Finally! That is the most operative word in the ludicrous scenario of the team USA just about getting a team together to defend the MXoN title in France that they earned at home with all of America, from teams to riders, behind them. What a change in one year!
Yes, team changes with Sexton didn’t help but an international flight shouldn’t cause this much drama. Star appeared to be out, as did PC Kawasaki, despite both having riders at Red Bud at last years event and Star rider Ferrandis disappointed he wasn’t chosen this year for France. It was all pretty unbelievable but at least the USA will be going and importantly, it’s a competitive team!
Aaron Plessinger was third in AMA outdoors on the 450, top American too with Sexton missing couple of rounds finishing fourth, the guy can ride. And the entertainer and former US National champ, will get to wear the coveted number one plate at the biggest event of the year! Plessinger will never forget this weekend for that reason alone, what an honour so many riders will never have the chance to experience. That shirt will no doubt be framed for life!
RJ Hampshire was a title contender in both supercross and motocross this year until that big crash at Unadilla and he oh-so badly wanted to race for the USA this year in France. It would have been an utter shame on a personal level if RJ wasn’t able to go to his first Nations because a third rider didn’t step up to join AP and RJ.
The hero is Christian Craig, without him, team USA may not be going to France at all. Craig hasn’t raced since that big crash in supercross so fair play to the man who publicly volunteered on Twitter and will now, along with RJ, make their debut at the event – and do it at maybe the most atmospheric MXoN of them all, Ernee.
Craig was many people’s choice to race at Red Bud last year on the 250 but got pipped by Cooper and don’t forget, the super talented rider was a top five 450 guy outdoors in 2022 along with winning that 250 supercross title. Craig is back on the bike but hasn’t raced yet, and he deserves a round of applause for stepping up. Whatever the results, Craig should earn lifelong respect for stepping up to the plate when America needed him. Some guys are currently racing SMX and won’t go to the Nations but Craig despite not racing in a long time, is ready to do the best he can and he has the biggest excuse of anyone not to go.
That goes for Aaron Plessinger and RJ Hampshire too, big respect to these guys, they have stepped up when needed as well but these two have had good seasons. Plessinger is, after Sexton, the next best choice and probably would be on the team if Sexton was going anyway, alongside Chase, as the two 450 riders. RJ was, let’s not forget, on a similar in pace to Deegan for most of the year, until the Unadilla crash. Both are fast, especially when it all clicks and we all know how good Craig is on a dirt bike.
They aren’t favourites for the win, France and Australia are now the leading duo with Herlings out for Holland and Sexton out for the USA, but like the Dutch, the USA still have a shot. A podium is certainly achievable and in the right circumstances so is a win. And, with less pressure than most American teams usually have, the three guys may actually be able to enjoy this experience more and ride with a freedom usually not afforded to teams that can win it all. They have done the hard job of volunteering, now they should be allowed to enjoy representing the USA, they all know how to ride a bike fast, knowing that if they all perform, victory isn’t impossible.
Thank you to Roger DeCoster, Christian Craig, Aaron Plessinger and RJ Hampshire. The 1,2,3 of the stars and stripes will be behind the gate at Ernee and the three riders are American heroes before the gate has even dropped.
P.S Aaron and RJ please stay safe at SMX, we don’t need anymore team USA drama. Thanks in advance from the global motocross community.
Article: Jonathan McCready
Images: Align/Cudby