Last week, Team USA had plans in place to send an MXoN team to Ernee next month. However, a spanner has been thrown in the works after a rider has pulled out of the event last minute due to a change of brand for the 2024 season.
We heard from a reliable source last week that the team would be Aaron Plessinger, RJ Hampshire and Max Vohland but it seems the latter has been forced to pull out – perhaps due to his new team for 2024 not wanting him to contest the event? It’s hard to imagine the rider not wanting to race as initially he was up for heading to the event and representing his country.
We believe since then America have tried for Jalek Swoll but he is also changing brands for 2024 and his new team don’t want him racing the event.
It looks like the only option left for an MX2 rider is Christian Craig who would love to go and represent his country but it’s now a race against time if they can get everything sorted and not to mention he isn’t 100% fit so it’s far from ideal.
In the latest Racerhead edition on RacerX, Davey Coombs had the latest update:
That has not affected De Coster’s own interest in the event, nor the Austria-based KTM Group’s interest. They are fully committed to sending both Aaron Plessinger on his KTM 450 SX-F and moving Husqvarna rider RJ Hampshire up on the second 450 in the MX3 (Open)slot. They also planned on sending Max Vohland as the 250 rider, but now he’s switching teams too after SMX and he has backed out of Team USA consideration as well. That kind of only leaves Jalek Swoll for MX2, but he’s also about to switch teams, and his new bosses don’t want to risk getting him hurt without some kind of insurance policy. So how about Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GasGas rider Justin Barcia? He apparently has some injuries he wants to get sorted in the off-season, as soon as possible. Christian Craig? The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider would love to go but he’s still not 100 percent.
You can read his entire thoughts on the matter, here.
Image: MXGP/Infront Moto Racing