The Pro Motocross Championship is about to close out at the 2023 Ironman Motocross, an action-packed weekend that will kick off with the announcement of Team USA for the Motocross of Nations.
Although the Americans are the defending champions of the Chamberlain Cup and will run numbers one, two, and three when they go to France in October, putting the team together has been a challenge.
Yes, interest in the race is at an all-time high after last year's victory on home soil at RedBud, and multiple OEMs have pledged their time and resources, but sending the exact same lineup as last year is not possible due to Eli Tomac's ongoing recovery from an Achilles injury, Justin Cooper's long-planned wedding which lands on the same weekend, and Chase Sexton's upcoming switch from Honda to KTM.
And that's why AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier had to push the team's lineup declaration from its usual date at Unadilla, to the finale at Ironman. He and managing partner Roger DeCoster have spent the better part of the summer working out scenarios for Ernee, a complicated matter considering the time some candidates were missing with injuries, the extended season for SuperMotocross, and the numerous rider-team changes that will happen in October.
Here's what we do know ahead of the official announcement.
Aaron Plessinger is a lock. At third place, the Red Bull KTM rider is the highest-ranking American in the 450 Class championship standings, and he has not finished outside the top ten once this summer. Eager for redemption after the RedBud mud in 2018, expect AP to be the Open Class pick.
Chase Sexton, the only available rider from last year's lineup, is down to go, and could use the race as his debut on the Red Bull KTM. Team Honda HRC has offered support to Sexton through the race, as they'll be backing the Lawrence brothers for Team Australia, but we've been told that Sexton would like to get on the orange bike as soon as possible.
Sexton's involvement was said to motivate and determine Haiden Deegan's participation. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider has been impressive as a rookie, and making the MXON his first race overseas would be a big draw for both the team and the event, but we've learned that the teenager and the group around him may opt-out after a long year that started in the Supercross Futures class.
The MX2 rider is often crucial to a team's overall score, and this year, it sounds like the group favors dropping a willing and experienced 450 Class rider down to the small-bore bike, rather than picking among the other Americans in the 250 Class.
Justin Barcia is the most likely candidate. The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider has been on Team USA a few times already, including 2015 in Ernee.
Cooper Webb is another possibility, but it sounds like his current focus is getting up to speed on the YZ450F ahead of the SMX rounds.
An added benefit of these two is that if Chase Sexton decides not to go after all, either Barcia or Webb could step up to the MXGP spot and run the number one plate.
Here's my interview with Mike Pelletier from last Friday at Budds Creek, where he explained some of the obstacles faced this summer and the importance of unifying Team USA.
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