For the second year in a row Team USA is in a scramble before the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Two of the three riders on the team went down on Saturday at the SMX World Championship finale in Las Vegas, with Haiden Deegan cracking his collarbone after his takeout attempt on Jo Shimoda, and Chase Sexton crashed out of the final 450 moto while running fourth. KTM announced Sexton suffered "a mild concussion and a weak shoulder that he will have further evaluated this upcoming week."
We believe it's doubtful either rider will be able to line up for the MXoN, which takes place on October 5th. So what does the AMA do to fill the squad?
With this year's event taking place in the U.S. at Ironman Raceway, it's much easier to find participants in both riders and teams. At Las Vegas, RJ Hampshire, Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb all said they would line up for the team if given the call. Hampshire would prefer Sexton's 450 slot, we believe Webb and Cooper said they would race either bike. Webb jumped in last year on a 250 at the last moment.
Hampshire told our Aaron Hansel: "I’m ready to go. My practice bike is ready and if I get the call I’ll be there."
Justin Cooper said he was told he would be an alternate for the team. That makes sense as he's a teammate of both Deegan, who was supposed to race a 250, and Eli Tomac, who will race a 450. That makes him a logical fill-in if either of those riders were to be unable to race. With Deegan's injury, JCoop might get the call.
Said Justin: "Team USA is not looking good right now. Hopefully we can fill in for it."
You can read more from Justin Cooper and Hampshire in their full post-race interviews.
