HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2015) – The 68th annual Motocross of

Nations was held in Ernee, France on Sept. 26 and 27. The CBS Sports

Network broadcast the entire event.

 

Justin Barcia had the honor of representing Team USA in the MXGP division

on his AutoTrader/Toyota/Yamaha Team YZ450F. Cooper Webb and Jeremy

Martin, both members of the Star Racing Yamaha Team were the other two

riders selected to represent America at the event. Martin raced the MX2

division for the team, and Webb, who normally races a 250cc machine,

agreed to ride a 450cc bike in the Open class. The first of three motos was

the combined MXGP and MX2 race. Barcia pulled the holeshot and led the

race with Martin around 10th position. On lap five Barcia appeared to miss a

shift in a turn which allowed Marvin Musquin of the French team to pass him.

Barcia and Musquin then waged a battle that had the crowd on their feet as

the two riders passed one another repeatedly until Barcia pulled away just

after the halfway point. Meanwhile, Martin had charged up to fifth place.

 

Barcia won the moto, the first moto win for an American rider since 2011,

with Martin finishing fifth. This also gave Barcia an individual overall win in

his division. “The fans are unbelievable, when I was behind Marvin I could

hear all the cheering and then when I came around in front of him I couldn’t

hear anything. They kill it. It will be nice to have one of these races in the

U.S. The fans will be pumped up,” said Barcia.

Barcia was not in the second moto, which was the combined MX2 and Open

divisions. Webb holeshot and led the early laps with the reigning world

champion, Romain Febvre of France in pursuit. Martin was fifth. Webb held

off Febvre for the first third of the race when Febvre relegated Webb to

second position. Martin was steady the entire moto finishing fifth with Webb

second.

 

The final race was the combined MXGP and Open divisions, Martin was not in

that moto. Barcia and Webb did not get the starts they needed, beginning

the race ninth and 10th respectively. Unfortunately Febvre was in the lead,

and one of the other French riders, Guatier Paulin was also in front of the

American teammates. Barcia began to advance with Webb in tow. By lap six

they were six and seventh but on the next lap Webb accidently stalled his

bike dropping to ninth. Webb regrouped and immediately began moving

forward again while Barcia set his sights on Paulin. Barcia was able to pass

the Frenchman and place third for the moto, with Webb sixth. The

Americans gave a valiant effort but in the end the French team won the

AutoTrader.com/Toyota/Yamaha Team

13201 Reese Blvd., West, Suite 300, Huntersville, NC 28078 P 704-875-0573 W jgrmx.com

overall by just two points over the Americans, who finished a very

respectable second place. Belgium rounded out the podium.

 

The next event for the team is the annual Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas,

Nev. on Oct. 17.