FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. – Recently the AMA made preliminary contact with several teams regarding availability of riders for the 2019 Motocross of Nations.
Based on the team’s off-season plans, Kawasaki officials have informed the AMA that the team and riders will not be considered for the event later this year.
Kawasaki riders Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo separately expressed interest in attending the Motocross of Nations this year. After discussing the details of the team’s off-season plans with each rider, both were in agreement with the team’s decision.
The team plans to consider Motocross of Nations invitations for its riders in the future.
“Being chosen to represent the USA is always an honor,” said Tomac. “I am a patriotic guy so attending Motocross of Nations is something I always look forward to and embrace the challenge of the unique race. However, after speaking with the team I understand and support their reasoning for not attending this year’s event. Winning Motocross of Nations is something that is still on my checklist, but my priority right now is winning a Monster Energy Supercross title.”
“It would be an incredible and humbling honor to be chosen to represent Team USA,” said Cianciarulo. “For me, it has always been something I have watched and wanted to be chosen for,but I understand the team’s decision and I know I have a lot of work and new challenges ahead of me by moving up to the 450 class.”
Kawasaki will continue its pursuit of success in the 450MX and 250MX 2019 AMA Pro Motocross Championships with Tomac and Cianciarulo each carrying the points lead and red plates in their respective classes into the Unadilla National in New Berlin, N.Y., on Saturday.