The omission of Garrett Marchbanks from Team USA will shock some – he was widely considered to be the first choice after Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing withdrew their riders from consideration. Kawasaki, however, pulled themselves from the conversation after internal meetings on Monday, August 24.

Although no Kawasaki representative has spoken officially on the outcome, sources indicate that it was deemed impossible to prepare race bikes in time (especially as preparation for the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals ramps up).

This is consistent with what Bruce Stjernstrom conveyed in an exclusive discussion with Lewis Phillips after the fifth 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross round. "We are known for not going to the Motocross of Nations," Stjernstrom said in February. "It's true. We have thirty-one races – the Motocross of Nations cannot be any higher than thirty-second. That doesn't mean it isn't important but those thirty-one races are the most important for our team.

"If it works so it does not do damage to those events, either in the current year or the next year, then we would consider it. I do not think Team USA has done a great job of putting things together [in recent years]. It's all last minute now with no marketing or promotion. There should be merchandise sales for Team USA at Anaheim 1, especially with more private teams here.

"A rider can emerge from one of those teams and be requested for the MXoN, but those teams would not have the money to do it. To leave the country, you will spend minimum of $75,000. Maybe closer to $100,000. A lot of the teams cannot do that. We used to announce the team at RedBud. Now it's the last race when we are three weeks from the race! I realize that there are injuries in some cases, but we must be better at this stuff."

Monster Energy Kawasaki was one of the teams called upon as a back-up plan, but not because of injuries. Could the AMA have realized sooner that Yamaha was unavailable – or too expensive – and given Kawasaki a chance to support Marchbanks? Perhaps. Whilst the 450MX classification offers some perspective on who is desirable for the event, it rarely comes as a surprise. The AMA's plans should not be shackled by it.

The fortunate news is that Kawasaki will return to Team USA for the first time since 2018 (and the first time outside of the United States' borders since 2012). Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, with plenty of notice, will field Levi Kitchen in MX2.