Racing: Motocross of Nations entry list

Thirty-six countries have officially entered for this year's Motocross of Nations (MoN), including a full-strength Australian team which will contest the annual teams' event in Franciacorta, Italy on October 3-4.

Chad Reed, Bret Metcalfe and Michael Byrne will represent Australia at the MoN, where their biggest opposition will come from the established motocross powerhouses: the USA, France, Belgium and Italy.

America has won the last four events, but could be exposed this year without the prodigiously gifted pairing of James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto and the ever-consistent Tim Ferry.

However, Ivan Tedesco, who was part of the 2005-2006 winning teams, has returned for America where he will compete alongside debutantes Ryan Dungey and Jake Weimer.

Belgium has good depth in its squad, while Italy's team has the last two MX1 world champions - David Philipaerets and the recently crowned Antonio Cairoli.

Australia also has some exceptional form on the board, with Reed already the AMA motocross champion in the 450cc class, with Byrne in fourth - and a long shot to overtake Tedesco in this weekend's final round.

Meanwhile, Metcalfe is third in the AMA 250cc class after what has been a strong return to racing after injury ruined his supercross season.

Further down the entry list, the likes of Mongolia, Cyprus, Iceland, Thailand and the Ukraine, all of who will have to go through a qualifying process to make the main event.

America has the most Mon wins with 19, ahead of Great Britain (16) and Belgium (14).

Great Britain won 15 of the first 21 events between 1947-1967, but then didn't win its next MoN until 1994.

Click on the following link for the full entry list in the 2009 Motocross of Nations.