motorsports is watched by a capacity 100,000 attendance (weekend figure) and warm, sunny autumn weather for both days of action as 37 different countries fill the entry list
- Vialle shines for winners France with 2-8 against the bigger bikes and Adamo take 4-18 for Italy as both riders walk the MXoN podium for the first time. Liam Everts is Belgium’s best rider with 3-10
- Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were also represented by Aaron Plessinger for Team USA as the KTM 450 SX-F, KTM 350 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F all shred French terrain
- The 77th ‘MXoN’ will take place at the expansive Matterley Basin circuit in the UK for 2024; the third time that the Grand Prix staple will welcome the event
Located a short distance west of Le Mans, Ernee has created its own motorsport folklore and a special place in the hearts of off-road motorcycle racing fans. The venue has been a semi-regular host of the French round of MXGP for decades but also staged rapturously received Motocross of Nations events in 2005 and 2015. Once more the crowds, colors and craziness descended on the circuit outside of the quaint and historic town to watch the best three riders selected from each country compete on a single day for the Peter Chamberlain trophy.
Team USA were reigning champions and counted Red Bull KTM ace Aaron Plessinger among their triple for the charismatic racer’s second appearance for his country. ‘AP’ struggled for set-up and feeling around the track on his first visit outside of North America. He rode to 5-18 as the Americans classified 8th.
Double MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle returned to European dirt after a debut season in AMA competition in 2023. Vialle wore the livery of the home nation and was passionately cheered on every lap of a bright and sunny raceday on Sunday. Vialle, whose last meeting in Europe was his memorable 2022 title win at the Grand Prix of Turkey, was fast and motivated and the best MX2 racer on the day as he lined-up against 450s in both outings. Tom’s 2nd place in the second moto saw him just 0.8 of a second from Team France teammate Maxime Renaux. Tom conquered the MX2 class in just his second career run for his flag.
The successor to Vialle’s 2022 MX2 world championship was Andrea Adamo and the Red Bull KTM man was in the spotlight for Team Italy. A crash in the first moto meant Andrea’s 18th was the ‘joker’ result that squad dropped but his excellent 4th place in the second race was the highest of the day for the Italian. He was the 4th best MX2 rider in Ernee.
Making his third appearance for Team Belgium, despite his tender 19 years, was Liam Everts who entered the MX Open category and elected to steer the KTM 350 SX-F. Liam was the best for his country thanks to a 3-10 and a very decent runner-up ranking in MX Open. The Belgians were 5th in the final standings, tying on points with Switzerland but earning the top five thanks to their superior scores.
