Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1507881
Team USA Announced For 2023 Motocross of Nations With the 2023 Motocross of Nations quickly approach- ing, Team USA has finally been announced. With some of the obvious choices unavailable or unwilling to go, including last year's entire winning team of Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton and Justin Cooper, this year's team was a challenge for the AMA to orga - nize, and there was even talk that the U.S. might not even send a team. But it's all a go now. The 2023 U.S. Motocross of Nations team will be made up of MXoN veteran Aaron Plessinger in the MXGP division, RJ Hamp - shire in MX2 and Christian Craig in the Open class. Plessinger has finished on the podium multiple times this season in both Super- cross and motocross. Hampshire has shown the speed to win, taking a win in both Supercross and motocross this year. Craig is probably the biggest question mark. He hasn't raced since early 2023 after suffering an arm injury back at the Glendale Supercross and the MX of Nations will be his first race back. Plessinger will sport the number-one plate. Hampshire will wear number two and Craig number three. "It really feels great to get to be on team USA again," Pless - inger, the team's captain, said, "and I'm very fortunate to have this opportunity to go race for my country. This is one race that I always look forward to, and we have some big shoes to fill from what the boys did last year, so I'm ready for the challenge! I've got some awesome teammates, a great team surrounding us, and we're gonna go give it our all over in France!" Roger DeCoster, with 21 Team USA wins to his credit, will again be the team's manager. He said, "With our race season being the longest ever, and only having one week separating the end of the SMX and Motocross of Nations, as well as several riders who had been injured and some switching teams, it was the toughest year we have faced yet to find three riders ready to race an additional event and work together as a team. I was very happy when we asked Aaron, RJ and Christian about going to France—they all jumped at the opportunity to represent the USA and challenge the French Team on home soil, and the rest of the world. This is one of France's most spec - tacular tracks. After some mixed results during the long season, they are eager to prove they have more in the tank and are excited to show it to the world. I hope the U.S. supporters get behind these three riders as they take on the Motocross of Nations in a few weeks." The home team of France, with riders Romain Febvre, Tom Vialle and Maxime Renaux, will be tough to beat, as well Team Australia with riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence, and Australian champ Dean Ferris. Thirty-nine countries will be represented at the race. This year's race will be held in Ernee, France, on October 6-8. CN WIND IN THE P32 With just a few weeks' notice, (L-R) Scott Plessinger, RJ Hampshire and Christian Craig have been called to duty and represent the U.S. at the Motocross of Nations in France.