TEN YEARS AGO TODAY! WHEN THE GLEN HELEN USGP WAS A WARM-UP RACE FOR THE 2015 MXDN
THE GLEN HELEN USGP WARM-UP RFOR THE 2015 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Glen Helen’s first turn promotes four abreast racing, while still giving every rider enough room to make moves. For a right-hand first turn, Talladega’s 45-degree banking is the ultimate solution. Why is it called “Talladega? That’s simple. Glen Helen track designer Jody Weisel had set a World Closed Course Speed Record at Talladega Speedway a decade before and was so impressed by the steep NASCAR banking that he wanted to do the same thing on a motocross track. Photo: Dan Alamangos
No one in Europe had ever heard of Shane McElrath before the USGP, but after he won Saturday’s 250 Qualifying race and went 2-2 in the USGP they won’t forget it soon. Photo: Dan Alamangos
American privateer Sean Lipanovich (505) inserts himself into an all-Australian battle as Kirk Gibbs (56) and Dean Ferris (111) race through flying debris. The only Aussie missing is Todd Waters. The boys from Oz were 17th (Waters), 18th (Ferris) and 20th (Gibbs). Lipanovch was 26th.
Ben Townley keeps coming back for more. He used the USGP as a warm-up race for this weekend’s Motocross des Nations (where he will team up with fellow Kiwis Kayne Lamont and Cody Cooper). Townley was 19th overall, with his best moto finish being a 11th. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Dean Wilson was another rider using the USGP as MXDN prep. Dean went 7-4 for fourth behind Febvre, Grant and Webb. Dean will race for the British team at the Motocross des Nation. Why? Because there isn’t a Scottish team, but if there was it would be awesome — although no one would understand a word they were saying. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Although of little interest to the American crowd, Tim Gajser earned enough points to defeat Pauls Jonass for the 2015 FIM 250 World Championship. Gajser’s 6-4 was no where near the front, but was well ahead of Jonass’ 10-6. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Jessy Nelson celebrates his 250 Grand Prix victory with a whip in front of the big propane flame. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Josh Grant (35) and Cooper Webb (175) battles it out. You do remember when Cooper ran a three-digit number don’t you?
Harri Kullas is best remember by American fans as the rider that the Red Bull Arch fell on the last time there was a GP in America. The Finnish rider went 7-7 for 9th overall in the 250 class. Photo: Dan Alamangos
This isn’t what blasting into Glen Helen’s Talladega first turn at 70 mph looks like — but this is what it feels like. Photo: Massimo Zanzani
They should have called the USGP the “Ryan Villopoto Pre-Memorial Grand Prix,” because it was put on the schedule just to give American fans a chance to see him race the MXGP series—instead Ryan, being interview by the great Tom White, was just another spectator. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
We aren’t showing this photo of the Velodrome section of Glen Helen because of the action, but because we want you to see the Josh Grant fan on the left (Josh wore number 35 at the USGP). Photo: Debbi Tamietti
There is nothing as nice on a 105-degree day than rubbing up against a mass of humanity. This is looking at the backside of the Monster Energy Drink Pavilion. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
This is the front side of the Monster Energy Pavilion as the 250 pack heads towards Talladega. That’s Benoit Paturnel (6) arching his foot to grab another gear. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Jody Weisel and Davey Coombs hang out by the rolling whoops and share their thoughts about the AMA Nationals. They aren’t anywhere near agreement. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
USGP promoter Dr. Bud Feldkamp (left) and Giuseppe Luongo (right) trade the traveling trophy back-and-forth. The trophy was donated by Ricky Johnson. It goes back to Europe because Romain Febvre won the 450 class. The two will meet again at the MXDN this Sunday in France. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
The two American heroes of the day, Shane McElrath and Jessy Nelson, held a private race of their own in front of the Grand Prix riders. Makes you wonder what Jeremy Martin, Cooper Webb or Marvin Musquin would have done in the 250 class. Photo: Dan Alamangos
The best celebrities are those who come to an event incognito and blend into the crowd. Few fans recognized Speedway legend Randy Skinner even though he stood only feet away from them in his flagman’s disquise. Photo: Dan Alamangos
The Euro riders bikes needed to be at the MXDN, so that meant getting out of Dodge as soon as possible. Here, Glenn Coldenhoff’s Suzuki gets ready to go into its crate for the Trans-Atlantic flight. Amazingly, the bikes were packed and ready to leave for the airport two hours after the race was over. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
USGP track designer Jody Weisel claims that all he does is point at the track while Karl Scanlon’s crew does all the work. But, here he is fixing track markers while John Perry keeps a lookout for oncoming traffic. You don’t get that kind of suntan in an air-conditioned office. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Far from the maddening crowd, where spectators don’t venture, Gautier Paulin scrubs his heart out. Photo: Mark Chilson
2015 U.S. GRAND PRIX 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
2025 U.S. GRAND PRIX 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.
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