Team USA riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb react to 2024 Motocross of Nations

At the 2024 Motocross of Nations, Team USA’s riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb showed impressive efforts in one of the most tightly contested events in the competition’s history. Held at Matterley Basin in the United Kingdom, the event saw Team USA finishing in second place, just three points behind the victorious Team Australia. Despite their strong performance, with Tomac earning podium finishes and Webb and Plessinger pushing hard, the close result left the American team disappointed with second place, highlighting the competitive nature of the event [oai_citation:12,Team USA riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb react to 2024 Motocross of Nations – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/motor-sports/news/team-usa-riders-eli-tomac-aaron-plessinger-cooper-webb-react-to-2024-motocross-of-nations-mxon) [oai_citation:11,Aaron Plessinger Thanks Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb for Stepping Up to Race MXoN – Racer X](https://racerxonline.com/2024/10/08/plessinger-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-my-riding-too-much-i-just-want-to-say-thank-you-to-these-two).

The road to the 2024 event was particularly challenging for Team USA. Originally, Chase Sexton and Chance Hymas were slated to compete, but both were unable to participate due to injuries. This left Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, both from the Yamaha Star Racing team, alongside Plessinger, who was the only original member of the team, to take on the daunting task of representing the U.S. at the MXoN. Tomac’s presence was especially significant, as this marked his return to the event after helping Team USA secure victory at RedBud in 2022 [oai_citation:10,Aaron Plessinger Thanks Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb for Stepping Up to Race MXoN – Racer X](https://racerxonline.com/2024/10/08/plessinger-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-my-riding-too-much-i-just-want-to-say-thank-you-to-these-two) [oai_citation:9,Team USA riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb react to 2024 Motocross of Nations – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/motor-sports/news/team-usa-riders-eli-tomac-aaron-plessinger-cooper-webb-react-to-2024-motocross-of-nations-mxon).

Tomac’s performance at the event was notable, as he finished second in the individual MXGP class behind Tim Gajser. Although Tomac led the final race for a portion of the race, he eventually lost the lead to Gajser and Jett Lawrence, ultimately finishing third. This left him feeling that second place “doesn’t sit well,” as he and his teammates had come so close to winning. Despite the outcome, Tomac expressed pride in the team’s effort and consistency throughout the races [oai_citation:8,‘Second place doesn’t sit well’ – Tomac on MXoN result – MotoOnline.com](https://www.motoonline.com/2024/10/08/second-place-doesnt-sit-well-tomac-on-mxon-result/).

Aaron Plessinger, racing in the MX2/Open division, had his own challenges, particularly in the final race, where he struggled in traffic but managed to fight back from 15th to finish 8th. He was quick to credit his teammates Tomac and Webb for stepping up and putting forth their best efforts under tough conditions. Plessinger’s gratitude towards the team was clear, as he recognized the overall strength of the group despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the event [oai_citation:7,Aaron Plessinger Thanks Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb for Stepping Up to Race MXoN – Racer X](https://racerxonline.com/2024/10/08/plessinger-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-my-riding-too-much-i-just-want-to-say-thank-you-to-these-two) [oai_citation:6,Team USA riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb react to 2024 Motocross of Nations – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/motor-sports/news/team-usa-riders-eli-tomac-aaron-plessinger-cooper-webb-react-to-2024-motocross-of-nations-mxon).

Cooper Webb had a mixed performance, with a rough start to the weekend but a strong redemption in his second moto, where he contributed to the team’s overall podium finish. His consistency and willingness to step up when needed helped keep the team in contention throughout the event [oai_citation:5,‘Second place doesn’t sit well’ – Tomac on MXoN result – MotoOnline.com](https://www.motoonline.com/2024/10/08/second-place-doesnt-sit-well-tomac-on-mxon-result/).

While the close finish left Team USA hungry for victory, their resilience and teamwork in the face of adversity made their second-place finish a commendable effort. The event underscored the competitiveness of the international motocross scene, with Australia’s victory marking a historic win for their team [oai_citation:4,Team USA riders Eli Tomac, Aaron Plessinger, and Cooper Webb react to 2024 Motocross of Nations – NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/motor-sports/news/team-usa-riders-eli-tomac-aaron-plessinger-cooper-webb-react-to-2024-motocross-of-nations-mxon) [oai_citation:3,Aaron Plessinger Thanks Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb for Stepping Up to Race MXoN – Racer X](https://racerxonline.com/2024/10/08/plessinger-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-my-riding-too-much-i-just-want-to-say-thank-you-to-these-two).

For more detailed insights into their performances and the behind-the-scenes challenges, check out additional coverage on the event from sources like NBC Sports and MotoOnline [oai_citation:2,Aaron Plessinger Thanks Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb for Stepping Up to Race MXoN – Racer X](https://racerxonline.com/2024/10/08/plessinger-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-my-riding-too-much-i-just-want-to-say-thank-you-to-these-two) [oai_citation:1,‘Second place doesn’t sit well’ – Tomac on MXoN result – MotoOnline.com](https://www.motoonline.com/2024/10/08/second-place-doesnt-sit-well-tomac-on-mxon-result/).