Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac and Justin Cooper have both secured second overall in their respective classes – MXGP and MX2 – at the 2025 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, with their results helping Team USA to finish second overall. Maxime Renaux, racing for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, represented Team France and claimed fourth overall in the Open class – a result which placed the French team third overall.
Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, hosted the annual FIM Motocross of Nations for the first time ever. A huge crowd from all corners of the globe headed to the fast, rutted, and hardpack circuit to witness the 78th edition of the event, with plenty of Yamaha-mounted racers from various countries enjoying a successful weekend of racing.
Competing on home soil, Tomac led Team USA into action in front of his native fans. In the opening race of the day, which saw MXGP and MX2 class riders compete together, the American started fifth and moved into fourth when Romain Febvre fell a few laps in. Tomac held strong for fourth at the finish, with Cooper crossing the line in 10th.
Cooper was soon back on the start gate for Race Two, where he lined up with the Open class riders. After starting just outside the top 10, he quickly moved up to ninth before losing several positions and falling back to 11th. Then, on the final lap, he made the pass for 10th and the 28-year-old ended a strong weekend with second overall in the MX2 class.
The decisive third race of the day pitted the MXGP class against the Open class. Tomac started fifth and by mid-race was up to second. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to reel the race leader in and crossed the finish line as a close runner-up. In placing second in the race, Tomac claimed second overall in the MXGP class.
Renaux delivered a strong and consistent set of results in the Open class. In his first race he started in seventh, and by the time he crossed the finish line he’d moved up to fifth. The Frenchman’s performance in the final race of the day saw him once again move forward and he placed ninth for fourth overall.
Calvin Vlaanderen competed for Team Netherlands, however, losing a rider through injury ahead of the main races hurt their ranking in the final standings. Vlaanderen’s weekend in the USA was highlighted by his ninth in Race One and 12th overall in the Open class.
Karlis and Janis Reisulis competed for Team Latvia alongside their teammate Pauls Jonass, they finished ninth overall in the Nations Classification. For this weekend, K. Reisulis stepped up to the MXGP class and finished 13th overall, with J. Reisulis placing 10th in MX2.
JK Racing Yamaha’s Isak Gifting ended the season with a strong result at the Nations. Racing for Team Sweden, Gifting placed sixth overall in the MXGP class to help his country to seventh in the final Nations Classification.
In 2026, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations returns to Europe and a popular venue for the event – Ernee in the north-west of France. The hillside circuit will host the 79th running of the traditional season-ending race on October 3-4.
Eli Tomac
2nd, MXGP class
2nd, Team USA
“Overall, it was good. Team Australia is really strong right now and that made it tough for everyone at this race. When they’re winning or finishing second in the races it makes them really hard to beat as a team. I’m really proud of Justin and RJ for stepping up this weekend and second is what we had today.”
Justin Cooper
2nd, MX2 class
2nd, Team USA
“We put our best foot forward this weekend and Australia had a strong team. I love coming to this race and the energy from the crowd is special. The fans were so loud all the way around the track and it really helped us all keep charging forwards. I gave it my all and had a few small crashes, but I was trying my best every time I was on track and I gave it everything I had for Team USA.”
Maxime Renaux
4th, Open class
3rd, Team France
“It’s definitely a good feeling to be on the podium again. Both of my teammates did a great job this weekend, especially Mathis Valin who raced the Nations for the first time. It was a tough track and I tried my best like always, and it’s nice to end the season with a podium result.”
Click here for all the results from the 2025 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.
Photocredits – Fullspectrum Media
