Ryan Dungey, Justin Barcia and Blake Baggett have a huge weight of responsibility resting on their shoulders.

They know the American tradition for winning at the Motocross of Nations is a tough cross to bear and the hopes and dreams of so many fans will rise or fall on what happens at Lommel, in Belgium, next month.

But this trip to Europe could also be one of Team USA’s toughest assignments.

“This is a great team,” said expatriate Belgian and motocross legend Roger DeCoster, who has lived in the US for many years and managed nearly every US team since 1981.

It is perhaps DeCoster (pictured above) who feels the pressure the most.

“They have proven that they are solid riders, especially in the sand, and the Lommel track is a very deep sand track,” said DeCoster.

Lommel, deeper and rougher than the Southwick national on the US nationals circuit but it is the same track where USA won its first Motocross of Nations title in 1981.

“That first team [of Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O’Mara and Chuck Sun] was one of the youngest in history, and we are returning with another extremely young team,” DeCoster said. “Being on the same track where we won the first time makes it very special.”

Team USA will be looking to extend their event win streak to eight, going back to 2005 in France.

Overall, Team USA hopes for victory No.23 and consecutive win No.8.

Dungey has raced the previous three events on a Suzuki RM-Z 450. Now on a KTM, this will mark the first time that the Austrian brand has appeared on Team USA.

Although he’s making a jump in bike size, it won’t be Barcia’s first time in a major race on a 450. He competed in the final four races of the 2011 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship on a 450 and scored three podium finishes, including a moto win in the sand at Southwick.

“It’s a little bit shocking, really. It’s awesome,” Barcia said of being chosen over full-time 450 riders such as Mike Alessi and Andrew Short.

“I practice on the 450 a lot, and I ride the sand really well. I’ve matured a lot in the past year, and I’m ready.”

The Motocross of Nations finals race features teams from 20 countries with each rider competing in two heats for a combined score to determine the overall championship-winning nation. The event emerged in post-war Europe in 1947 and has run uninterrupted since.

With 22 wins the United States is the all-time leader in the Motocross of Nations. Great Britain is second with 16.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com