For many of the younger motocross fans, they will know the name Paul Malin from his excellent commentary for the MXGP World motocross championships. For me, the best in the business and by far, but for us old guys, we also remember his brilliant style and consistent results in his racing days.

From his stunning 1991 French 500cc Grand Prix win, the celebration as a 18 year old, and his future seemed secure. Add the 1995 British 125cc GP victory at the legendary Foxhill circuit and with thousands of British fans supporting him, he wrote another chapter in his steady career, however, the cream on the top, was that performance at the 1994 MXdN in Switzerland, when he led Team Great Britain to a win that shocked the World and stopped the 13 year undefeated run by Team USA.

Winning the 125cc class against AMA champion Jeff Emig and putting Team GB back on the map, nearly 30 years after they won it the last time in 1967. Amazingly, as we enter the 2024 event, it is around 30 years since that victory in 1994. A surprise on the cards if we get some rain at Matterley?

In a career that maybe didn’t get to the highs many expected, Malin can still stand tall and be celebrated as one of the most talented riders to come out of the UK. He might not have a World title (he finished second to Seb Tortelli in the 1996 World 125cc championship), but that MXdN victory and many of his MXdN performances made us sit up and enjoy his technical skills and his exuberant character.

We caught up with the voice of MXGP at the MXGP of China and asked him about his Motocross of Nations performances and with no surprises, there are some highlight moments. This is a two part interview, because as we all know, Maler loves a chat. Another interesting thing about this interview, we did the interview a couple of days after the September 11 date of the 1994 win by Team Great Britain.

MXlarge: Obviously, you are very well known in MXoN folk law, for that performance in 1994, but take me back to your first ever experience racing for your country, because it began at a very young age, right?

Malin: I first rode in the Coupe de L'avenir, which was an event run by Joel Robert. He started it as a under 21 Motocross des Nations, for the junior riders. When I did it, it was under 19. I think, the event still runs now, it isn’t at the same track it used to run, because it always ran at the same circuit in Belgium. I went in 1989 and rode the 500cc machine, I was 17 years old. I had only ridden the bike for six weeks or so, Jamie (Dobb) went on the 125cc machine and Mark Eastwood on the 250cc bike. I had never been before, but Jamie had been the year before. Jamie had told me, if you go 1-1 and win the event outright, you don’t get invited back, but you can go 1-2 and win it, and you are still invited back. I went 1-1, I think Jamie went 2-2 and Mark probably had a 3 and something else, but Team Great Britain won the event overall.

MXLarge: Were you already a pro at that stage?

Malin: No, I was in school. I was on Kawasaki’s books, and I was being paid, but I was still at school, so I wasn’t a full-time pro. I was doing my final year in high school. 1990 was my first year in the 500cc class.

MXlarge: Had you been as a fan before your first Nations as a racer?

Malin: Gaildorf, 1989. Actually, Kawasaki Europe, so Alex Wright, they provided logistical support for Jeff Ward, who was there for Team USA, and they were defending champions. They used our motorhomes and things like that. So, I remember Alex saying to me in his cockney accent, “come along son, jump in the truck and watch from behind the scenes.” I was like, sweet, so me and my mechanic drove down there, stayed in a hotel and gave the truck to the Americans. So, we were around the American camp and also Team GB and it was a great experience for a young teenager. But even then, I didn’t realize what it was, because I didn’t come from a motocross family. And I think at this point, I hadn’t done the Coupe de L'avenir at this point.

MXLarge: I didn’t realize at that 1990 Motocross des Nations in Sweden that you were a 500cc rookie and in your first full season as a pro. Talk about being called up for that race?

Malin: In 1990 I was riding a production 500cc machine, modified suspension, not even close to factory. I had some decent races in that year, led a Grand Prix race at Namur, my first visit and I led for the first 30 minutes from memory, before my team-mate, Dave Thorpe passed me, and we went 1-2. You know Namur, full of Brits down by the café, so that was electric. I am not sure how I got the call-up to go to the Motocross des Nations at Vimmerby, because I was probably third or fourth best Brit, who was doing GPs at the time. Certainly, you had David (Thorpe) and Kurt (Nicoll). I don’t know how true it is, but one got asked to go and didn’t want to go, its 30 years ago, but it was a bit political, but I might be a million miles off the mark, but that was my memory. Whatever happened, I was very surprised to get a call-up. I had only finished 11th in the World championship, I had led that race in Namur, but I don’t think I had podiumed a GP. So, by far, I wasn’t the strongest 500cc rider from the UK. I wasn’t going to turn it down. It cracks me up when riders say, “well, I wasn’t first choice, I am not going.”

MXLarge: And you led a moto I remember?

Malin: I mean, we arrive at Vimmerby, have the riders parade through the streets, it was a mint track through the forest, deep sand. My first race was the 125/500 and I didn’t know what to expect. I think the Nations back then was all the best and it isn’t like now that not all the best race. The first race, I didn’t make a great start, around sixth, but then had a gear-box problem and I can’t remember where I finished (he finished 10th in the moto and 7th 500cc rider). Second race, which was the final race of the day, 250/500 and I was leading, and it felt so easy, but I don’t know if it was a lack of concentration, but I tucked the front and went down. At the time, I had a good seven or eight second lead and I remember Puzar came by, he was second on a 250, then Dirk Geukens and Jeff Stanton, maybe another, I can’t remember. I just remember thinking to myself, shit man, I have just thrown away a moto win at the Nations. That is the moto that is famous for Team USA needing a point and Stanton parking Geukens at the back of the track and Team USA edging out the win.

MXlarge: What came after that at the Nations for you, before that legendary 1994 event?

Malin: I did Valkenswaard in 1991 and again led a moto and me and Stanton were going at it, and I had him for a second or more and it was wet, but I remember jumping into a similar corner as in Vimmerby and a back-marker had blown out a berm and I folded the front again and went down and Stanton won the moto (Malin finished fourth). I didn’t do 1992 or 1993 and I hadn’t had a great year in 1994 but was selected. Steve Dixon pushed for me to be on the 125cc machine, but I hadn’t raced a 125 in two years.

Part Two of the Paul Malin interview coming soon……