At 40 years old, Tony Cairoli once again proved why he’s one of the sport’s legends at the Motocross of Nations. The Italian great showed strong pace early in the weekend, even battling Eli Tomac on Saturday and holding his own against the world’s top riders.
Unfortunately, Cairoli’s Sunday took a tough turn in the first moto when he was landed on by another rider, breaking his hand. Despite the painful injury, he pushed through, finishing the moto in agony before getting taped up and taking painkillers to line up again for race two.
In the second moto, Cairoli showed grit, fighting through the pain and even going bar-to-bar with Ken Roczen before finishing 13th. His efforts helped Italy secure sixth overall—an improvement from last year, though short of their top-five goal.
Reflecting on the weekend, Cairoli admitted he wasn’t surprised by his speed, noting he could still run top-10 in the U.S. and top-five in MXGP with more training. Racing against talents nearly half his age, he emphasized that he still enjoys riding and mixing it up with the younger generation.
Cairoli hinted at the possibility of racing more events in the U.S. next year, saying he loves the tracks and the atmosphere. While the result wasn’t what he wanted, his determination and passion for motocross remain undeniable.
