The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the six riders who will represent the United States at the 2018 FIM World Junior Motocross Championship, where the best young riders in the world compete on a fast and flowing track in Horsham, Australia, Aug. 24-26.
The FIM World Junior Motocross Championship is for competitors between the ages of 11 and 17 years. Countries from around the world select their best young up-and-coming riders to compete in individual classes and team events.
The event, at the Horsham Motorcycle Complex in Victoria, represents the first time the United States has participated in the FIM World Junior Motocross Championship since 2014.
It is a top-notch facility known for its fast and flowing track style. The racing format consists of three classes with three world titles on the line. Riders in the 85cc and 125cc classes compete for the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship for riders and manufacturers. Riders in the 65cc class vie for the FIM Junior Motocross World Cup for riders. And the results of the three classes are combined to determine the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship for national teams.
The AMA-supported entry consists of six riders, with two riders representing the United States in each of three competition classes.
"We are excited to make our return to the FIM World Junior Motocross Championship," said AMA Motocross Manager Ricky Rickords. "We have handpicked a team that is more than capable of bringing the FIM Junior Motocross World Cup home to the United States. As the team prepares for the event, we look forward to seeing each member succeed at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's Ranch before they depart for Australia."
In the Junior Motocross World Championship division, the United States is represented by Aiden Tijero, Max Miller, Ryder DiFrancesco and Caden Braswell.
Miller and Tijero will compete on KTM 125 SX motorcycles. Tijero has shown impressive pace in previous international motocross competitions and is the 2013 Individual WJMX 65cc champion.
Four-time AMA Amateur National Champion DiFrancesco and 2017 AMA South Carolina State Champion Braswell will represent the United States in the highly-competitive 85cc division. DiFrancesco will pilot a Kawasaki KX 85, while Braswell will run a KTM 85 SX.
In the Junior Motocross World Cup division, Logan Best and 2018 Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross 65cc 10-11 class champion Kade Johnson will compete on a pair of Yamaha YZ 65 machines.
