I think we all know, come the first weekend of October, at the sensational Matterley Basin circuit in England, we might be set for one of the best Monster Energy Motocross of Nations ever. This year definately has that same vibe from that 2006 race.

While the original Team USA for 06 was meant to be Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto, an injury to RC saw him drop out, the vibe for that year, was huge, as was the crowd and the atmopshere. Not to mention that final race ride by "The King" Stefan Everts.

With several teams coming with their big guns, including Australia with the Lawrence brothers, The Netherlands more than likely with Herlings, de Wolf and Vlaanderen, France probably with Febvre, Vialle and Ferrandis, Belgium with their exciting young line-up of the Coenen brothers, Everts or Geerts, and of course, the talk of Team USA possibly being Haiden Deegan, Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac, well, its mouth watering to say the least.

Add names like Jorge Prado, Tim Gajser, Ken Roczen and so many more and you just know there will be some intense racing in 2024, and all we need is the weather to do the right thing. Sunshine and Matterley Basin is a beautiful thing.

What would be cool is if we get the two World champions, and the two AMA motocross champions coming (AMA supercross champion Lawrence is already in), because there is always something special about our guy against their guys, number one vs number one.

We spoke to the main guy behind the organizing of Team USA, Mike Pelletier in Indonesia a month or two ago, and he gave us an idea, that the team will be a strong one.

“Yes, we have a lot of support in the paddock," Pelletier told us. "Believe it or not. They (the US teams) have always been really good, and the teams have been really nice. Last years was complicated, because we had a lot of riders switching brands and not having a lot of time on the motorcycle and asking them to do an even of that magnitude, we want the riders to be successful and comfortable. This year, we have a lot of interest and absolutely, with Star and the way Chase is riding right now and unfortunately Jett just got injured (he will be back for Nations), and Australia will be tough, but I think we will have a very strong line-up this year.”

He also told us, that the team might wait much longer than usual to announce the team, to try and have Tomac involved. While he didn’t say that completely, it was obvious Team USA are waiting on the fitness and form of one of their all-time greats, Eli Tomac.

“Eli should make the last couple of outdoors and Cooper Webb is also returning, and we will see how that goes, but just the way Chase is riding, and Justin Cooper is riding well, Deegan is riding well. A lot of the PC guys are riding well. We will have a good, good turnout and a strong team for Matterley. Yes, normally, but it will be later and hopefully around the last couple of Nationals. We want these guys to come back and see how that goes and make a decision as it gets closer with those three SMX rounds at the end of the season. We have a little more time now than we did before. We want to make it as quickly as possible and get these guys ready and do the fund raise and things like that.”

Davey Coombs, the head honcho at MXSports, the promoters of the AMA Nationals and also the owner of the leading American media company, RacerX gave his opinion overnight about the possible return of Tomac to MXoN battle, and when the team might be announced.

“We are getting word that the Team USA’s lineup for the 2024 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will not be finalized or announced until after the final round of AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Why the delayed announcement? The AMA and Team USA have decided to wait to see how four-time 450 Pro Motocross Champion Eli Tomac will do in the next two weeks when he returns to action this weekend at Budds Creek Motocross Park and next weekend at the Ironman Raceway finale. Tomac has expressed his interest in again lining up for Team USA after his Achilles injury knocked him out in ’23 when Team USA was set to defend their ’22 victory, and Tomac was part of that winning team. We will have more on Tomac’s return on his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ450F, and Team USA’s options, as the story develops.”

And as for Captain America, Haiden Deegan, he told British journalist, Lewis Phillips that he isn’t sure if he is coming, but you never know Deegan likes to surprise people and I think I speak for everyone that having him here would be huge for the event. Ala, that 2006 team of James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto, who was at the time the next big thing in American motocross.

“It’s up in the air,” Deegan said. “I definitely want to go; it would be so sick. Racing for your country number 1 is sick and I’ve never left the country, so leaving the country would be cool too! You have to know the team, right? No-one has talked to me about riders going, so once they get a plan together and figure out who all is going then I feel like it’s more like a destined path, you know?”

So, while Team Australia and maybe team Germany) are two major nations to release their line-up, we wait for teams like The Netherlands, France and USA to give us their mouth-watering teams. Buckle down race fans, because like that 2006 MXoN between Everts vs Stewart, or 2016 in Maggiora when the winner came down to the last corners, or that historical win by Team USA at the same Italian track in 1986, we are in for something very special.