I have been around the sport of motocross for eight years and like many others, this was my first Motocross of Nations. The race has been special to me ever since it was announced that the event would come to Budds Creek, MD. I grew up 30 minutes from the track.

Budds Creek was the track that I went to for my first motocross race when I went to watch the AMA Pro Nationals eight years ago. On that day, I think about 18,000 people were in attendance. When I got to the race track on Saturday evening, there was probably about twice as many people there.

When I got to the park I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Jon Beasley, the owner and promoter of Budds Creek, happened to be at the entrance. I had developed a good relationship with him over the years and he was able to get me an all exclusive press pass that allowed me to go anywhere on the facility.

Later that night, I got to watch my brother race in the amateur event. He did really well and finished third. I was very impressed.

On Sunday morning, I got to watch the pros for the first time. It was quickly obvious that team USA was going to be a hard team to beat. Ricky Carmichael (RC) looked fast as always, and Ryan Villopoto did much of the same. Tim Ferry really impressed me as he looked the smoothest and very fast.

In the B Main I felt sorry for Tarah Gieger. She was the first ever woman rider to compete at the Motocross of Nations. Unfortunately, she got into a hay bail cover and it got in the sprocket and chain. I was hoping that she would have been able to compete well.

Before the first moto RC and Stefan Everts performed a ceremonial hot lap. Everts is the greates racer of all time on the FIM circuit and Carmichael is nicknamed the GOAT in America because he is widely considered the Greatest Of All Time in the sport. Everts just announced his retirement and Carmichael was making his last appearance as a professional racer. It was probably the last time that the two will be on the track at the same time ever again. About 75,000 fans cheered them on during the lap. It was definitely an awesome feeling.

When moto one started, Villopoto got the holeshot on a 250cc bike while 20 riders had 450cc bikes. Almost everybody was shocked. It was even more eerie when Carmichael wrecked in the second turn. Carmichael then proved himself as the worthy champion coming back to third. Villopoto, flawlessly, left the field and won easily.

At this point, I realized it was the passing of the torch from the greatest to the future greatest racer in the sport.

When Villopoto pulled the holeshot in moto two against some 450cc and 525cc bikes, 75,000 people realized that they were witnessing history. It was amazing how Villopoto dominated the field in both his motos. Although Carmichael had faster lap times, I think Villopoto proved he was the new best rider in the sport.

When Ferry came back from a wreck to finish fourth it was clear that nobody was going to beat the USA.

When moto three started I was very excited because I knew it was Carmichael's last race. When Carmichael came out of the first turn with the holeshot, I got chills down my spine. It almost appeared to be a script as Carmichael had one of the most dominant races of his career. When Ferry moved into second place, every American at the event cheered.

The best moment for me came after Carmichael won the moto. RC and Ferry were doing a victory lap and when RC got to the turn that I happened to be taking pictures in, He stopped and high-fived me. It was an awesome feeling knowing that the greatest motocrosser of all-time gave me a high-five on his final victory lap. It will definitely be an event that I will remember for a long time.

Looking back on the event, it seems like America will still be a dominant force in motocross even without RC. It seemed like a story book passing of the torch. Villopoto won both his motos and RC won his final race as a pro. I hope Carmichael has as much success in NASCAR as he did in motocross.