Great Britain Hosts 2017 Motocross of Nations on Sunday at Matterley Basin

Gates drop for the 2017 Motocross of Nations on Sunday at Matterley Basin in England where 39 countries send their best riders to compete for the Chamberlain Trophy in the 71st annual "Olympics of Motocross."

Officially known as the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) since 2004, the original "Motocross des Nations" (MXdN) began in 1947 racing 500cc bikes and in 1985 assimilated the Trophee des Nations - which raced 250cc bikes from 1961-84 - and the Coupe des Nations - which raced 125cc bikes from 1980-84 - thus becoming one international event. Prior to this, all three events were held in different locations on separate days.

A few privateer teams for the United States headed efforts for funding to compete before Team USA's official involvement in 1972. According to Motorcyclesonline.com Russ Darnell was part of that early fund-raising campaign along with Ron Nelson and Dan Gurney, however, Darnell said in an email exchange that he did not compete in the 1971 Motocross des Nations.

At any rate, it took 10 years for the Americans to step on top of the podium as Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and Chuck Sun brought Team USA's first Chamberlain Trophy home in 1981. A 13 year win streak followed before Great Britain snapped the domination in 1994.

A couple of wins ensued thereafter until the United States began another run in 2005 featuring the likes of Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart and Ryan Dungey. Germany then stopped a seven-year Team USA win streak in 2012 and the Americans haven't won since. France enters Saturday riding a three-year win streak, the longest of any nation other than the United States, since Great Britain enjoyed five straight from 1963-67.

MXoN uses a conventional Motocross track but a different scoring and racing format. Competing nations send a three-rider team who race in the MXGP or MX1 class (450), MX2 class (250) and Open class (250 or 450). Each class races twice, against the other classes for a total of three races with qualifying on Saturday. The worst score of the three gets dropped and the lowest combined total score wins the Trophy. First-place winners receive one point instead of 25 points like in traditional Motocross scoring.

Last year in Italy, American Jason Anderson casually crossed the checkers after winning the Open/MX2 race, but a lapped rider landed on top of him as he celebrated the win. Team USA was in line for the Chamberlain Trophy, but the horrific crash kept Anderson from competing in his second race forcing the team to use his DNS as the dropped Moto. Team USA finished third overall.

2017 Motocross of Nations Team USA

This year the United States under long time team manager Roger DeCoster sends a crew of first time participants in team captain Zach Osborne (MX2), Cole Seely (MX1) and Thomas Covington (Open).

Osborne is the reigning 250 class Champion for the 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship series as well as the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX East class Champion. Seely finished fifth in the 450 class of Motocross this year and Covington is a veteran in the Motocross World Championship series (MXGP) in the MX2 class where he finished fourth in points this year and won the final round. He brings experience to the track which hosts a yearly MXGP event and last hosted the MXoN in 2006 when Team USA won.

Team USA from left to right: Cole Seely, Zach Osborne and Manager Roger Decoster

In terms of American Supercross and Motocross results, it's not considered the strongest possible US team as most pundits and fans wanted Eli Tomac for the MX1 class and another stateside rider for the Open class. Tomac who narrowly lost the 2017 Supercross title and clinched the 450 class Motocross title last month opted out this year as he did in 2016 because of the heavy racing schedule. He came under fire from fans though most riders didn't blame him. Tomac represented Team USA at MXoN in 2013 and 2014, both podium years.

Anderson did not return because he had a plate removed from his foot a few months ago. Webb, who raced the last two years and took the 2016 loss especially hard, had a difficult rookie campaign in the 450 class and is also dealing with injuries. Blake Baggett rode a career best 450 class Outdoor campaign this year and is a past MXoN participant but had surgery on his thumb immediately following the Motocross season. Points wise, Seely was the third-best 450 class American rider in this year's Nationals.

Thomas Covington won the final round of the MX2 class in the 2017 MXGP series

Team USA definitely arrives under the radar but Osborne is an obvious pick for the MX2 class. Covington has several wins this year and brings the experience of racing overseas and against many of the attending riders, while Seely is a 450 podium threat every week and brings Supercross Main Event wins, as well.

However, expect stiff competition especially from the three-time reigning Champions. France brings Romain Febvre (Open), who returns for a third straight year. Febvre, the 2015 MXGP Champion dominated the event two years ago and teammate Gautier Paulin (MX1) finished third in the MXGP series this year and played a part in the last three years of France's MXoN domination.

Cole Seely (left) and Zach Osborne (right) display their 2017 MXoN dirt bikes

The Netherlands have Jeffrey Herlings (Open) the three-time MXGP MX2 Champion who finished second in the MXGP class this year, his rookie season, and swept the final round of the 2017 AMA Nationals in his first appearance. And of course, Italy brings 9-time MXGP (MX2 and MXGP titles) Champion Antonio Cairoli (MX1) who just wrapped his seventh MXGP class title earlier this month. Other notables include Kevin Strijbos (MX1) of Belgium, Arnaud Tonus (MX1) and Jeremy Seewer (Open) of Switzerland and the Great Britain team of Max Anstie (MX1), Tommy Searle (MX2) and Dean Wilson (Open), who finished fourth in Pro Motocross this year.

The 2017 Motocross of Nations officially begins on Saturday with practice in the morning and the MX1 qualifying heat at 1:30 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. PST); MX2 qualifying at 2:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m PST); and Open at 3:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. PST). Sunday brings racing as gates for the MX1/MX2 classes drop first at 1:10 p.m. local time (5:10 a.m. PST), followed by MX2/Open at 2:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m. PST) and concluding with MX1/Open at 4:08 p.m. (8:08 PST). Watch live on MXGP-TV.com. You'll need to sign up for an account. CBS Sports Network airs all three races on tape-delay beginning at 11 a.m. (PST) Sunday.

Team USA at Motocross of Nations Through the Years

The following chart shows Team USA riders for every year since 1972 in the Motocross of Nations and how they finished.