Scott Motosports: Swizcorner: “Sinking In”

 

There is no mistaking that the consensus in the PulpMX headquarters as well as probably every other nook and cranny of motocross-fandom, is that the Motocross Des Nations MATTERS! To the grizzled veterans of MX past, it matters. Unfortunately, as dictated by decisions made and subsequent actions, it does not matter to some key top riders nor their key sponsors and/or teams.

 

They can claim it matters but Monster Energy showed exactly what they think of the Motocross Des Nations by requiring Eli Tomac to line up for the USGP’s and making the MXdN elective. It’s really hard for me to wrap my brain around this. What is the ffing point of making US-series racers line up for utterly meaningless races on US soil in a series they have no skin in? To gain fan attention? Ha! Fan turnout was abysmal DESPITE Eli Tomac laying the smacketh down in all four moto’s he contested in the Monster-attendance-required events.

 

Speaking of the beating Eli unleashed in these four moto’s, it makes a 2016 Motocross Des Nations without Eli hurt even worse. I don’t have a clue what happened throughout the 2016 American series’ but the Eli Tomac we just got done witnessing in Charlotte and San Bernardino is NOT the guy who appeared frustrated and hindered by a lack of comfort on his new bike and team. You can claim all you want that Eli was the same guy throughout the 2016 Nationals that he was at the USGP’s and that the only difference was a lack of Ken Roczen. I’m not buying that. Ken Roczen was phenomenal throughout the Nationals but Eli’s step up at the MXGP’s was much more than a lack of the 94 making him look human.

 

Honestly, what are we to do moving forward with the MXdN? The title sponsor is essentially undermining and sabotaging it’s prestige in a near-blasphemous manner. I can’t imagine a more egregious method of turning the MXdN into a busche league event than forcing your riders two compete in 2 races of a series that means absolute jack shit to them and putting the MXdN out on an island at the end of the year when American riders are healing, rejuvenating and preparing for the next season’s assault.

 

So good job Monster. Good job making Eli’s consideration of racing the Motocross des Nations such an easy decision. These GP’s meant nothing to him more than testing and now he’ll be home when he should have been at Maggiore Italy.

 

There’s one thing I’m really banking on following this blunders decision by Monster. Riders considering this type of possibility in the future and making sure there is verbiage in their contracts to deal with just such nonsense. Of course, this could go the opposite direction too and riders could opt out of all non US-series races altogether.

 

Can we please just find a way to refresh the mindset of the MXdN held by Jeff Stanton, Jeff Ward and so many other old school guys?!