This weekend Team GB of Tommy Searle, Max Anstie and Shaun Simpson head to the illustrious venue of Maggiora approximately 40 minutes north of Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy under the guidance of Team Manager Neil Prince. The venue will play host to the 70th edition of the Motocross of Nations, where riders will battle for the pride of their nation.
Maggiora is one of the most historic venues in the history of the Motocross of Nations after hosting one of the most memorable editions back in 1986 where America’s ‘Dream Team’, David Bailey, Johnny O’Mara and Ricky Johnson, nailed a perfect score with both riders finishing inside the top two in every race. Since it is 30 years since that fateful day, the entire Dream Team, Bailey, O’Mara and Johnson, will be present at Maggiora this weekend to celebrate.
Team GB will be hoping for better luck this year after injuries on the Saturday last year to Max Anstie saw the team have to compete with just two riders on the Sunday. Twelve months on and this year a strong team will be looking to mount the podium for the first time since 1997 or push for that elusive first victory since 1994.
Tommy Searle will be contesting the MX1 class on board the Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki and arrives in Italy fresh from claiming the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship at Foxhill. The title marks Searle’s first professional title and has seen great speed in the GP’s recently.
In the MX2 class Max Anstie will be battling for national honour on his Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna. The event will also mark Anstie last event on an MX2 bike for the multi Grand Prix winner.
Lining up in the Open class is Shaun Simpson on the Wilvo Virus Performance KTM, the former three times British Champion. Simpson took a double race win at the final round of the Maxxis British Championship at Foxhill ahead of the new champion Searle just a week ago.
With all three riders in good form this could be one of the Team GB’s best chances for a strong result on Sunday afternoon.
TIMETABLE (local time)
Saturday: Free Practice MXGP 10:00; Free practice MX2 11:00; Free Practice Open 12:00; Qualifying Heat MXGP 13:30; Qualifying Heat MX2 14:30; Qualifying Heat Open 15:30; C-Final 17:00; MXGP Awards 18:00.
Sunday: Warm-up B-Final 8:40; Warm-up MXoN Group 1 9:10; Warm-up MXoN Group 2 9:40; B-Final 11:00; MXoN Race 1 (MXGP+MX2) 13:10; MXoN Race 2 (MX2+Open) 14:40; MXoN Race 3 (Open+MXGP) 16:08.