USA Announces 2018 Motocross of Nations Team

Today at round ten of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the American Motorcyclist Association announced Team USA for the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations set for October 6-7 at RedBud.

Leading the team in MXGP will be current 450 points leader Eli Tomac. The reigning 450 Pro Motocross Champion returns to the event for the first time since 2014. He was injured and unable to compete in 2015, and he opted out of the event for the last two years citing a long schedule, which included a full season of Monster Energy Supercross, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, USGP events, and the Monster Energy Cup.

Tomac finished fourth overall in the MX2 class at the 'Nations in 2013, a year that included a pitched battle for the second-moto win against long time rival Ken Roczen. Tomac carded third overall in the Open class in 2014.

Joining Tomac will be Justin Barcia, who is currently fourth in the 450 Class standings. Bam Bam has competed for Team USA three times, most recently in 2015, when he won a moto and the MXGP class overall. He also won the overall in the Open class at the event in 2013. In 2012, Barcia finished fourth overall in the Open class, while still a full-time 250 rider back in the U.S.

Rounding out the team will be 250 Class points leader Aaron Plessinger. The reigning 250SX West Region Champion has never raced for Team USA.

Tomac and Barcia have been teammates before at the event. They both competed at the 2013 MXoN for Team USA, where they finished second overall to Belgium. 

The MXoN returns to the U.S. for the first time since Thunder Valley hosted the event in 2010. Team USA is hoping to end a six-year losing streak at the event. The last time Team USA won was back in 2011, when a team of Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, and Blake Baggett topped France. Baggett is only the rider from that team who still competes professionally.