MXoN 2026 USA Team?

Will Tomac go considering age, injuries, and feeling like he’s already done his part?

Chase has never been to a foreign MXoN any other brand, on Kawi I can’t see it happening.

Deegan and Justin Cooper would seem to be the most likely best 450 guys but will Deegan go if he doesn’t think the US can win?

250 rider is going to be tough unless Kawi change their minds.  Outside of Kitchen and Hammaker the best US riders right now are Beaumer, DiFrancesco and Hymas.

Here we go again with the AP talk… have we not learned from the other 3 times he went? Dude got run down by Webb on a 250. 

Et3 ya noooo... same for headChase.. cringe lord won't go unless he's getting paid, true patriot that kid is, loll...

No kawis... sooo... 

idk... maybe JC, webb, hymas??? def not a great team but that's team merica rn... 

My friend

That’s what I thought too. 

That’s has been speculation so this year will be the test if the 250 Kaw boys continue to win….but the truth is it was an internal policy since 2014 when Bruce Stjernstrom took over as the Kaw racing manager…the beef with RD started at Red Bud 2018 because Kawi used the MXDN as a test bed for their 2019 model and refused to be on the same radio frequency as the rest of the team….I would say it’s 10% RD and 90% Bruce…the last Kaw 250 rider to race the MXDN outside the US was Blake Baggett…in 2012.

RJ be testing a new bike wont he? 

I would have thought Marchbanks would be one of the top options for Team USA? 

See above about Kawi attending overseas MXoN.  Highly unlikely to happen.

Any chance the US just doesn't send a team?

Tomac, Deegan, and Hammaker. 

I don’t know why Hammaker is being overlooked. He’s looked fantastic this year and seems to have his starts figured out. The kid never quits either, he’s exactly who we should want. 

Kawasaki

Hasn’t Star Yamaha not wanted to foot the bill lately?  Didn’t Anstie/ACU have to pay to get him to the race in 2024? 

Yes for foreign riders.   I think they also wanted to charge Ferrandis back in 2024 as well, I remember $50K being thrown around as a number.

Thought that was part of the reason Deegan didn’t go some years. 

If Kawasaki is out, Beaumer is a good choice for 250.

I think it is weird that Degan wouldnt go.  If that is a Yamaha thing then get it - but a bummer.  But if Degan went and just raced his heart out without a win, he would gain fans.  And if he won - it would be nuts how big his fan base would be.

and the team should be 

450   Degan, 450 J-Coop and 250 Kitchen.

Go USA!!

Roger DeCoster wasn't the problem, Kawasaki USA management is the problem.

I get the impression Deegan doesn't want to risk the perceived reputational damage of being an also-ran at MXoN.  He'd only be an outside chance of taking a moto win and realistically the US team is probably aiming for a podium finish at best, depending on who goes.  

You are right; if I recall correctly Bobby Regan said in at least one interview that it was a cost issue, although he also said in another interview (I think prior to 2023 MXoN) that it wasn't about cost, implying that he and/or Haiden didn't want to go if they didn't think they could win.

I don't disagree with you at all on AP but I also didn't think the people making these decision have learned either. 

And somehow I completely forgot Cooper. With how he's been riding if he's healthy I'd be happy with Tomac, Cooper, Deegan. 

RJ said he's out this year, jcoop still out hurt, Deegan not going to go if he's not winning..... 

Prepare yourselves for US not sending a team this year. 

Spain will have a good team if all cleared to go - Farrés, Prado and Fernandéz.

That's a solid team, they are fighting for a podium. A win might be possible, if they get some lucky breaks

From Racerhead:

"We're hoping Eli Tomac comes back and looks like his old self at some point, but that's a question mark. Chase Sexton is out. Haiden Deegan has turned it down in the past when the race was in Europe, so his status for going to France this year is still a question. Kawasaki hasn't supported this race when it's not been in the USA, so Levi Kitchen might not be the choice. So are we left with a team of ET, Julien Beaumer, and Aaron Plessinger, maybe? It's easier for the Austrian OEM to support this race, for sure, as they've shown in the past. Also, when it comes to Deegan, it's no secret that they've not been happy with some of the penalties Haiden has gotten this year or in other years. The man who dishes those out is AMA's Mike Pelletier, and he's also the manager of Team USA. This leads to a bit of a sticky situation, for sure. Not that it can't be worked out, but it could be an obstacle."

With Pless switching to triumph & his list of injuries id say its unlikely he goes. I know kawi doesn’t usually support it, but that was when Roger was running it. & i dont think kawi needs more bad press. Id like to see marchbanks go. I think he deserves it from what iv seen this year

Just contributing to the thread, RJ says hes out this year. Changing teams and needs the rest / prep. Mentioned that riding injured last year set him back further than he anticipated. 

My two cents is the nations race need to be every other year.. 

america needs a hero....

Christian Craig

Justin Hill (to sample the local herbal varieties)

Cooper Webb (The Outdoor Warrior)

Sweet team...