Cycle News Staff | August 10, 2019
The AMA today announced the three riders who will make up the 2019 U.S. MX of Nations Team. It will consist of 2018 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Jason Anderson, 2019 250SX East runner-up Justin Cooper, and two-time 250SX East Champion Zach Osborne. This year’s MX of Nations takes place at the TT Circuit Assen in Assen, Netherlands, September 28-29.
AMA Names 2019 Motocross Of Nations Team
“The United States has won the most Motocross of Nations titles of any country since the event began in 1947 and we’ve assembled a team we believe can help us add to that record this year,” AMA Supercross Manager Mike Pelletier said. “All three riders are enthusiastic about representing their country in international motocross competition, and I believe they have what it takes to put the United States back on the top step of the podium.”
Team captain Osborne will race a Husqvarna in the MX Open Class. He was a member of the 2017 U.S. Motocross of Nations team.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity to represent the United States at the Motocross of Nations,” he said. “I love this race and I think we have a great team with huge potential this year. I have a good plan in place to be in Europe early and do some riding on similar conditions to put myself in the best position possible to be prepared for the race.”
Anderson also is a veteran of Motocross of Nations competition. He raced in the event’s MX Open Class in 2016 and will compete in the MXGP Class for the 2019 team aboard a Husqvarna.
“I’m super excited to be picked for the U.S. Motocross of Nations team this year,” Anderson said. “I think that we have a very motivated team between Zacho, Justin Cooper and me. Personally, I’m excited to put my best foot forward, go there a month early and prepare as best possible for the sand conditions to try and represent the United States the best I can.”
It will be Cooper’s first time taking part in a Motocross of Nations. He will race in the MX2 Class aboard a Yamaha.
“I got the chills when I got the call to represent my country overseas this year,” Cooper said. “It’s a whole new experience for me. I’m super excited and honored to ride for the U.S. team. I’m ready to go over there and give it all I got.”
Roger De Coster will manage the team and was a part of six victorious FIM Motocross of Nations teams in the 1960s and 1970s.
The last time the U.S. team won the Motocross of Nations was 2011.
MX of Nations candidates Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo ruled out their participation before the announcement was made today at Unadilla. Last Thursday, Kawasaki issued this statement:
Recently the AMA made preliminary contact with several teams regarding availability of riders for the 2019 Motocross of Nations (MXoN). Based on the team’s off-season plans, Kawasaki race team has informed the AMA that the team and riders will not be considered for the event later this year.
Kawasaki riders Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo separately expressed interest in attending MXoN this year. After discussing the details of the team’s off-season plans with each rider, both were in agreement with the team’s decision. The team will consider MXoN invitations for its team riders in the future.
Kawasaki will continue its pursuit of success in the 450MX and 250MX 2019 AMA Pro Motocross Championships with Tomac and Cianciarulo each carrying the points lead and red plates in their respective classes into the Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York on Saturday, August 10th.