Team USA: The Underdogs

When Team USA step off the plane in Paris, France in a little over a month they will have a huge burden on their shoulders. Despite all the success of Team USA, it’s been four years now since they last won the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations. 2011 at St Jean d’Angely, although back in 2011 they did have riders like Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.

This year’s team is a team for the future, youthful talent, with an abundance of raw power. With a young team of Justin Barcia, Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb this is possibly the most inexperienced team USA have ever sent to this event since their first victory in 1981.

It is also the first time since 2000 at St Jean d’Angely that a team comprises of riders who have never won the event before (in 2000 it was Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Hughes and Travis Pastrana) and only the third time in 30 years that an American team have arrived for this event with a complete team of riders who hadn’t tasted success at the MXoN. The other time came when Team USA sent their B-Team to Australia, a year that GP veteran Billy Liles, and youngsters Jeff Emig and Mike Larocco took home the victory for Team USA.

Of course in 1981 the team of Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and Chuck Sun won the event for the first time for Team USA, so since their first victory way back 34 years ago they have usually had at least one rider who had won the event in the past.

Team USA have won this event 22 times in the last 34 years, three of those 34 years they didn’t compete (2001 due to 9/11, in 2002 due to the Competition Park fiasco and in 2004 in Lierop the team just didn’t want to come). For Team USA a loss this year would be the longest stint they have gone without victory (while competing), since that first win in 81.

In 1997 and 1998 Team Belgium picked the world apart with victories in Nismes, Belgium and Foxhills, England, and in Indaiatuba, Brazil the Italian team defeated the world to win the Chamberlain Trophy. Of course the last three years have gone to France, Belgium and Germany.

For Open class rider Cooper Webb, it is a dream come true that he gets to race in the biggest motocross event in the world. Still a rookie in the 250 class in America, this young man is hungry for success.

“I’m beyond excited to be chosen to represent my country,” Webb said recently. “That’s really a dream come true and a tremendous honor. I’m really excited because it’s going to be a great experience because. I get to line up with guys that I’ve never raced with at a track I’ve never been to. Yeah, we might be at a slight disadvantage since it’s a new facility for us, but I feel like I’m a really fast learner and I feel like I’m able to adapt to any obstacle. It’s a clean slate and we’re going there for our country, so I’m excited. We’re going there to bring home that win, but at the same time we need to be smart. Anytime you get to line up at a new track against new competitors, it’s always exciting. This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid, so it should be really good!

With Yamaha having three riders in the team for the first time ever it is a big moment for the blue machines. Keith McCarty is an American motocross legend having helped Team USA to victory on other occasions, and for him it’s a great moment for the brand he has worked for many years.

“Certainly having three Yamaha riders represent Team USA is certainly something to be proud of,” McCarthy said. “I know Justin has been working really hard, and Cooper and Jeremy have both been displaying their talents in the last couple of years. And the YZs themselves have continued to improve and be the bikes to have in terms of racing. I couldn’t be prouder for the company, the riders.”

Now Team USA will prepare for this challenge, and with the youth and exuberance of these young riders you can count on some fireworks. Will victory come? For the pride and history of America in this race, let’s hope so.