By John Basher

Let’s keep things simple, folks. Glen Helen hosted the last round of the Grand Prix series. It was over 100 degrees, and the track was brutal. Blistering temperatures don’t bode well for the European racers, while the incredibly rough tracks aren’t suited to the American bike setup. However, the American racers–or those who earn their living racing in the U.S.–know Glen Helen like the back of their hands. They had the inside line at the SoCal circuit, and the weather played to their favor. After Saturday’s qualifying races, it appeared that the Americans were going to trounce the best that Europe had to offer. Josh Grant and Shane McElrath were best in their respective fields. Sunday was a foregone conclusion–a coming out party for the Stars and Stripes on home soil.

Only it didn’t happen. Sure, it was a monumental day for Troy Lee Design KTM’s Jessy Nelson, who won convincingly in the 250 class. However, the 2015 MXGP 450 Champion, Romain Febvre, weathered the American storm and rained on the parade by winning the 450 overall. It was his eighth overall of the season.

What else happened at Glen Helen this weekend?

TOP AMERICAN

How did the U.S. racers fare against Europe’s best? Quite well, actually.

1. Jessy Nelson…Nothing makes a bigger statement than winning both motos. Jessy Nelson was a revelation on Sunday.

2. Josh Grant…He won Saturday’s 450 qualifying race and had that old spark. Grant seemed prepared to lay it all on the line this weekend. Maybe it was his love for Glen Helen. Maybe he was trying to impress potential suitors after having a ho-hum season. Maybe he wanted to win for America. Whatever the case, the Josh Grant of 2015 had been replaced by the Josh Grant of 2008 this weekend. It was awesome to see. Odds are he would have taken the overall if he hadn’t rolled his ankle in the first moto.

3. Cooper Webb…Heed notice, my fellow Americans. Ye who believed that Cooper Webb couldn’t handle the responsibilities of his selection to Team USA are sorely mistaken. Quite the contrary. Webb rode with the punch and vigor that earned him the 250 West crown. He does not follow Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy of speaking softly and carrying a big stick. Instead he showed the Europeans what his exhaust pipe looked like and threatened all comers. Webb was awesome in his first 450 outdoor race on American soil (remember that last fall he raced a Japanese 450 National and won).

4. Shane McElrath…It was a bit shocking that McElrath did so well this weekend. After all, he hadn’t exactly set the world on fire during the 250 Nationals. S, the fact that he won the Saturday qualifying race and followed it up by finishing second overall on Sunday shows that the North Carolina kid has skills. Surely Troy Lee will be celebrated well into the wee hours of the morning in the hills of Glen Helen after his two riders went 1-2 on a world stage. And let’s not forget Chris Alledredge who was second in the first 250 moto (as part of an American sweep of the top 3 positions). Sadly Alldredge was taken out in a first lap crash in the second moto and struggled to a 13th place finish for a 2-13 day.

5. Dean Wilson…He’s not technically an American, but with dual citizenship (Scotland and Canada) and roots in the U.S., Deano is part of the club. Wilson was searching for a good result after obliterating his knee in Supercross. He found it at Glen Helen. Dean finished fourth overall, and while it took a bit of luck, he made it happen.

THE BATTLE FOR SECOND-BEST

The only major question left unanswered going into Glen Helen centered around who would finish second overall in the 450 title standings–Gautier Paulin (21) or Evgeny Bobryshev? It was a bit anti-climactic. Both riders had off-weekends (something I had predicted in last week’s Mid-Week Report). Bobryshev won the battle on Sunday, finishing one position ahead of his teammate, but Paulin won the war.

250 WORLD CHAMPION

The battle that didn’t emerge…here’s no point in rehashing an old story, but it’s important to understand how the 250 title shaped up. It was Jeffrey Herlings’ to lose, and he did that quite well by auguring into the ground harder than an anvil dropped out of a 747. Slowly the field caught up to Jeffrey’s massive points lead. It turned out to be a Tim Gajser versus Pauls Jonass affair.

Glen Helen should have been a barn-burner between the Slovenian (Gajser) and Latvian (Jonass), but the air was deflated last weekend when Jonass was spit off his KTM in the second moto and could only manage 13th. The Gariboldi Honda rider basically had to keep his nose clean at Glen Helen. Gajser rode smart, logging 6-4 moto scores for fourth overall, en route to his first 250 World title. Congratulations to Tim Gajser, Gariboldi Honda, and the country of Slovenia. The championship was well deserved.

FAN TURNOUT

Spectator attendance was probably twice the amount as the last year Glen Helen held the USGP, but the numbers on Sunday were a far cry from what an AMA National will draw. Given all the story lines entering the weekend, it seemed possible that the USGP would be a huge hit among American fans. Sunday proved that European motocross is catching on…or that Americans want to see how well their very own can do against those from across the pond. Either way, there were more eyes around the infield than were in 2011. That’s a good sign.    

TAKE A LAP AROUND GLEN HELEN

THE WINNERS

450 Class: Romain Febvre (1-2)

Should the series end any other way? The 2015 MXGP 450 World Champion has beat the best from the Grand Prix series, and now he can lay claim to being the best motocross racer in the world. Before you get all worked up about how Ryan Dungey is better, chew on this. Dungey had every opportunity to race the Glen Helen USGP. In fact he was supposed to, according to KTM team orders. However, he was pardoned. I’m not so sure that Febvre is faster than Dungey, but he was fastest on Sunday because he was there. Fungey, Barcia and Roczen might have changed the outcome significantly, but you can’t do that from the couch.

250 Class: Jessy Nelson (1-1)

Jessy Nelson (79) was tops in the 250 class at Glen Helen.

Winning the 250 USGP is easily the biggest accomplishment of Nelson’s relatively young professional career. He dropped everyone in both motos and won with convincing 1-1 moto scores. Surely you can hear the whispers circulating the industry regarding Nelson’s future interest in MXGP. Forget it. Jessy Nelson followed KTM’s edict and raced Glen Helen. He won, but isn’t that every racer’s expectation? Way to go, Jessy! You’ve joined a distinct group of Americans who have won a 250 Grand Prix. Now get ready for Supercross.

CRASH OF THE WEEKEND: PATUREL CATAPULT

MASSIMO ZANZANI’S USGP PHOTO GALLERY

GLEN HELEN USGP HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

U.S. GRAND PRIX FINAL RESULTS: 450 CLASS

1. Romain Febvre (Yam)…1-2
2. Josh Grant (Kaw)…3-1
3. Cooper Webb (Yam)…2-3
4. Dean Wilson (KTM)…7-4
5. Glenn Coldenhoff (Suz)…6-6
6. Evgeny Bobryshev (Hon)…9-5
7. Gautier Paulin (Hon)…8-8
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yam)…12-7
9. Tommy Searle (KTM)…13-9
10. Jason Anderson (Hus)…4-27
Other notables: 11. Davi Millsaps; 12. Jose Butron; 13. Tony Cairoli; 14. Tyla Rattray; 16. Marvin Musquin; 19. Ben Townley; 26. Sean Lipanovich; 32. Max Nagl; 33. Cody Cooper; 34. Shaun Simpson

U.S. GRAND PRIX FINAL RESULTS: 250 CLASS

1. Jessy Nelson (KTM)…1-1
2. Shane McElrath (KTM)…3-2
3. Valentin Guillod (Yam)…5-3
4. Tim Gajser (Hon)…6-4
5. Max Anstie (Kaw)…4-8
6. Chris Alldredge (Kaw)…2-13
7. Jeremy Seewer (Suz)…8-5
8. Harri Kullas (Hus)…7-7
9. Pauls Jonass (KTM)…10-6
10. Benoit Paturel (Yam)…13-9
Other notables: 11. Petar Petrov; 13. Thomas Covington; 14. Brian Bogers; 15. Julien Lieber; 20. Brent Van doninck; 24. Brian Hsu

2015 FIM 450 FINAL POINTS STANDINGS

(After 18 of 18 rounds)
1. Romain Febvre…735
2. Gautier Paulin…592
3. Evgeny Bobryshev…567
4. Shaun Simpson…481
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek…449
6. Max Nagl…442
7. Tony Cairoli…432
8. Glenn Coldenhoff…423
9. Todd Waters…354
10. Clement Desalle…331

2015 FIM 250 FINAL POINTS STANDINGS

(After 18 of 18 rounds)
1. Tim Gajser…589
2. Pauls Jonass…564
3. Max Anstie…537
4. Valentin Guillod…511
5. Jeremy Seewer…496
6. Julien Lieber…430
7. Jeffrey Herlings…423
8. Jordi Tixier…393
9. Benoit Paturel…376
10. Petar Petrov…324

That’s it, folks. Thanks for following along with the 2015 Motocross Grand Prix Series. It was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most interesting years in MXGP, ever. From the advent of Ryan Villopoto on scene to the onslaught of injuries to breakout performances from Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser to silly Giuseppe Luongo antics, MXGP had it all. I can’t wait to see what happens in 2016. For now, squeeze in a few last weekends of riding before the snow flies. Thanks to the generous crew at Moto-Master (www.moto-masterusa.com) for sponsoring the MXGP Race Report!

Photos by Massimo Zanzani, HRC Honda and Rockstar Suzuki