Chad Reed will spearhead Team Australia at the 2010 Motocross of Nations in Colorado.

Motorcycling Australia has revealed the team that will represent Australia at the 2010 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) to be held at Thunder Valley in Colorado, USA, on 26 September.

The team will be spearheaded by 2009 American AMA Motocross Champion Chad Reed in the MX1 class, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider securing a place on the team despite sitting out the final rounds of this year’s AMA series with Epstein Barr virus.

Joining Reed on a 450 will be South Australian Brett Metcalfe in the MX3 category, after an impressive debut season in the 450 Class of AMA Motocross with GEICO Powersports Honda.

Metcalfe currently sits third in the AMA Motocross Championship with numerous podium performances during the season.

Joining the pair of American-based Aussies will be Queenslander Dean Ferris in the MX2 class on a 250F. Ferris has been a revelation as a privateer in the MX Nationals during 2010, finishing third overall in the Pro Open class behind Jay Marmont and Scotsman Billy Mackenzie in his rookie season.

As recently announced, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) regulations stipulate that in 2010 the maximum age for the MX2 class rider is 23 years, meaning that riders born before 1 January 1987 were not able to be selected for the MX2 class.

Three-time Pro Open Australian Motocross Champion Marmont has been confirmed as the 450 reserve rider, standing by should Reed or Metcalfe not be able to contest the event.

The 250 class reserve rider will be Serco Yamaha’s Kirk Gibbs, who finished runner-up to American PJ Larsen in the Pro Lites class of the MX Nationals.

With Reed still under a fitness cloud at this point, MA representatives have confirmed to MotoOnline.com.au in a phone call this morning that Reed has declared his intentions to compete for Team Australia despite the illness that has struck him in recent weeks.

The 2009 MXoN was claimed by the USA, represented by Ryan Dungey, Ivan Tedesco and Jake Weimer, while Australia will be looking to better their seventh place finish when the 2010 event takes place in September.