Last week, MXGP.com reported that Team USA would compete at the United States Grand Prix at Glen Helen on September 20, the weekend prior to the Motocross of Nations in Ernee, France.
After speaking with members of the AutoTrader.com/Toyota/JGR Yamaha team, Racer X has found out that Justin Barcia will not be competing at the event, nor did he ever have plans to. Sources told Racer X that no one had contacted Barcia or the team to confirm their status for the race.
With the logistics of planning for getting equipment to the 'Nations for the first time, and JGR's North Carolina home base being far from Southern California, we were a bit surprised to hear the team would be racing. Turns out they never intended to. We expect official word from the JGR team this week.
Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey also confirmed that he would not be participating this weekend at the Ironman press conference. “I won’t be doing that race either,” he said. “I think a lot of the KTM guys are. A lot of guys in the des Nations are doing it just to get some time with those guys. I think it would be great if we were racing des Nations but I’m [staying] here.” Dungey did confirm that he will race the Red Bull Straight Rhythm and Monster Energy Cup this off-season.
Sources have told Racer X that Team USA members Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb will race the GP on September 20. Webb is expected to race MX1 (450), while Martin will race MX2 (250). The third member of Star Racing, Aaron Plessinger, has not been confirmed for the race.
Racer X has also learned that Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson and Christophe Pourcel will race the USGP. They are expected to ride the 2016 Husqvarna’s.
The team’s 250 squad of Zach Osborne and Martin Davalos, both over the 23-year-old age limit, which would force them to compete in MX1, will not race the event, sources told Racer X.
