Rider Reflections: 2025 Motocross of Nations
Read what a host of riders had to say about their weekends at the 2025 Motocross of Nations.
Hunter Lawrence: “I’m at a loss for words right now. Come check with me later and I will have a lot to say. I am so proud of the team. Kyle rode his heart out, but got put on the ground in both first turns and charged back. Jett had an unreal first moto. Australia: we did it baby, back-to-back.”
Kyle Webster: "Made it hard with two first turn crashes. I gave it my everything right up to end. Thanks to the boys for two in a row."
Eli Tomac: "Overall, it was good. Team Australia is really strong right now and that made it tough for everyone at this race. When they’re winning or finishing second in the races, it makes them really hard to beat as a team. I’m really proud of Justin and RJ for stepping up this weekend and second is what we had today."
Justin Cooper: "We put our best foot forward this weekend and Australia had a strong team. I love coming to this race and the energy from the crowd is special. The fans were so loud all the way around the track and it really helped us all keep charging forwards. I gave it my all and had a few small crashes, but I was trying my best every time I was on track and I gave it everything I had for Team USA."
Maxime Renaux: "It’s definitely a good feeling to be on the podium again. Both of my teammates did a great job this weekend, especially Mathis Valin who raced the Nations for the first time. It was a tough track and I tried my best like always, and it’s nice to end the season with a podium result."
RJ Hampshire: “It was a great experience to come here and race on home soil - even with the late call up I was still all in. I felt pretty good on Saturday - qualified second, and was fourth overall after the gate pick. Sunday was just a grind. I worked my way up to second and then had a crash, worked my way back up to third and had another crash. Worked my way back up to fourth I think and then had another crash! Just a really tough day. Luckily Tomac was awesome today, and J-Coop put in two solid motos - of course we wanted to win, but second on the day was still very cool. We leave here on the box and now we can all look forward to a little bit of the off season.”
Kay de Wolf: "Winning the MX2 class at the Nations for the second year in a row means a lot. The track was pretty technical, so it was about patience and precision. In both races I focused on being the first MX2 home - that was the mission. Huge thanks to the team; the bike was faultless and we finished the season exactly how we wanted.”
Liam Everts: “I felt comfortable on the 450 all weekend. Race two was really strong – I found a good rhythm, made clean passes, and we were right there in the fight for the podium. Seventh in race three kept the points coming and helped Belgium secure fourth overall. Big thanks to the team for an amazing bike and all their hard work.”
Romain Febvre: "I gave my best to the very last lap of the final moto, but it was a shame about the crash I had in the first moto; I was in a good position and I threw it away when I misjudged a turn which was full of water. I think we all did a good job; it's been a long season, so I'm happy we could finish on the podium even though I'm a little disappointed that we just lost second to the USA."
Mathis Valin: "It took me some time to get used to the track yesterday, as there were so many lines in the corners, but I am proud of my performance today. The first moto went really well and I held off Kay almost to the end for first in MX2; I gave it everything in that race and was a little tired for the second moto, but I kept pushing. This was my first Nations, so my thanks to my teammates and our team manager Gautier Paulin for their advice all weekend."
Lucas Coenen: “Not bad overall, but we didn’t quite get the bike like we wanted for this fast track. I didn’t want to change too much from our base setting because we didn’t have too many sessions, but it was probably a bit too soft and I felt a bit limited. I didn’t find the flow, but the speed was still there, and I was battling with the guys. I learned a lot from riders that we usually don’t race in GPs. It was a bummer what happened in the second moto, but it happens, and I’m happy. It’s been a good rookie year: second in MXGP and I won all I could. A lot of positive things and I improved. I will work even harder to be on top.”
Sacha Coenen: “A bit disappointed because we could have won with Team Belgium. We had a strong team and strong riders, but the races did not go as we expected. I was fourth for a long time in the first moto but then had an issue with the rear brake. I slid out and Justin Cooper jumped into me and onto the bike. I tried to ride the second moto with a painful wrist. It was difficult and I did my best for 20th. It was not the two races we hoped for. A bummer that we did not make it to the top. 2025 has been, let’s say, up and down. I’m happy and not happy. It started well, then I had some difficult moments, but from the halfway point of the season, I was the most consistent rider out there and made a lot of podiums as well as winning three of the last six motos. Winning the qualification moto here yesterday as well was really nice.”
Image: Lorenzo Resta
