Amidst drama and dejection, the American Motorcyclist Association's assembled a three-man team for the 2026 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Chance Hymas (in MXGP), Levi Kitchen (MX2) and Cooper Webb (Open) will represent Team USA in Ernee, France.

With Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing ruled out due to cost, and the Monster Energy Kawasaki team unable to send bikes for Garrett Marchbanks in time, Mike Pelletier (team manager for a second time) called on Webb to lead the team.

Although unofficial (a small blunder by all involved), Webb will leave Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing on October 01 and is therefore open for Team USA selection with his new Team Tedder Husqvarna. It's far from an ideal situation for all involved – similar to when Chad Reed debuted with Rockstar Makita Suzuki at 2008's race – but the honor of representing the United States of America seemingly trumps all.

The same could be said for Chance Hymas, who will make his CRF450R debut on the world's biggest stage. The Honda HRC Progressive rider was set to race the Motocross of Nations in 2024 but sustained a torn ACL weeks before he was set to travel. 2026 offers an opportunity to right the wrong, just in unusual circumstances. Hymas is the first 250SMX rider to step up to a 450F for Team USA since Thomas Covington in 2017.

Levi Kitchen, the team's only traditional pick, will race MX2 as the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team's first American selection since the 2012 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

Team USA is one of only four teams to have won in the 2020s, and one of only three countries to have a minimum of three podiums in the same timeframe. The United States has missed the podium four times in the last 20 years.