Has Australian motocross ever been in such a strong position as now? It is a question that is easy to answer, because with the current AMA supercross champion in Jett Lawrence, and both Lawrence brothers already with major AMA titles to their names, not to mention last weekends Monster Energy Motocross of Nations victory, and the five-year deal for an Australian Grand Prix in Darwin, starting in 2025, all things look bright for the Aussies and yes, they are in a golden era for the sport down under.

Not to mention the fact there is a long list of Kyle Webster type riders waiting for their shot at the Chamberlain trophy and as long as the two Lawrence brothers contest this event, the green and gold of Australia will be on the MXoN podium. Which step is unknown, but they will control at least one of the three steps at the Nations for many years to come.

Throw in Japanese 450 champion Jay Wilson, former factory GP rider, Jed Beaton, two former Aussie champions in Aaron Tanti, Luke Clout or even veteran and former GP winner and multiple Australian champion, Dean Ferris again and the Aussies have a shot at victory at the MXoN, as long as the Lawrence brothers are around, its happy sailing for the Australian team.

I have to admit, as an Aussie, coming from Sydney and moving to Europe in 1993, I still follow my Aussie teams via my computer, be it in Rugby League, cricket, tennis, golf, Speedway, and even motocross. I also follow any other Aussies representing the country, but I found myself less excited about Team Australian win last weekend than I expected.

Having covered the 1980 MXdN events for Australian magazines and watched with high emotion as Jeff Leisk, Chad Reed, Dean Ferris and Andrew McFarlane won GPs in Europe, I expected to get emotional and excited by the win, but I just wasn't.

Maybe its because I have been a Jeffrey Herlings and GP fans for so long and my alliance is now with Europe and The Netherlands, but I was more disappointed for “The Bullet” than I was excited for the Aussie victory. One of the greatest the sport has seen, 2024 hasn’t been one of his best and while Herlings finished third in the MXGP championship and ended the season fit enough to actually enjoy the winter and prepare for 2025, the 2024 version of the man who was once the fastest man on the planet, was down on speed.

I am confident he has another championship or two in him, and I hope he comes out swinging in 2025 and shows some of that old Jeffrey Herlings explosive speed, but as they always say, father time waits for nobody and Jeffrey himself knows that time is running out on one of the most magical careers the sport has seen. When that time comes, we will all remember his blinding comebacks from the back of the pack, and his determination to come back from one set-back after another. His motivation to race the sport he loves is breathtaking and I sure am happy he lines up again in 2025 and I am sure his battles with Tim Gajser, Romain Febvre and maybe even Lucas Coenen, will be epic.

I don’t know the Lawrence brothers of Webster and I know many of the GP riders and I have been a solid fan of MXGP for 30 years now. Being that the Lawrence brothers are AMA, I guess that dampened my view on their win. I was happy for people like Stephen Gall, Craig Dack, Jeff Leisk, Gary Benn and Mark Luksich, who have for so long been the backbone of the Australian efforts. Raising money for the team and in the case of Gall, Dack and Leisk, also shed blood for their country in the heat of MXoN battle.

There is a long list of riders who have ridden for the Aussies, from the first team of Gall, Vaughn Styles, David Armstrong and Trevor Williams, with Len Williamson the team manager. Names like Glen Bell, Kim Ashkenazi, Lee Hogan, Andrew McFarlane, Micheal Byrne, Chad Reed, Brett Metcalf, Matt Moss, Dean Ferris, Todd Waters, and so many others have put their best foot forward, sometimes with a podium, and sometimes outside the top ten.

Changing the subject slightly, many people are throwing it out there, that this was one of the best Nations ever, I want to tone it down a little. I think the MX2/MXGP moto and the MXGP/Open motos were two of the most exciting racing I have ever seen. The battles throughout the field in both races, the storylines were just mind blowing. Be it Herlings vs Tomac vs Roczen, or the MX2 boys, Lucas Coenen, Kay De Wolf, or even Kyle Webster putting in amazing performances at times, or that battle between Jett Lawrence and Tim Gajser, well, WOW, WOW, WOW. So many big names and new names showing up and letting us know the sport is in great hands.

Still though, give me the perfect weather and racing of 1986, 1988, 2006, 2007 and 2016 ahead of this years Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, or maybe even that sensational 1998 Foxhill Nations, which was horrible to be at, but sure lives on, long after it was run. I just don’t like rain and motocross, for me, it’s a big downer, but fortunately, Friday and Saturday were beautiful days in England and Sunday, well, at least the racing was good.

I tipped Australia to win it, and I also tipped Kyle Webster to be a top MX2 guy. In the opening moto, his second place overall in the MX2 class pretty much handed Team Australia the overall victory, and while his 11th on the track wasn’t sensational, it was so important for the Aussies.

And while it wasn’t as big a deal for me as I expected, I am super happy for the Aussies and the sport down under, because as long as we can return for an MXGP round, or watch the Lawrence brothers demolish the World, I am up for it and I sure hope one day they both return to Europe and try and clinch a World MXGP championship. Now wouldn’t that be something.