When Team USA was announced for the 2017 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, there were a lot of excited Grand Prix fans, and in fact fans worldwide who looked at this team as a very solid team, with a lot of experience.
Of course Zach Osborne, who will be team captain, and has raced the FIM Motocross World Championship throughout his career will be the main-stay of the team, and the AMA 250 motocross champion can’t wait to get together with his team-mates and work on a strategy to take the Chamberlain trophy back home to America.
“To be part of this team has been a career-long dream of mine and to be chosen in a season where I’m on top form is ideal. I have big goals for the race and I hope to make a statement for the team. It’s an honour to be selected team Captain, and I hope to share my enthusiasm and knowledge of world motocross with my team mates. We have a team of people who are proud to be representing and are prepared to do the work needed to be on top form. I think that the European fans will be anxious to see where the Americans can stack up. I think a lot of people are underestimating what the three of us are capable of, but, to me, this is a dream team because we are all enthusiastic and we are all competing for Team USA for the first time.
Cole Seely, who rides for the HRC Factory team in America found out he would be racing for Team USA while playing golf. A number of calls and it was confirmed he would be wearing the red, white and blue for his country.
“It came about, about two or three weeks ago, right after Washougal I think. We were just stepping off the track and I got the call. It was Dan [Betley]—my team manager—and it was a pretty easy answer. Obviously, I want to go. I’ve been wanting to go for years. I just said yes! It wasn’t a for sure thing yet, but I was super hopeful. I got a call—I actually got a missed call—from Roger [Decoster]. (laughs) I was on the golf course, and he called and left a message that I had been chosen. It was kind of hard to focus on my swing after that. I don’t ever really think that kind of stuff is going to happen to me, so I was beyond excited.”
Seely who seems like a down to earth guy, saw a dream come true and he will be giving it everything he has to help Team USA win the most prestigious event in world motocross.
“I’ve just never taken anything for granted and everything that’s been put in front of me I’m super thankful of. I can never say, 'I’ve only dreamed of this.' Hard work and dedication really. Having the right people in my corner is the biggest thing I think. My mechanic Rich [Simmons] has been with me since 2009. Shoot, almost a decade. He’s really helped me with my entire program and making sure I’m on track. He’s kind of been like an older brother to me. It’s just people like that in my corner pushing me in the right direction.”
Of course the third rider in Team USA is Grand Prix specialist, Thomas Covington, and like Seely and Osborne, it’s something he has hoped for his whole racing career.
"It’s not easy for one country to have three solid guys and I think we have that. We are not superstars. Zach is clearly on it, and Cole did well this weekend at Unadilla, and I have been riding well. I am coming into my own also. We have a solid team and why not go for the win. I haven’t talked to Cole at all, but I have with Zach, in fact he sent me a message after Lommel and said I was killing it, this was before I knew I would be on the team, he said he knew how bad that place sucked. A few days later, he was like, dude, are you stoked. We just talk back and forth, it’s going to be fun, and we think we have a shot to win it and it’s a cool team.”
Now with six weeks before the event kicks off at Matterley Basin in England, the team will have the chance to get to know each other better, and prepare for what would be a surprise, but very rewarding victory.
Copyright: Photo: Husqvarna Racing
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