What was supposed to be a promising night for Team USA in Las Vegas quickly turned into a nightmare, leaving team captain Eli Tomac as the last man standing. The parallels to last year’s struggles were hard to ignore, but this time, things spiraled even further. Chase Sexton suffered a frightening crash that left him with a concussion, while Haiden Deegan broke his collarbone, effectively dismantling the American effort before it even had a chance to build momentum.
Tomac, speaking in the post-race press conference, didn’t hide his disappointment. “Right now, I have no idea what happens. I’m more concerned about my team that got blown apart tonight. So who knows what happens? I’ll take a couple days off, then put the moto suspension back on and go from there. But yeah, tonight was terrible for Team USA. So, I don’t know what happens.”
When pressed about who he would want as teammates for the Motocross of Nations (MXoN), Tomac kept his answer open-ended. “Really, it’s whoever’s motivated to do it and wants to do it and go from there. They need to be knocking on the door and wanting to do it. Whoever it is. I’ll just, I guess, see who comes knocking.” His words reflect both the uncertainty and the urgency surrounding Team USA’s lineup.
At the moment, RJ Hampshire and Justin Cooper appear to be the most logical replacements. Both riders bring speed, versatility on either a 250 or 450, and crucially, prior MXoN experience. While the injuries have cast doubt on the team’s chances, Hampshire and Cooper could still give Team USA a fighting shot at victory if they step up.
Meanwhile, Haiden Deegan, despite undergoing surgery on his collarbone, has already expressed a desire to return to action at the Ironman National. Whether that’s realistic remains to be seen, but it underlines the determination within this young American squad.
For now, though, the future of Team USA at MXoN rests on reshuffling a shattered lineup and hoping fresh energy can spark another bid for international glory.