Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy van Horebeek, Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and the complete Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 line-up, Ben Watson, Jago Geerts and Anthony Rodriguez, have travelled to Buchanan, Michigan, USA, where they will proudly represent their countries at the most prestigious motocross event of the year, the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.
The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nation’s is the most exciting event on the calendar. It is a team race – the only one of its kind – where riders with the same nationality are put into teams of three. Each rider will compete in two races, which will give each team a total of six race results at the end of the day. Only the five best results will contribute to the overall score.
After an incredible MX2 season where he ranked fourth in the world, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Ben Watson has been selected to represent Great Britain for the first time in his career. The talented 21 year-old will be running the number ‘8’ on his YZ250F, where he and the entire British team hope to celebrate the end of the 2018 season from the podium.
Also making his Motocross of Nations debut, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jago Geerts has received the honor to represent the second most successful team in ‘Nations history – Team Belgium. Geerts will join one of the most accomplished ‘Nations riders on the entry-list, fellow Yamaha Racing star Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek. Van Horebeek has represented Belgium nine times. Out of those nine, he has stood on the podium seven times, three times on the third step, three times on the second step and once on the top. Geerts will be number ’11’ in the MX2 division, while Van Horebeek will be number ’12’ in the Open class.
Team Switzerland have called upon Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer for the eighth consecutive year. Seewer will captain the team, and will be running the number ’15’ on his YZ450F this weekend.
Anthony Rodriguez will line-up for Venezuela for the third time in his career. His nation has not qualified on any of those occasions, but after a strong season in MX2, the 23 year-old Venezuelan phenom hopes to carry the team through to the main event at Red Bud this weekend.
In addition to the European based Yamaha headliners, the home soil heroes and the most dominant team in the history of the ‘Nations, Team USA have selected America’s 250cc Champion Aaron Plessinger to represent the stars and stripes onboard his YZ250F. He will line up along side Yamaha ace Justin Barcia who will be riding a YZ450F in the open class. Plessinger will be number ’26’ and Barcia will be number ’27’.
The defending champions, Team France, will line up Monster Energy Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis in the MX2 class in hopes of retaining the Chamberlain Trophy for the fifth consecutive year. Ferrandis had the honor of racing for Team France back in 2014, the year that the team won the prestigious race for the second time in the history of the event, and the first time since 2001.
Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Barcia will join former Yamaha heroes Paul Malin and Jeff Emig on the live Studio Show that will be broadcast on www.mxgp-tv.com at 13:15am GMT -4 on Saturday 6th October.
Ben Watson
Team Great Britain, MX2
I’m incredibly excited for the nations yes, it’s my first time and everything is going to be new for me. It will be an experience I will never forget I am sure. Of course our team goal is to get on the podium again. Last year they achieved that in the UK and we just want to better that.
Jago Geerts
Team Belgium, MX2
It’s really special to race for Team Belgium at the Motocross of Nations. I am really excited to go out to America. I have never raced there before, and I have never raced at this event before either. It is a really great honor to be chosen and I look forward to going there and doing my best, and we will see what happens.
Jeremy Van Horebeek
Team Belgium, Open
I am really excited to go to the ‘Nations and represent my country. I love every minute I spend on my bike, so I am looking forward to it and I hope that I can finish the season in glory.
Jeremy Seewer
Team Switzerland, MXGP
I am looking forward to it. It is the first one overseas for me, and it’s cool because it’s at Red Bud. I have only seen it on TV, and it looks amazing. I am really looking forward to race there. I am representing Team Switzerland and our goal as a team is not as high as previous years as my teammates are carrying injuries, so I will just go out there and try to do my best and see where we end up as a team. I think I will focus mostly on my own results and we will see how that goes.
Anthony Rodriguez
Team Venezuela, MX2
I am really excited to race the ‘Nations for the third time. My first ‘Nations was in Lommel in 2012 and the second time was Ernee in 2015. Venezuela has not yet qualified, but I hope that after my season which has been pretty good, I can have a good Qualifying Race and finish inside the top-five which could hopefully help us qualify. Red Bud is an amazing track, I am really looking forward to going back there and excited to race at this event for my country once again.
