Paul Malin was a major part of the last British team to win the Motocross des Nations, way back in 1994. It remains one of the biggest shocks in the events history and we caught up with Malin recently to go through what it took for Team Great Britain to shock the World.

Last week we talked about his early years in the MXoN (you can find it here) and this week, we talk about the legendary performance in 1994. Hope you enjoy his story.

MXlarge: So, tell me about 1994 and Roggenburg?

Malin: So, as I told you in the first half of the interview, I didn’t do the Nations in 1992 or 1993, and I hadn’t had a great year in 1994 on the 250. Dixon pushed for me to be on the 125, but I hadn’t raced the 125 in two years. Steve (Dixon) had a 125cc program racing 125 GPs, so I rode the engine and the engine was good. On the try out days, I was quicker than Kurt (Nicolls), quicker than Merv (Anstie) and quicker than everyone else and they were on 250s and 500s. So, I got the call to go. Then, because Bob Moore (World 125cc champion in 1994) didn’t go for Team USA, there was a spare factory engine. So, Rinaldi more or less said, there is an engine here, if you want it. So we tried it in the free practice, against our engine and it was pretty quick. Steve (Dixon) said we can’t run the pipe and silencer, because we had a Pro Circuit deal and Colin Harrison, who was the UK importer at the time said he would turn a blind eye to it and deal with the rest later. Because Rinaldi said we can run it as it was, with his pipe and silencer, or not run it at all. So, we ran it.

MXLarge: Tell me about the motos?

Malin: Two shitty starts, I remember that. We were first gate pick, and I was 35th around the first turn in probably both motos. I got back to fifth in one race and sixth in the other. That was I think the last year of the system where if you finished fifth, but were the first 125 guy, you had just one point to your name, and I won the 125class overall with 1-1 and picked up two points. Both Rob (Herring) and Kurt (Nicoll) had great rides in their first races and in the final race, Kurt let Larocco pass and I think they FIM changed that rule, because why let a rider pass, well, if it meant picking up two points and not being taken out (team USA were famous for that at some events), then it was the safest bet.

MXLarge: Winning that, it was huge at the time?

Malin: Yes, it was massive, because we stopped their 13-year domination. They had won every single year from 1981, and Great Britain hadn’t won it in 27 years. It is more than that now, since a British team won the Nations.

MXLarge: Because of your past experience at the Nations, like watching as a fan and then doing pretty well in 1990 and 1991, but the team not really getting a shot at winning, could you feel how big it was to win?

Malin: I don’t want to say it felt like just another race, because that demines the Motocross des Nations, but I didn’t feel pressure to perform. A race is a race for a racer, and I knew that the bike that Dixon had prepared I felt good on, but we just took Bob Moore’s engine, and it was a factory engine and had more top end power for the hills and I carried more speed everywhere. They had done the hard yards in the 12 championship races with that bike, and we just turned up and rode it and I felt straight away, that it was good. The first uphill, I though this thing goes forever. I came through traffic, the bike was just really, really good.

MXLarge: The dynamic of that team, all three guys plucked out of the 250 class all three riders didn’t have great seasons. Kurt and Rob, I don’t know them that well, but in their racing days, they were quiet guys, just getting on with the job. Tell me about that?

Malin: Kurt then and Kurt now, very different guys, he is now one of the funniest guys you could meet and Robbie, I had known him forever. I knew him when I was like 10 or 11, because I went to South Africa on an exchange program with Team Green and I stayed at his house. He was also quiet, but very funny a really dry humour.

MXLarge: 30 years ago, that you guys won?

Malin: Actually, 30 years ago this week, (During the GP of China), September 11.

MXlarge: They are not going to win this year, are they?

Malin: You know what, here is the thing and this is what I don’t like about social media. Whatever team you put out; people will just bash it. Doesn’t matter if it’s the British, the Americans, or whoever else. When I got selected for the 125cc class and Merv (Anstie) didn’t get selected for the 500cc class, everyone was like, shit man, why are we sending these guys. You just don’t know what you are going to get on the day, and we came away with a victory, so everything was justified. With or without mud, on his day, Conrad Mewse can ride really, really well. Max Anstie on his day, can ride really, really well and Tommy, with his experience, it isn’t impossible to imagine a win and a lot of people will say this team is this and that.

MXLarge: It is a nice-looking team, considering there are not many GP riders from England anymore?

Malin: It isn’t a bad looking team and if they can be consistent and they will be racing at home and that will add 10% or 15% in their performance. I even remember in Switzerland in 1994, particularly in the second race, the British fans were everywhere and there was a sense that we can do something special. I passed Jeff Emig and he tailed me and the second race, same thing and I remember, the last 10 minutes of that second race, I had been cheered on British fans, but I suddenly noticed, I was being cheered on by Belgians, Germans, French and everyone, everyone wanting Team USA to be beaten. They sensed there was going to be an upset and maybe a different team on the podium and I felt that. At des Nations, if you speak to Kurt and Rob, their stories with Kurt racing a 500cc bike for the first time and I think a factory bike and Robbie hurt himself in Gaildorf the week before and wasn’t even sure he could race.

MXlarge: Mark has done a great job as the team manager in recent years. Always making sure the riders are prepared and doing special things. I know he has a lot planned this year, which will be great for the team and the British fans. Tommy and Max will thrive on that, I think.

Malin: I think they all will thrive on that. We are doing a parade with the 1994 team and also the former British World champions, Dave Thorpe, Graham Noyce, James Dobb and Neil Hudson will be there, so there is a real sense of patriotism and comradery and I think everything to do with that, when you are riding for your country.