US MX Team Lands in Czech Republic For Quadcross of Nations
Team USA has arrived to compete this weekend.
The AMA U.S. ATV Motocross Team of Bryce Ford, Joel Hetrick and Brandon Hoag has arrived in the Czech Republic to contest in the 2024 Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Quadcross of Nations this coming weekend. The trio will attempt to collect the team’s sixth title since 2017.
The team has been granted number designations by the FIM. Due to the team’s win last year, competition numbers for the team will be one, two and three. Team Manager Mark Baldwin has assigned a number to each U.S. rider, which determines the motos they will contest in.
Five-time AMA Pro ATV Motocross National Championship Series Champion Joel Hetrick, backed by Phoenix Racing Yamaha, will sport the #1 on his ATV. Jim Hardy will serve as his mechanic.
The #2 will be represented by Westland Motorsports/JH Racing/Goldspeed Tires/PEP/Musick Racing’s Brandon Hoag, and his mechanic will be Johnny Hale.
Ford Brothers Racing/FXR/SSi Decals/CST’s Bryce Ford will feature #3. Cody Ford will fill the role as his brother’s mechanic.
As the reigning champions, the team will sport red numberplates on their Yamaha YFZ450R machines at the hard-pack Loketske Serpentiny circuit. The team will face more than 50 of the world’s top riders.
“We have to be strategic and work collaboratively as a team to achieve success,” said Team Manager Mark Baldwin of Baldwin Motorsports. “On U.S. soil, Hetrick, Hoag and Ford are competitors. However, they have to work as one unit for this world-class event. Each moto has one of our racers on the front row, one on the back row, and the third rider sits out. With number assignments, we have to consider the time between the 25-minute plus one-lap races. The order has an impact on our riders’ recovery time and machine prep — or possible repairs.”
On Saturday, each rider will have a qualifying moto where they will race against one member of each country to determine who will have best gate-pick for the following day.
On Sunday, riders will each race in two motos, with the team’s five scores combined for an overall finish position. The following includes the riders’ allotted motos, as selected by the team manager:
Moto 1: Hetrick and Hoag
Moto 2: Hoag and Ford
Moto 3: Hetrick and Ford
“Due to the time difference, fans will have to wake up early on Saturday, September 28 to view practice,” said Crew Chief Jody Bateman of JB Racing/88 Live to Ride. “It will start at 4:40 a.m. Eastern, and qualifying will begin at 10:25 a.m. Eastern. On Sunday, September 29, fans can watch the first race kick off at 6 a.m. Eastern.”
Live timing can be viewed at https://www.fimsidecarcross.com/live-timing and live streaming can be purchased for $27.79 USD at https://page.inplayer.com/fimsidecarcross/
“Sponsors have significantly supported the team’s preparation, travel and onsite expenses in their journey to collect the FIM World Championship,” said Team Delegate Harv Whipple. “The United States’ top ATV racers will contest on powerful and proven machines at the world stage thanks to Yamaha’s backing.”
For questions regarding the team or to commit to sponsorship, please contact Harv Whipple at hwhipple@mchsi.com or 309-314-4879.
Follow updates regarding the team at facebook.com/teamUSAatvmx and on instagram at @teamUSAatvmx.