The Yamaha Racing Heritage Racing Club brought the thunder to the 2024 Veterans Motocross des Nations with legendary off-road riders such as Ryan Villopoto, Alessio Chiodi, Andrew Short, and Mike Brown entertaining the tens of thousands of fans at Foxhill in the UK on some iconic YZ two-stroke machinery.
Following the successful Yamaha Racing Experience at Jerez, where the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) took centre stage with icons like Valentino Rossi and Luca Cadalora riding on track alongside the manufacturer’s current crop of WorldSBK and EWC riders, August saw the YRHC switch its focus to off-road.
The Veterans Motocross des Nations (VMXdN) has grown to be one of the biggest events on the UK motocross calendar, with a vast number of off-road devotees making the pilgrimage to the track in Swindon for the 2024 edition once more. After making its debut at the VMXdN in 2023, the YRHC was out in force this year.
The YRHC was set up in 2021 to safeguard and celebrate Yamaha’s rich racing legacy. What better way to do that in the world of off-road racing than letting a number of the manufacturer’s most famous riders race some specially prepared two-stroke YZ250s built by MX designer and pioneer Rob Walters, or as the world knows him, “Doc Wob”.
After starring at last year’s event, lining up at the gate for the YRHC once again was three-time 125cc MX World Champion Alessio “Chicco” Chiodi. The Italian was joined on track by other Yamaha legends such as four-time AMA 450SX Champion, two-time AMA 450 MX Champion, and three-time AMA 250 MX Champion Ryan Villopoto, former SX, MX, and Dakar rider Andrew Short, plus AMA 125 MX Champion, two-time British MX Champion, and four-time X Games Gold medallist Mike Brown.
With such an incredible lineup of superstars participating in a series of races at the event, they would need bikes to match, with Doc Wob preparing several 2003 YZ250s adorned with the legendary “Skittles” livery from that era.
Unfortunately, rain would play a part in the weekend, with Saturday’s racing action cancelled. Luckily, it wasn’t just about the bikes on track as the YRHC also showcased some of the most historic two-stroke off-road bikes from Yamaha’s rich racing history on their dedicated stand for the passionate fans to enjoy. Plus, there were numerous autograph sessions with the riders to allow the attendees to meet their idols.
With the racing rescheduled for Sunday, the Yamaha riders took to the track in some style, and while the racing action was fast and furious, the weekend was more about enjoying the event and spending time with the fans; as Villopoto explains, “I’m here to have fun, meet the people, hang out, and sign autographs. I just really enjoy this!”
Still, when you have a line-up of such incredible racers, the competitiveness is going to take over at some point, as Brown mentioned: “The veteran’s main race here was good! I got the holeshot and led it for a few laps, thanks to the fact the Yamaha 250 I was riding really rips out of the gate!”
For Short, the whole event was special: “The Veterans Motocross des Nations has been wild! I am super appreciative of “Doc Wob” and his team for preparing these awesome YZ250s. It’s a great-looking bike, and this has been a lot of fun.”
In fact, the event was so enjoyable that Chiodi is already looking forward to returning in 2025: “Doc prepared a really good bike! Yamaha and the whole team did an outstanding job, and I think we enjoyed another good result. I am already looking forward to returning next year to race again, and I want to thank the fans for making it such an awesome event!”
After another fantastic VMXdN, where even the infamous British weather could not dampen the spirits of the fans and riders, the YRHC is already planning a calendar of events for 2025 to make it even bigger and better for its members, with an official announcement to follow in the coming months.
