Cairoli and Dungey, two great champions, one of the true rivalries of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. It is one of the real stories of the last four or five Motocross of Nations, the Italian against the American.

Who can forget the first time they met?. Antonio Cairoli racing at home in Italy and Ryan Dungey riding the 450 Suzuki for the first time. Cairoli of course won that opening battle as he clinched his second moto win at the MXoN event, adding to his victory in 2006 when he beat another Ryan (Villopoto). Leading home Chad Reed and Dungey, it was a special moment for the proud Italian as the huge crowd applauded their hero.



They would meet again in the second moto but with Cairoli being taken out by a fellow rider in the first corner, Dungey swept to victory, going 3-1 and taking the MX1 class victory.



"I really like racing Ryan," Cairoli would mention at the time." He seems like a clean rider and I hope we have more big races in the future."



A year later and this time the two battled hard in the MXoN, held at the Thunder Valley circuit in America. Now on the home turf of Dungey it was another story. Despite fighting hard with Dungey all weekend the FIM World Champion would not win against the Team USA rider, as Dungey would go 1-1 and lead his country to victory. Dungey also won the Saturday qualification race after a torrid battle.



In 2011 at St Jean d'Angely in France the two never had the chance to battle on the Sunday, although they went head to head on Saturday in the MX1 qualification race, with Dungey getting the win. Both would miss out on moto wins on the Sunday as Chad Reed, Gautier Paulin and Ryan Villopoto would take victories.



Now to 2012 and this time in Lommel, Belgium. This time there was no battle; there was only one man who stood tall in this great battle of AMA and FIM Champions. Six times World Motocross Champion Antonio Cairoli would finish both motos first and walk away with 1-1 results, plus a victory on Saturday giving him three wins for the weekend, similar to Dungey in 2010.



"Antonio is a very good rider," Dungey mentioned after the race. "His skills in sand are very impressive and I am sure we will race against each other in future MXoN events."



Now after four MXoN performances together, the best American Motocross racer and The World's best Motocross racer can look forward to Germany in 2013. Another MXoN with Cairoli going for his fifth moto win and Dungey his fourth. Can't wait for this battle.

Photo: Ryan Dungey and Antonio Cairoli - Ray Archer image

Read the next news: The MXoN effect is still alive (04 Oct 2012)

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