Team USA - Defending the MXoN

Team USA are without question the favourite team going into this year's Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations and with a long list of riders capable of defending the Chamberlain Trophy in Lommel, Belgium, on September 30. One rider many see as being in Team USA is Eli Tomac, is a young rider who is presently battling for the American 250cc Championship and who would love the chance to race for Team USA in Belgium.

"If I can be a top guy in USA," Tomac said,. "I would love to race at the Motocross of Nations. I heard the track is super sandy, but I like racing in the sand and my best results are at the Southwick circuit (also deep sand). I have been the fastest qualifier at Southwick a few times. I just need to get it together this year and if I do well enough maybe I will be picked to go."

Last year it was Blake Baggett who raced for Team USA at the St Jean d'Angely circuit and while his 17-17 results were not that special, he did win the Saturday qualification race. Only crashes and bad starts on Sunday unravelled his performance. Baggett wants the chance to show what he is capable of at MXoN level.


"Oh, I want to go back for sure," Baggett said. "It’s definitely crazy and big. The track was definitely a lot different. Well, number one, they give you forty-five minutes to practice, which is really weird because we only get like eight minutes or ten minutes in America. But Saturday went well which I think was just because I was used to racing Saturdays over here. Sunday, though, was a bit difficult. I crashed, it rained, then it stopped raining, then it rained and stopped raining. It was just a non-stop mess. It turned out to be really good, and it was fun. Definitely a learning experience, but 250 versus 450 is not the funniest thing in the world to do."

Expected to be leading the Team USA effort in Lommel will be Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey. Dungey has ridden for Team USA in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and has taken his share of moto wins and team victories. With Roger De Coster as KTM team manager and also team manager of Team USA there will always be a great working relationship for Dungey and De Coster when it comes time for the MXoN.

"I love the Motocross of Nations," Dungey said. "To race for your country against the best riders in the World, it's a really special event. I have been lucky to be on three winning teams and I know it's going to be tough in 2012. Whatever team is picked it will be a good team and we will go tohe Lommel with the same determination to win as every year we go."

It is expected that Team USA will be picked within the next few weeks, and with the Southwick National set for August 11 and that being the only real sand track on the American Championship calendar you can be sure that all the riders in contention for Team USA will put in a little more of an effort.

Roger De Coster has also mentioned that he would like his riders to head over to Belgium early to prepare for the deep sand of Lommel. The American Motocross Championship ends in California on September 8, so it wouldn't be a big surprise to see the complete Team USA arrive in Belgium as early as two weeks before the event is run on September 30.