Seems as though another American rider can be ruled out of racing the 2021 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations as Adam Cianciarulo of the Monster Energy Kawasaki outfit is out for the rest of the AMA Nationals with nerve damage.

With an operation due and no more racing until 2021, it seems impossible for him to be among the riders selected for the event in late September at the Mantova circuit.

Of course names like Cooper Webb (currently 8th in the series points), Justin Barcia (3rd in series points), Aaron Plessinger (6th in series points) and Chase Sexton (5th in series points) are still possible picks for the MXGP and Open classes, so it isn’t panic stations just yet for Team USA. Webb, Barcia, and Plessinger all have experience in the MXoN with some success, so whoever Roger De Coster picks will do a great job.

Adam Cianciarulo: I’ve been dealing with an ulnar nerve issue for the past couple of years. Randomly, I started having problems with it at the end of 2019. In 2020 it was mostly manageable and I really thought it was just arm pump. However, it continued to get worse this past off-season to the point where I couldn’t do more than a few laps at a time. After a lot of tests and scans, I had nerve decompression procedure right before SX ‘21. I’ve experienced minor relief from that, but not enough to be myself out there. I lose what feels like most of the strength in my right hand gradually as I’m riding. I’ve tried to be smart and do my best—but at this point the only logical decision is to get it fixed. It’s a relatively simple procedure, but it will put me out for the rest of this season. This has been difficult, mentally and physically. It’s driven me mad a few times if I’m honest. I’ve learned a lot about focusing on the things you can control and not getting lost worrying about the things you can’t. Ultimately, I’m always grateful for my challenges and the things they teach me. Surgery is this morning and I’m happy to get it sorted so I can continue going after my goals and get back to having fun on my dirtbike. I’ll be back and better. Thank you for your continued support.