Kawasaki Will Not Participate in the 2019 Motocross of Nations
With several team announcements becoming official in recent weeks, and Team USA’s official announcement this weekend at the Unadilla National, Kawasaki announced the team will not participate in the 2019 the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. In a statement sent out this afternoon, the team said the “Kawasaki race team has informed the AMA that the team and riders will not be considered for the event later this year.”
Tomac, who represented Team USA in 2013 and 2014, represented the team for a third time last year, when he teamed with Justin Barcia and Aaron Plessinger at RedBud MX. The team finished sixth overall but in January, Team Italy was disqualified from the competition after a bike failed the compliance test, moving Team USA up to fifth place.
Kawasaki just announced on Tuesday that Cianciarulo will move up to the 450 Class to join Tomac, who re-signed with the team in May, for 2020.
Below is the full statement:
No Motocross of Nations for Kawasaki Race Team in 2019
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (August 8, 2019)—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.
“Being chosen to represent the USA is always an honor,” said Tomac. “I am a patriotic guy so attending Motocross of Nations is something I always look forward to and embrace the challenge of the unique race. However, after speaking with the team I understand and support their reasoning for not attending this year’s event. Winning Motocross of Nations is something that is still on my checklist, but my priority right now is winning a Monster Energy Supercross title.”
“It would be an incredible and humbling honor to be chosen to represent Team USA," said Cianciarulo. “For me, it has always been something I have watched and wanted to be chosen for, but I understand the team’s decision and I know I have a lot of work and new challenges ahead of me by moving up to the 450 class.”