Ryan Nitzen | September 7, 2023
The 2023 Motocross of Nations is quickly approaching. Last year, the American’s finally broke an 11 year dry streak on home soil, but this year’s event heads back across the pond to Ernee, France on October 6-8. Arguably, Team France has the home-field advantage. A number have teams have been announced with the United States now joining the mix. Check out our list below and stay tuned for further updates.
Plessinger, Hampshire, and Craig will fly the flag for Team USA.
Team USA
MXGP – Aaron Plessinger | MX2 – RJ Hampshire | MX Open – Christian Craig.
Team USA has finally been announced! This year we’ll field Aaron Plessinger in the MXGP division, RJ Hampshire in MX2, and Christian Craig in the Open class. Plessinger’s finished on the box multiple times this season as well as Hampshire taking a win in Supercross and Outdoors. Craig is currently returning from an arm injury he suffered back at the Glendale Supercross and MXON is likely to be his first race back.
Aaron Plessinger will rock the number one at this year’s MXON in France.
Don’t forget RJ Hampshire won the opening moto of the Pro Motocross Championship.
This is likely to be Craig’s first race back from injury.
Team USA (Tomac, Cooper, Sexton) won last year on home soil. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Team France
MXGP – Romain Febvre | MX2 – Tom Vialle | MX Open – Maxime Renaux
Febvre leads Team France.
Team France looks like the ones to beat. Febvre’s been on a roll in the MXGP series and Renaux scored a podium in the most recent round. Vialle will be back on home turf, his first time since winning his last MX2 world title. Note, Dylan Ferrandis and Marvin Musquin are both not on the team like they were in 2022.
Vialle will be back on home turf.
Renaux is Team France’s third rider.
Team Australia
MXGP – Jett Lawrence | MX2 – Hunter Lawrence | Open – Dean Ferris
Remember Jett Lawrence’s break out ride at last year’s MXoN? Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Another strong team is Team Australia. They scored an overall podium last year at Red Bud and look to do so again in France. Both Lawrence brothers are obvious shoe-ins and Aussie veteran Dean Ferris replaces last year’s entry, Mitch Evans.
Hunter Lawrence is fresh off the 2023 AMA 250MX title.
Team Italy
MXGP – Alberto Forato | MX2 – Andrea Adamo | Open – Mattia Guadagnini
Adamo currently leads the MX2 World Championship.
Team Italy is usually a front runner. This year, Alberto Forato replaces Antonio Cairoli as the MXGP rider, while Andrea Adamo and Mattia Guadagnini return as the MX2 and Open class riders. Adamo currently leads the points in the MX2 World Championship.
Mattia Guadanini (3) at the 2022 MXoN. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Team Netherlands
MXGP – Calvin Vlaanderen | MX2 – Kay de Wolf | Open – Glenn Coldenhoff
Glenn Coldenhoff is back with Team Netherlands.
Team Netherlands has three fast riders for 2023, but again no Jeffery Herlings. Coldenhoff always shows out for MXoN, and has multiple race wins to his name at the event. The hard-pack conditions of Ernee might be a challenge for these sand specialists.
Kay De Wolf is on Team Netherlands again.
Team Spain
MXGP – Ruben Fernandez | MX2 – David Braceras | Open – Jorge Prado
Prado is an obvious pick for Team Spain. Photo: GasGas
Team Spain enters this year’s event with three capable riders. Ruben Fernandez and Jorge Prado return to the team with David Braceras replacing the injured Guillem Farres in MX2.
Ruben Fernandez returns to the team. Photo: MXGP
Team Germany
MXGP – Ken Roczen | MX2 – Simon Laengenfelder | Open – Tom Koch
Roczen is back with Team Germany.
Germany has a strong team for this year’s Nations as Ken Roczen joins the team alongside Simon Laengenfelder and Tom Koch. Roczen ran alongside Jett Lawrence at his only Pro Motocross appearance while Laengenfelder continues to impress in the MX2 division.
Simon Längenfelder is Germany’s MX2 entry.
Team Belgium
MXGP – Jago Geerts | MX2 – Lucas Coenen | Open – Liam Everts
Liam Everts is bumping up to the Open Class for Team Belgium.
Interesting lineup for Team Belgium as young Liam Everts is enlisted as the Open Class rider. Jago Geerts will ride the MXGP class and he showed great speed on the 450 last year. 16 year old standout Lucas Coenen gets the spot in the MX2.
Jago Geerts is riding a 450 again in this year’s event.
Team Switzerland
MXGP – Jeremy Seewer | MX2 – Valentin Guillod | Open – Arnaud Tonus
Seewer’s already won two MXGP’s this year.
Team Switzerland is a bit of a wild card. Jeremy Seewer is always fast in the MXGP’s and has a few wins to his name just this year. Valentin Guillod had his best race of the year last weekend and is likely to drop down to race the MX2 bike. Swiss veteran Arnaud Tonus also joins the team as the third rider.
Team Canada
MXGP – Dylan Wright | MX2 – Ryder Mcnabb | Open – Jess Pettis
Team Canada’s bikes are always top notch. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Team Canada enters one of their best teams with Dylan Wright, Ryder Mcnabb, and Jess Pettis. Wright recently scored a top 10 in the AMA Pro Motocross, Mcnabb won the MX2 title and ran up front in the AMA Moto Combine, and a healthy Pettis always has serious potential.
After winning in 2022, Team USA gets to run 1, 2, and 3.
The full list of teams for the 2023 Motocross of Nations.
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