August 13, 2012

News

Dungey gets MXoN Invite

Pro motocross points leader Ryan Dungey heads the list of riders announced by the American Motorcyclist Association for the U.S. team that will compete at the FIM Motocross of Nations on Sept. 30-31 in Lommel, Belgium.

The 2012 team will include Red Bull/KTM's Dungey, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Blake Baggett and GEICO Honda's Justin Barcia. Roger DeCoster will once again manage the team in its hunt for a 23rd Motocross of Nations Championship.

The announcement comes more than a month after the period when the team is usually chosen. DeCoster may have been waiting for the status of four-time winning Team USA member Ryan Villopoto who returned to riding in late July after knee surgery in April. Villopoto never publicly declined but at the Red Bull Amateur National Championships on Aug. 4 he told Cycle News: "I probably could be ready for it, but what could I gain from it? But I could lose a lot. I will most likely not do it but will instead wait for the Monster Cup."

Dungey, current points leader of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in the 450 class will lead Team USA for the fourth consecutive year in the premier MX1 division. Baggett, current 250 class points leader will ride MX2 as he did in France one year ago. Barcia is the team's only rookie and, while he's a 250 class rider and currently second to Baggett, will jump to the 450 in MX3.

"This is a great team," said DeCoster, who has managed nearly every U.S. team since 1981. "They have proven that they are solid riders, especially in the sand, and the Lommel track is a very deep sand track."