Team USA announced for 2011 Motocross of Nations
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the team that would be representing USA at the 2011 Motocross of Nations that is scheduled to take place at Le Circuit du Puy de Poursay in Saint Jean D’Angely, France, on September 17 to 18.
Team USA will comprise of three riders, namely the 2011 AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto, 2010 Supercross Champion and defending 2010 AMA Motocross champion Ryan Dungey, along with the 250-class rider Blake Baggett. The team will be managed by KTM’s
Roger DeCoster.
For the last six years, Team USA has been walking away with the Chamberlain trophy from the prestigious Motocross of Nations. Of these six consecutive wins, Villopoto was part of the winning team in 2006 and 2008, while Dungey had represented America in
2009 and 2010. However, the two riders have never competed at the competition as teammates before.
Despite being currently involved in an intense battle for top spot in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship standings, Dungey and Villopoto will have to put their differences aside and compete as a unit against the world to retain the Chamberlain trophy
for the seventh year in a row.
“Once we go over there we have a target on our back as a team,” said Villopoto. “We've won it so many times and when we go overseas it's their time to show what they have. There's more pressure and it feels like it's us three against everyone else.”
The AMA Supercross Director, Kevin Crowther, has high hopes for yet another success because of the team that has been put together for the competition this year.
Commenting on the team, Crowther, “As demonstrated by their performances this summer, these three riders are among the best that the United States has to offer. We're confident they will do their country proud at this prestigious event.”
The Motocross of Nations has been running without interruption since 1947. With 21 victories to date, Team USA is the all-time leader in the competition, making it one of the prime targets for the rest of the countries in the upcoming event. It would be
interesting to see if the American trio is able to once again assert their dominance in the event and bring home their seventh consecutive trophy.
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