"I had a good rhythm going but got a bit tired and tight towards the end," recalled former AMA Lites Supercross and Motocross champion Tedesco (6-9). "I have not had much bike time and missed the whole outdoor season so I did the best I could. I ended up falling and that cost me a couple of spots but it was good enough to win the trophy. It was a good weekend and I did what I had to do. This is the biggest race of the year and it is a great honour to come. I want to thank Ricky for giving me this opportunity. It sucks that he got hurt but the team believed in me and that we could come over here and win so I am glad to be a part of it."
Completing the 2006 'Nations podium were New Zealand, whose line-up of Townley, Coppins and Cody Cooper had punched well above their country's four million population to edge out Italy for the final rostrum position.
"Ben was just awesome today and he led us a team," conceded Coppins after his 6-8 race finishes. "It was a great result today. Great for New Zealand and great for our federation and the young guys back at home. I struggled in the first half of the first moto and then settled down and started to ride much better with some better lines. There were many good riders here today, we all wanted to do well and we all wanted to do well for our countries. We came together as a team and we have this result to show for it."
