PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the members of the U.S. team that will compete at the FIM Motocross of Nations, Sept. 17-18, at Saint Jean D’Angely, France. The 2011 team will include Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett.
“America’s talent pool for motocross racers is the deepest in the world,” said AMA Supercross Director Kevin Crowther. “As demonstrated by their performances in this summer’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships, these three riders are among the best that the United States has to offer. We’re confident they will do their country proud at this prestigious event.”
Perennial U.S. Team Manager and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Roger DeCoster will manage the team in its hunt for a record 22nd Motocross of Nations Championship.
Riders in the Motocross of Nations compete in either MX1, featuring mostly 450cc four-stroke machinery; MX2, featuring mostly 250cc four-stroke bikes; or the Open class. The U.S. team will announce each rider’s designated class closer to the event.
The Motocross of Nations is one of the most high-profile motorsport events in the world. It features national teams competing for a combined score to determine the overall championship-winning country. The event emerged in post-war Europe in 1947 and has run uninterrupted since that time. The United States is the all-time leader in Motocross of Nations overall victories with 21. Great Britain is second with 16.
The United States is the reigning champion of the Motocross of Nations, winning in 2010 when the event was held in Lakewood, Colo.
