Instant Classic

The 70th running of the famed motocross of nations will go down as one of the best in the event's history.

- Michael Antonovich

A SYMPHONY of chainsaws is confirmation that you’ve arrived. Hacked to make as much noise as possible and carried by dozens of crazed (and likely inebriated) fans, the two-stroke screech stays in your ears long after you’ve left the continent—consider the irreparable damage a souvenir of your visit to the Motocross of Nations. Held early each autumn at a different location, the event brings the fastest riders and most-passionate fans of the sport together for a single weekend of racing. One will hear dozens of languages and encounter other enthusiasts from all parts of the world during a walk around the track, and despite the many cultural differences, everyone in attendance has a shared desire: to see riders from their homeland hoist the Peter Chamberlain Trophy.

Few places in motocross hold the same lineage as Maggiora Park. Located outside of a small Italian town, the natural amphi theater was the site of Team USA’s domination in 1986 and for some time was widely considered one of the best tracks in the world. Disputes between owners of the property around the turn of the century left the track in complete disrepair until a recent revival made it one of the country’s top action-sports facilities with bicycle trails, an electric-motorcycle course, and a full service restaurant. But the amenities are just pleasant additions to the motocross track, which has managed to retain much of its original routing on the near vertical hills that the northern part of the country is known for. Unlike the special sands of Lommel or Latvia, every rider in the field had turned laps on terrain like the hard packed Italian soil at some point in their lives, and this made Maggiora the perfect “neutral” ground for the 70th running of the MXoN.