The pre-event favourites twice found a team member left at the back of the field, but each time the rider concerned delivered an exciting come-back charge - while Ryan Villopoto stole the show with perfect start-to-finish wins in the first two races.
Retiring team captain and AMA legend Ricky Carmichael then concluded his Motocross of Nations career with an emotional final moto victory which, combined with second for Tim Ferry, easily handed America a record 18th win in the 61st edition of the end-of-season team event.
Moto One - MX1 and MX2
The first moto, mixing MX1 and MX2 machinery, saw reigning AMA MX2 Motocross champion Ryan Villopoto storm to a brilliant 15-second victory against his more powerful rivals - despite having to remount his Kawasaki after tangling with a backmarker at mid-distance!
Meanwhile, event hero Carmichael had dramatically been left at the back of the pack following a first lap incident, but dug deep to claw his way up to third position at the finish - giving Team USA a confident early lead - while former AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed separated the Americans.
Reed had seized second place with a brutal pass on Britain's Tommy Searle, which left the impressive MX2 rider on the dirt, and the Australian went on to hold off former rival RC by four seconds at the chequered flag.
Sebastian Pourcel took fourth for France ahead of Spaniard Jonathan Barragan and Italian David Philippaerts. Philippaerts' team-mate Antonio Cairoli had been fighting his way through the top ten, and turned heads by briefly re-passing Carmichael, but his hopes came to an abrupt halt when he hit the back of Billy Mackenzie on lap six of 16 - launching the reigning double MX2 world champion over the handlebars. A frustrated Toni later retired with a seized front wheel, almost certainly caused by the fall.
After moto one, Team USA held a ten point lead over France, with Spain a further five points back and Great Britain just one point from the podium.
Moto Two – MX2 and Open
Moto two again saw Villopoto grab the holeshot on his 250cc Kawasaki, and again his Team USA team-mate was left in last place - this time in the form of Tim Ferry, who was one of two riders to fall heavily on the exit of turn one.
