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Team Australia has been confirmed for the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) event, to be held at RedBud in the United States between 6-7 October.

Motorcycling Australia (MA) has selected Hunter Lawrence (MX2), Kirk Gibbs (MXGP) and Mitch Evans (Open) to represent our nation in the historic international, to be managed by Michael Byrne for the first time.

MX2 World Championship standout Lawrence, who will compete in the US full-time from next season, returns for the second-straight year as part of Team Australia, contesting the MX2 ranks once again. He topped the category one year ago at Matterley Basin.

“I’m super-stoked to get the opportunity to represent my country again this year at Motocross of Nations,” Lawrence said. “I am really hoping to do my country proud again, look forward to the weekend and also catching up with the fellow Aussie riders coming over on the team! I am proud to be racing for my country!”

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s former MX1 national champion Kirk Gibbs will also be back in the green and gold for Team Australia after a positive first appearance last year, currently recovering from injuries that put him out of the back-part of the MX Nationals. He was sixth overall in the Open ranks one year ago, shining with P5 in the MX2/Open moto.

“I am extremely happy with the selection as it was a bit of unknown this year with my injury, but I’ve been working hard off the track hoping for this call,” said Gibbs, who has just been cleared to begin riding again this week. “Coming back for a second year is great, the butterflies wont be as bad and just getting the chance to put the green and gold on is such a privilege. Big thanks to those who selected me and have shown belief in me.”

Also due to make a second appearance as part of Team Australia will be Raceline Pirelli KTM’s Mitch Evans, who finished second to Dean Ferris in the MX1 class of the domestic championship this season as a rookie. He was a late addition to the MXoN squad in 2016 as a replacement in MX2, however with more experience this time around he is eager to display his capabilities on the world stage.

“This year it was one of my goals to be selected and my team and I put in a lot of work this year and for that to pay off is great,” Evans admitted. “For me to be selected for the Australian squad initially, not like back in 2016 when I was called up for injured riders, is awesome. I am ready to go this year absolutely miles ahead of where I was back in 2016.”

With round two of the Australian Supercross Championship to be held at Coolum on the same weekend, dominant MX Nationals MX1 champion Dean Ferris previously elected to focus on the supercross series rather than contesting MXoN.

Interest was shown from Australia’s greatest of all time Chad Reed, hopeful of representing Team Australia one final time in the prestigious international event, however it’s understood MA selectors instead opted for the combination of Gibbs and Evans on the 450s.

Last year the combination of Lawrence, Gibbs and Ferris claimed sixth overall in the nations classification, while Australia’s best-ever result was third in 2011 at Saint Jean d’Angely, France, led by Reed alongside Brett Metcalfe and Matt Moss.