Tommy takes his place on Team GB
By Sean Lawless on 16th Aug 17
Motocross MXoN Tommy Searle Matterley Basin
Tommy Searle, Max Anstie and Dean Wilson will race for Team GB on home turf at this years Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin on September 31/October 1.
Anstie and Wilson have both had stand-out years and were automatic picks but there was a question mark over Searle who made his return to racing at the weekend after a season spent on the sidelines through injury.
However, team manager Mark Chamberlain was in Switzerland to see Searle's comeback and was sufficiently impressed to give the Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki rider the MX2 berth.
"Tommy's obviously been out a long time," said Chamberlain, "but I think I saw enough at the weekend to be confident that he's going to be strong enough to do a really good job for us on the 250."
Anstie (MXGP) has impressed in his first MXGP season on the Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna, scoring three moto podiums in the last five rounds, while Wilson (Open) - who races for the American Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna team - currently lies fourth in the AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
"Max has had a good rookie season and talking to him at the weekend he's really confident and feels as though he's been getting stronger the last few races. He really wants to peak at the Nations. Dean's also having a strong season and from the get-go he was really keen to be involved.
"There are other options but realistically at the minute I think that's the strongest team. I'm really confident and I think we've got a good chance."
Roger De Coster used the traditional pre-race ceremony at the Unadilla National to announce the US team.
With Eli Tomac declining to ride and front runners Blake Baggett, Jason Anderson, Justin Barcia and Cooper Webb facing off-season surgery, the USA will field Zach Osborne (MX2), Cole Seely (MXGP) and Thomas
Covington (Open).
Marvin Musquin has also declared himself unavailable for France and the champions will go for a fourth consecutive victory with Dylan Ferrandis (MX2), Gautier Paulin (MXGP) and Romain Febvre (Open).
Switzerland announced the inevitable trio of Arnaud Tonus, Valentin Guillod and Jeremy Seewer with the MX2 world number two making his 450 debut in the Open class. Guillod will race the 250.
