All-star Dunlop lineup heads to Motocross of Nations

Dunlop looks ahead to Motocross of Nations after most successful MX season

Dunlop heads to this weekend’s Motocross of Nations with the goal of building on its most successful FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) season to date and continued dominance on the North American stage.

Following the season-closing MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin in late September, many MXGP stars will be in action in this weekend’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations at Ernée, France, where top Dunlop riders from both MXGP and the North American Supercross and Pro Motocross series will go head to head representing their countries.

MXGP runner-up Romain Febvre heads the MXGP contingent representing France, partnering on Dunlop with 2022 MX2 champion Tom Vialle. They’ll compete against other Dunlop MXGP and MX2 riders such as Lucas Coenen (Belgium), Kay de Wolf (Netherlands), Pauls Jonass (Latvia) and Kevin Horgmo (Norway).

Dunlop tires were the choice of brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence, this year’s 450MX and 250MX champions in the United States. With these trophies and Chase Sexton’s Supercross crown earlier in the year, Dunlop continued its run of winning all AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross titles since 2010.

The Lawrence brothers will represent Australia at the MXoN alongside teammate Dean Ferris, while Team USA has chosen Aaron Plessinger, R.J. Hampshire and Christian Craig to defend the MXoN title it won with Dunlop last year. Supercross fan favourite Ken Roczen will represent Germany, meanwhile.

Josh Gilbert and Conrad Mewse will race for Great Britain with Dunlop tires, along with Alvin Ostlund and Isak Gifting for Sweden. Another all-Dunlop team is Canada, with its trio of Dylan Wright, Ryder McNabb and Jess Pettis.

In total, 24 riders from 14 nations have selected Dunlop Geomax tires for this year’s MXoN, putting Dunlop in a prime position to defend its title after being the tire of choice for last year’s winners Team USA.

A record season

In MXGP, Febvre took six Grand Prix victories with an incredible mid-season run that saw the Kawasaki Racing Team rider on a dominant summer streak. His total of nine heat wins throughout the season secured enough points for a highly respectable second place in the final championship standings.

Dunlop’s 2023 winning record was boosted by MX2 riders Lucas Coenen and Kay de Wolf taking a win apiece for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing. 

In the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship, Kawasaki rider Courtney Duncan claimed her fourth title in five years after achieving four of the six round wins. Between Duncan and Lotte van Drunen, no fewer than 10 of the 12 heats were won by Dunlop riders.

These successes took Dunlop’s win total to 13 overall Grands Prix and 28 individual ‘heat’ wins across the season, making 2023 Dunlop’s most successful motocross season yet.

Gripping success

Dunlop’s run of success has been helped by the 2023 introduction of the new Geomax MX34. The new tire was designed for a wide range of soft, mud and intermediate surfaces, making it perfect for the variable weather conditions seen across the season. 

Febvre was involved in the development of the versatile new tire: “When I’m riding I’m looking to have the best performance, so together with Dunlop we worked on the design of the new MX34, looking to have the most grip possible, combined with the durability needed,” he explains.  

Eddy Seel, Dunlop’s MXGP event leader, reflects on a record-breaking season: “Our success came from a combination of reasons. The Geomax MX34 was a step forward. Riders could see Dunlop’s technology investment. When a product is better, the rider feels more confident and rides faster. Also, great cooperation and collaboration with teams, many who have worked with Dunlop for years, has helped us develop together. We look forward to an even stronger 2024, but first we have the Motocross of Nations!”