You'd be brave to argue against the fact that some of the best Motocross of Nations weekends of the modern era have taken place on the picturesque, rolling track of Ernee, France. Tens of thousands of frothing, passionate French fans clog the hillsides armed with chainsaws, air-horns, flares and flags, while the world's best racers go deep into the pain cave for national pride.
Remember 2005 when Ricky Carmichael, Ivan Tedesco and Kevin Windham claimed victory, but Ben Townley put on the performance of his life to finish 1-2 in his two races? Or what about 2015, when the French edged the Yanks by just two points to finish on top?
The COVID-19 pandemic torched any plans for the scheduled return to Ernee in 2020, which meant the 2023 instalment was a much-anticipated and hyped-up affair. For Australians, this year signalled the best-ever chance of lifting the Chamberlain Trophy.
For the first time ever, the 2023 Motocross of Nations lived up to the hype. Over 105,000 fans – more than the entire population of Albury-Wodonga – converged
