TeamGB secured its best Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations result in five years this weekend (3-4 October), as Ben Watson, Taylor Hammal and Ben Mustoe rode to seventh place overall at Ernée in France.
The ACU-backed squad arrived at the event following a productive pre-event training camp in the UK and with the target of improving on its 16th-place finish in 2025.
A total of 32 teams took part in the annual MXoN. DRT Kawasaki rider Hammal represented TeamGB in MXGP, Mustoe lined up on his ASA United GASGAS in MX2 and Watson raced his Dirtstore Triumph Racing machine in the Open class.
Watson, the most experienced member of the team and a former MXGP class winner at the Nations, finished 10th in his qualifying heat before taking 10th in Race 2 and ninth in Race 3.
Hammal was a superb ninth in his MXGP qualifying heat. He then finished 16th in Race 1 before taking 30th in Race 3.
Mustoe, the youngest TeamGB rider at just 17 years-old, finished 16th in his MX2 qualifying heat before taking a fantastic 23rd in Race 1 and 24th in Race 2.
Those results secured seventh overall for TeamGB – the squad’s best Motocross of Nations result since finishing third at Mantova in Italy in 2021.
Team Manager Mark Chamberlain believes the result put TeamGB back in the position it should at least be occupying at the event and gave the squad a platform to build from.
"I think we’re back in a more realistic area of where we should be,” he said. “For me, a top-eight result would have meant maximising our performance and anything above that would probably have needed a little bit of luck.
“We had a few issues ourselves, as every team does at this event, but the boys put in a really good shift. It’s a performance we can be proud of and something we can build from.”
Chamberlain was particularly encouraged by the contribution made across all three classes, with Watson providing experience and front-running pace while Hammal and Mustoe delivered strong performances on their Motocross of Nations debuts.
Chamberlain on Watson:
“Ben produced by far his best performance on a hard-pack track all year. He raised his game well beyond his GP performances and showed again what he does when he races for TeamGB. He raises his level and led the team in that way. He battled really well in both races and it was a superb performance. I was really pleased with what he delivered.”
Chamberlain on Hammal:
“Taylor was making his first appearance at the event and, from the Saturday heat race, he really set the standard and the tone. He came through and battled really well and then did the same again in the first race. He showed real heart and that’s where TeamGB needs to be. He was pretty spent in the second moto, but he’s come back from injury and we couldn’t ask any more from him.”
Chamberlain on Mustoe:
“For Ben to be effectively a top-10 250cc rider, because the classes are mixed, and to have his points count in both races shows what a performance he put in. His results were very good considering the circumstances and the quality of the field. Being so young and inexperienced, that was a big ask to jump straight into this event, so we’re really proud of him and his performance.”
TeamGB was backed by a strong travelling support at Ernée throughout the weekend. Around 120 people attended a TeamGB dinner on Friday evening, while hordes of British fans were present in numbers around the ultra-busy circuit.
“The support was amazing,” Chamberlain added. “There were so many people there supporting TeamGB and everyone we spoke to was proud of the performance.
“That’s what we want. We want people to be proud of what the riders have done and we want the next riders who represent TeamGB to have pride in what we’re building. We’re back closer to where we should be and now we have something to build on.”
In the race for overall honours, the team from Belgium won the Motocross of Nations outright – its first success in 13 years – while Spain was second and The Netherlands third.
Photos: © RayArcherPhoto