10/1/2019
HUSQVARNA RIDERS GEAR UP FOR 2019 MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS
FIVE RIDER ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING LINE-UP HEAD TO ASSEN FOR 73RD MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will take to the start of this weekend’s 73rd running of the FIM Motocross of Nations with five team riders representing four nationalities and competing across all-three classes – MX2, MXGP and Open. All looking to perform at their best for their respective countries while also earning strong individual results, US stars Zach Osborne and Jason Anderson will compete for Team USA with Pauls Jonass racing for Team Latvia and Arminas Jasikonis representing Team Lithuania. Strengthening Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s presence at the prestigious year-end event will be Thomas Kjer Olsen, who will compete for Team Denmark.
Held at the TT Circuit Assen, the 2019 FIM Motocross of Nations is set to be a truly unique event. Expected to be physically demanding and highly challenging, the man-made track built inside the iconic road racing facility will exclusively featuring deep, soft sand.
Filling two places within Team USA’s three-rider squad, Zach Osborne and Jason Anderson are both set to compete aboard FC 450 machinery, with Osborne filling the team’s Open class berth and Anderson competing as the team’s MXGP class entrant. Bringing notable MXoN experience to America’s bid to return to winning ways, both Osborne and Anderson have spent several weeks living and riding in Europe ahead of the big event.
Pauls Jonass, competing in the Open class for Team Latvia, will race at the MXoN for the first time aboard a 450cc machine. The former MX2 World Champion who has delivered impressive results during the second half of his maiden MXGP World Championship season has his sights set on helping Latvia qualify into the event’s main finals.
Arminas Jasikonis is another Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider looking to enjoy the season-ending Motocross of Nations event. Representing Lithuania in the MXGP class, AJ, who has been training hard with his teammates since the MXGP World Championship’s final event in China, is looking forward to a tough but enjoyable weekend in Assen.
Completing the official Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider line-up is MX2 class rider Thomas Kjer Olsen. Leading Team Denmark into action, following an up-and-down end to his 2019 MX2 World Championship campaign the talented sand rider is fired up and focused on giving his all in the hope of securing a winning MX2 class result.
In addition to the five Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders competing in Assen, four Husqvarna Motorcycles supported riders will also represent their respective countries. In the MX2 class Alberto Forato will compete for Italy, newly crowned British champion Dylan Walsh will race for New Zealand with Alvin Ostlund representing Sweden. In the MXGP class experienced rider Tanel Leok will represent Estonia. Seven additional Husqvarna Motorcycles competitors will compete in the event.
The 2019 FIM Motocross of Nations takes place this weekend, September 28/29, at the TT Circuit Assen, The Netherlands.
Pauls Jonass – Team Latvia [Open]: “This will be my first Motocross of Nations since 2015 and I’m really looking forward to it, especially as it’ll be my first-time riding there with a 450. It’s a pretty special event, everyone loves it and the atmosphere is always really cool, that’s one of the reasons why I’m really looking forward to it. For sure the main goal for Team Latvia is to qualify for the A final and that will depend quite a lot on my performance. So, I’m really motivated and looking forward to going there and showing some good results. It’ll be my last race of the season so hopefully we can end the year on a high note and maybe learn some new things. We’ve been testing since the last GP, so it’ll also be a good opportunity to learn more about the bike ahead of 2020.”
Arminas Jasikonis – Team Lithuania [MXGP]: “The Nations is a really special event to end the season. Obviously, it’s very different to an MXGP race and I’m really excited to be competing. The build-up has been really good fun as I’ve been working hard with the team on my sand riding and training together with the US Husqvarna guys. After a long season, to ride with people you don’t normally ride with is a great way to have fun and also refresh motivation. The preparation has been really good so I’m in high spirits going to Assen. The track will be rough and tough for everyone, but I’m excited to get there and do the best I can.”
Zach Osborne – Team USA [Open]:“It’s a real honour for me to be competing for Team USA at the Motocross of Nations this year, and something I’ve been focusing on for a while. Coming over to Europe early to get set-up and ready for the race has been great – a lot of fun and very worthwhile. Assen is going to be tough, but I think we have a pretty strong team. We have three guys who really want to be here, they’re enthusiastic about the event and I think that’s half the battle. The track is certainly unique, but I feel like I’m as ready as I can be. I’m focused on making it happen and looking forward to racing for my country.”
Jason Anderson – Team USA [MXGP]: “I’m super excited to be racing the Motocross of Nations and doing all I can to bring it home for the USA. I’m always down for this race and with a great team I believe we can do good things. It’s been such a good time being in Europe preparing for this race. Riding new tracks with new people has been so much fun. I’ve been putting in the work. I’m ready to rip out there, it’s going to be a good time.”
Thomas Kjer Olsen – Team Denmark [MX2]: “This year’s Motocross of Nations is going to tough – the track will be very technical, and the competition will be very high. But I can’t wait. It’s always a special race with an amazing atmosphere, and it just seems to get bigger and bigger. I’ve been working hard with my team, practicing and testing in the sand, and I feel I’m in good shape. Of course the Nations is a team event, but as the last race of the season I want to do all I can to end the year with a strong MX2 class result.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – MXoN 2019 Line-Up
#13 Jason Anderson – Husqvarna FC 450 – Team USA
#15 Zach Osborne – Husqvarna FC 450 – Team USA
#99 Pauls Jonass – Husqvarna FC 450 – Team Latvia
#103 Arminas Jasikonis – Husqvarna FC 450 – Team Lithuania
#107 Thomas Kjer Olsen – Husqvarna FC 250 – Team Denmark
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