Team line-ups are starting to emerge as the Motocross of Nations creeps closer to its September kick-off, but already some of those teams have had to be tweaked as injuries and illnesses make an impact.

Double world MX2 champion Jeffery Herlings is the latest to drop to the sidelines.

The 18-year-old Herlings (pictured here) is out with broken shoulder blade, sustained during qualifying at the Belgian GP last weekend, putting him out for between four and six weeks, which means he won’t be able to ride the last two GPs or the Motocross of Nations.

We are also still awaiting word on the fitness of German rider Max Nagl, sidelined from recent GPs with a dose of the Epstein-Barr virus. Germany won the MXoN in Belgium last year and would sorely miss this GP hero.

Meanwhile, the American Motorcyclist Association named the trio that will comprise Team USA at the MXoN in Teutschenthal, Germany, September. 28-29, a team that had to be tweaked just days before the official announcement when national MX1 champion Ryan Villopoto told the AMA that he would be unavailable because he needed instead to undergo remedial surgery.

This was despite the fact that he seems to have been untroubled by this old injury and has been virtually untouchable during the US nationals over recent months.

Therefore, the 2013 Team USA will be KTM’s Ryan Dungey and Honda team-mates Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac.

Long-time team manager Roger DeCoster – an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend, multi-time motocross world champion and Six Days gold medallist – will again manage the team in its hunt to reclaim the world championship. The US team last won the event at Saint D’Angely, in France, in 2011 and finished third at Lommel, in Belgium, last year.

The US is the all-time leader in FIM Motocross of Nations overall team victories with 22. Great Britain is second with 16.

“The strength for the Americans is that everybody always works together as a team,” said DeCoster, who himself competed for Belgium in numerous Motocross of Nations events in the 1960s and ’70s.

“Often, that is not the case for other teams, where the 250 guy often tries to prove he’s better than the 450 guy or vice versa. Another of our strengths is our fans. The American fans are very much behind this race. For me, personally, this is my favourite event of the year, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Dungey, who returns for his fifth time to the FIM Motocross of Nations, said he is thrilled for the opportunity.

“I’m excited and obviously it’s an honour,” said Dungey, who is the defending 450 class champion in the AMA Pro Racing Motocross Championship. “Last year was a little rough, but this year will be better. We’re all pretty good riders. We all work hard, we all get along and we’re on the same page seeking a world team title. We’ll work together and push each other and bring it, and if we can do that I think we’ll win back the title this year.”

Barcia, who was a rookie in 2012, said he’s more confident now with a year of experience competing at the FIM Motocross of Nations.

“Last year I learned a lot and the experience will be huge for me this year,” Barcia said. “I also have a lot more experience riding a 450 now, and that will be to my advantage because last year I didn’t have much experience on that bike. I think it’s awesome to represent my country, and our expectation is to win. We have a really strong team this year and we have a very good chance to bring back the trophy.”

Tomac, who has just wrapped up the 2013 AMA 250 motocross class championship, said he is thrilled to be on the team and he is ready for the challenge.

“The Motocross of Nations is one of the most prestigious things to do in our sport and any rider in the USA would be proud to represent their country,” Tomac said. “I’m super excited to go there, and I’m going to give it my best. Since it’s my first time, I think I will have a lot of pressure to do well, but it’s going to be a fun thing to do and represent. I’ll give it my all. I feel like I’m riding my best and that I can do well for the team.”

Riders in the FIM Motocross of Nations compete in either the MX1, which features 450cc bikes; the MX2 class, which includes 250cc motorcycles; or the open class. In Germany this year, Dungey will race MX1, Barcia will race Open, and Tomac will compete in MX2.

The FIM Motocross of Nations is one of the most high-profile motorsport events in the world. It features national teams competing for a combined score to determine the overall championship-winning country. The event emerged in post-war Europe in 1947 and has run uninterrupted since that time.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com