The American Motorcyclist Association announced that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer will join Team USA for the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations, replacing the injured Chance Hymas and will compete in MXGP class.
Hymas injured his wrist this past Friday at the SMX finale in Ridgedale, Missouri. The Honda HRC Progressive rider was slated to jump up to the larger 450cc machine and race the MXGP division, but over-jumped a triple and sustained multiple fractured bones. He missed the SMX finale on Saturday and is now out for the upcoming MXON.
“Overshot the triple and blew my hand off,” Hymas said on Friday. “I tried to ride but couldn’t deal with the pain…Unfortunately I have a few fractures in the bones in my wrist…For me to go over there and race at 60 or 70% it’s not fair to Team USA.”
Julien Beaumer has since been picked to fill in for Hymas and will step up to the 450 for his debut race in the MXGP class.
“Pretty much my whole morning was tied up with calling Europe,” KTM team manager Ian Harrison said. “Finding out if we could get bikes from Belgium to Austria, if we could get them on the truck, if we could build a practice bike tomorrow. So, we have engine guys going into the shop tomorrow to build an engine. Then we’re going to put a bike together on Monday morning first thing and we’re going to go testing with Julian and then Tuesday we’ll do a couple motos and then we leave Wednesday. So, it was a massive commitment from a lot of people. You need exhaust pipes, you need fuel, you need bikes, you need gear, you need graphics. The list goes on and on. There are so many people in the background tomorrow that are going to be wide open and I’m just thankful for them.”
This is a press release from the AMA…
Pickerington, OH (September 27, 2026) — As the United States gears up for the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations, which is set to run October 2-4 in Ernée, France, the American Motorcyclist Association announced that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer will join the team.
Beaumer will fill in for the injured Chance Hymas and will race in the MXGP class. He will join the talented duo of three-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Cooper Webb and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen on the team, which is managed by AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier.
“We’re grateful to have Julien join our team and commit to representing the United States,” Pelletier said. “He is the ultimate professional, with a deep passion for his country, and we’re proud to welcome him to Team USA. We also sincerely appreciate the full support from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in making this opportunity possible on such short notice. I look forward to working alongside Julien as we aim to bring the Chamberlain Trophy back to the United States.”
Beaumer has been one of the most promising up-and-comers in motocross since he made his debut in 2023, finishing second in the AMA Supercross 250 West title race in 2025 and landing a runner-up finish in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship 250 class in 2026.
The United States eyes its 24th FIM Motocross of Nations championship in 2026 after the Americans finished second on the podium last year.
