Image: Octopi Media.

Both Chase Sexton and RJ Hampshire have expressed interest in being a part of Team USA’s three-man roster for the 2021 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) following their podium performances at Washougal.

With a host of riders on the list for the event set to take place at Mantova, Italy this September, there is plenty of speculation swirling around who will be selected to represent the United States.

Team Honda HRC’s 450MX winner Sexton – currently fifth in points – said he’d welcome the opportunity if selected following his first Pro Motocross win of the season on Saturday, coming into form at an ideal time mid-season.

“100 percent – I would love to go,” Sexton explained. “I was a little bit nervous there and knew I was on the list to get picked to go, but there were a few rounds there I was riding around in eighth and it wasn’t looking good for me to get picked.

“I hope this weekend kinda helped me get put to the top of the list and I would love to go and it would be an honor to represent my country and I really want to go race the MXGP guys as well. To answer your question I’m 100 percent in if I get picked.”

The same goes for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Hampshire, who has shown incredible speed so far this season and sits fifth in the 250MX standings. While he revealed an injury following his podium performance at Washougal, he’d love the opportunity to compete.

“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Hampshire explained. “I mean I’d love to, it’s what you kind of dream of. We were actually just talking about it today and I kind of need to earn it. So, just moving forward I need to be on the box, I try to be every weekend and just be smarter about it.”

As the 2021 Pro Motocross championship has drawn past the halfway point, riders now get two weekends off to build momentum as they’ll look to return to action and earn a spot on the MXoN team.