The defending champion French team is set to defend its crown at the Motocross des Nations 2024, on October 5 and 6 in Matterley Basin, England. The French squad remains unchanged from that which triumphed in Ernée in 2023, with Tom Vialle (MX2), Romain Febvre (MXGP), and Maxime Renaux (Open). This trio, who led Les Bleus to the summit last year, will once again wear the numbers #1, #2 and #3.
Motocross des Nations 2024: you don't change a winning team!
Despite the challenges posed by injuries this season, coach Gautier Paulin has managed to put together a solid FFM-approved line-up for France at the Motocross des Nations in England.
Tom Vialle will be there. The two-time MX2 world champion and SX US 250 champion is making his third appearance with the French team. Renowned for his dazzling starts, he'll be riding a KTM 250 SX-F, a machine he knows like the back of his hand. Although he has never won at Matterley Basin, Vialle has always managed podium finishes in his three previous appearances, making him a key asset in the MX2 class.
Romain Febvre, a pillar of the team with four unbeaten appearances at the Motocross des Nations (2015, 2016, 2017, 2023), remains a major asset to the MXGP category. With his wealth of experience, the official Kawasaki rider has recorded six top-3 finishes from eight rounds contested, including four victories. Returning to Matterley Basin will no doubt remind him of his domination in 2017, alongside Gautier Paulin and Christophe Charlier.
Last but not least, Maxime Renaux's state of form is undoubtedly the enigma of this edition, in a season truncated by injuries... The MX2 World Champion in 2021 has recently resumed training, with the aim of being at 100% for the competition. His performances at previous editions, where he shone in the Open category, show that he knows how to sublimate when he needs to... So have confidence!
Les Bleus, favourites to succeed themselves?
With seven victories at the Motocross des Nations, France is aiming for an eighth star to consolidate its position among the discipline's leading nations. Since the event's inception in 1947, the USA have dominated with 23 victories, but Les Bleus are keen to add another line to their list of honours after their successes in 2001, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023.
However, the competition promises to be tough, too, with formidable nations such as Germany, Australia, Belgium and Holland. Germany will field Ken Roczen (MXGP), Max Nagl (Open) and Simon Laengenfelder (MX2). Australia will be counting on the Lawrence brothers, Jett (MXGP) and Hunter (Open), as well as Kyle Webster (MX2). Belgium and Holland, always competitive, will respectively present Lucas Coenen, Liam Everts, Sacha Coenen for the Belgians, and Jeffrey Herlings, Kay de Wolf, and Glenn Coldenhoff for the Dutch.
Although France is one of the leading nations, the state of form and spirit of the drivers is not at its best compared to last year. What if this “revisited” status of outsider suits them perfectly to continue writing the history of the Motocross of Nations? Answer in early October...
