AMA: 2000 Chevy Trucks US Motocross Des Nations Team named
9 August 2000
2000 CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS TEAM NAMED
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider Ricky Carmichael, Team
Suzuki rider Travis Pastrana, and World Motocross and PAMO Honda rider Ryan
Hughes have been named to the 2000 Chevy Trucks Team U.S.A. Motocross des
Nations team. The three riders will represent the U.S. in the prestigious
international competition, September 10, in St. Jean D' Angely, France.
With two Motocross des Nations veterans on the team, expectations of
championship gold are high. Ricky Carmichael previously represented the U.S. on
the 1998 and 1999 teams in the 125cc class, years in which the team finished 5th
and 4th respectively. Carmichael steps up to the premier 250cc class for 2000.
Ryan Hughes served on the 1995 Motocross des Nations team, helping to bring home
second-place honors that year.
Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., has amassed an impressive resume in his short
professional career. He won the 125cc U.S. Motocross Championships from
1997-1999, in 1998 he won the 125cc Supercross East Region championship. And he
currently leads the points battle for the 2000 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross
Championships in the 250cc class. Ricky will compete aboard his Kawasaki KX250.
Ryan Hughes (a.k.a. Ryno) has not been seen on the AMA U.S. Motocross
Championships circuit lately. Hughes, of Escondido, Calif., has been honing his
skills in Europe in the 250cc World Motocross Championships. Currently Hughes is
ranked 16th, but in 1998 took fourth-place in the World Motocross standings.
Ryno will field his 250cc Honda in the Motocross des Nations optional class.
New comer and rising star Travis Pastrana has been impressive in his rookie
season, racking up a third-place finish in the AMA 125cc Eastern Region
Supercross Series, and holds a firm grip on second-place in the AMA Chevy Trucks
U.S. Motocross Championships 125cc class. Pastrana, of Annapolis, Md., is best
known for his outrageous freestyle jumping talents, but has been making a name
for himself as a tenacious competitor on the motocross and supercross circuits.
Travis will compete aboard his Suzuki RM125.
The three riders were selected from a field which also included Steve
Lamson, Mike LaRocco, Tallon Vohland, Larry Ward and Kevin Windham. The original
field for Team Chevy Trucks USA was generated by fan votes in an on-line ballot
at www.amaproracing.com -- a first-ever in the history of the event. Team USA
captain Roger DeCoster and AMA Motocross manager Duke Finch recently choose the
final three team members from the fan-selected field.
The Motocross des Nations format requires each country to select a team of
three riders: one riding a 250cc machine, one riding a 125cc, and a third rider
aboard a machine of optional displacement. Three motos are held, with each team
fielding two riders in each moto. Scoring is done without regard to engine size.
Race winners are awarded one point, second-place two points, and so on. The best
five scores for each team are tallied to determine the winner.
The U.S. dominated the Motocross des Nations from 1981 to 1993, winning 13
back-to-back championships. U.S. teams placed second in 1994 and '95, then came
back to win the 1996 championship.
For tickets and travel arrangements to the Motocross des Nations, call AMA
Travel at (800) 253-8747. 2000 Chevy Trucks Team U.S.A. Motocross des Nations
apparel is also for sale by calling AMA Product Sales at (614) 856-1900, or at
www.amagear.com, with proceeds supporting this year's team.
PAST MOTOCROSS des NATIONS U.S. TEAMS AND FINISHES
YEAR LOCATION, RIDERS FINISH
1999 Indaiatuba, Brazil, Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham, Mike LaRocco 4th
1998 Foxhill, England, John Dowd, Doug Henry, Ricky Carmichael 5th
1997 Nismes, Belgium, John Dowd, Jeff Emig, Steve Lamson 8th
1996 Jerez, Spain, Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Emig, Steve Lamson 1st
1995 Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Rep., Steve Lamson, Jeff Emig, Ryan Hughes 2nd
1994 Roggenburg, Switzerland, Jeff Emig, Mike Kiedrowski, Mike LaRocco 2nd
1993 Schwanenstadt, Austria, Jeff Emig, Jeremy McGrath, Mike Kiedrowski 1st
1992 Manjimup, Australia, Billy Liles, Mike LaRocco, Jeff Emig 1st
1991 Valkenswaard, Netherlands, Mike Kiedrowski, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw
1st
1990 Vimmerby, Sweden Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw 1st
1989 Gaildorf, Germany, Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, Mike Kiedrowski 1st
1988 Dung, France, Ron Lechien, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward 1st
1987 New Berlin, NY, USA, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward 1st
1986 Maggiora, Italy, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Johnny O'Mara 1st
1985 Gaildorf, Germany, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Ron Lechien 1st
1984 Vanta, Finland, Rick Johnson, Johnny O'Mara, Jeff Ward, David Bailey 1st
1983 Bruxelles, Belgium, David Bailey, Mark Barnett, Jeff Ward, Broc Glover
1st
1982 Wohlen, Switzerland, David Bailey, Johnny O'Mara, Danny Chandler, Jim
Gibson 1st
1981 Beilstein, Germany, Chuck Sun, Johnny O'Mara, Danny LaPorte, Donnie Hansen
1st
1980 Wiltshire, England, No U.S. Team
1979 Stockholm, Sweden, No U.S. Team
1978 Gaildorf, Germany, Bob Hannah, Rick Burgett, Chuck Sun, Tommy Croft 4th
1977 Cognac, France, Kent Howerton, Tony DiStefano, Gary Semics, Steve
Stackable 2nd
1976 St. Anthonis, Netherlands, Rex Staten, Bob Hannah,
Tony DiStefano, Kent Howerton 5th
1975 Prague, Czechoslovakia, Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Kent Howerton,
Tony DiStefano 9th
1974 Stockholm, Sweden, Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Tony DiStefano, Jim Weinert
2nd
1972 Norg, Netherlands, Gary Jones, Jim Weinert, Brad Lackey, Jim Pomeroy 7th