With sensational Belgian brothers, Lucas and Sasha Coenen making the trek across the Atlantic Ocean this winter, to race the AMA supercross and AMA motocross championships, we thought we might take a look at some of the leading riders who made the change from MXGP to AMA, or visa versa.

Grand Prix motocross has lost a number of riders to AMA racing over the last 50 years, and while the numbers going in the 1990s and early 2000s were huge, it has somewhat slowed in the last decade, maybe due to the MXGP series growing so much, or the fact, many Euros are seeing riders going to USA and struggling with supercross and injuries. 450 machines and supercross are not a great combination and that has to scare riders off.

Of course, World champions who did move across the Atlantic, have been J. M. Bayle, Greg Albertyn, Grant Langston, Christophe Pourcel, Marvin Musquin, Ken Roczen and Jorge Prado. Bayle went in 1990, Albertyn in 1995, Langston in 2002, Pourcel in 2009, Musquin in 2011, Roczen in 2012 and then after more than a decade, Prado went in 2025. Seven world champions in 36 years.

The last decade has seen something of a downturn on riders heading to America, after the 1990s and 2000s saw dozens and dozens go. Of course, the first non-American to make a splash was Australian Jeff Leisk, who picked up a factory ride for both Honda and Yamaha in 1987 and while he never got a victory in USA, he did get podium finishes in probably the toughest era in AMA racing.

Jean Michel Bayle arrived in the early 1990s and well, he dominated, as he won the AMA 250cc Supercross Championship, the AMA 250cc Motocross Championship, and the AMA 500cc Motocross Championship all in the same season, of 1991, then disappeared back to Europe and MotoGP.

Soon after a long list of euros or GP riders flooded America between the 90s and early 2000s, with names like Sebastien Tortelli, James Dobb, Greg Albertyn, Mickeal Pichon, David Vuilleman, Stephane Roncada, Grant Langston, Tommy Searle, Christophe Pourcel, Marvin Musquin, Ben Townley, Tyla Rattray, Ken Roczen, Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, Andrew McFarlane and many more.

As mentioned, it has slowed a lot in recent time, as big name men who have moved to USA from around the world in the last 10 years from Dylan Ferrandis, Max Anstie, Hunter Lawrence, Jett Lawrence, Jo Shimoda, Tom Vialle, Jorge Prado, Cornelius Toendel, Valentin Guillod, Guillem Farres, Lucas Coenen, Sasha Coenen and obviously some smaller named riders. So, as you can see, the numbers have dropped significantly compared to that earlier era of the 90s and 2000s.

MXGP also attracted their share of non-European riders in the last 10 years, from Hunter Lawrence, Jett Lawrence, Todd Waters, Thomas Covington, Camden McLellan, Bailey Malkiewicz, Jed Beaten, Mitch Evans, Todd Wilson, Mitchell Harrison, Darian Sanayei and obviously, many more smaller names.

As for American’s coming to Europe, that has grinded to a near standstill, after many came in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Five American riders have won GP titles, those being Brad Lackey, Danny LaPorte, Trampas Parker, Donny Schmit, and Bobby Moore. The last was Moore in 1994, so 32 years ago.

Of course, back in 2015, some 11 years ago, AMA champion and legend, Ryan Villopoto raced the MXGP championship but only completed four rounds after crashing out of the Italian Grand Prix at Trentino and ending his season and career.

Since that 2015 season, American riders racing in Europe has been few and far between, with Thomas Covington, Mitchell Harrison and Darian Sanayei being a few who have raced in Europe.

The American's who did take championships in Europe are below.

Brad Lackey

In the '70s and '80s, the 500cc World Championship was the most prestigious in motocross. This was an era where the superpowers of motocross were in limbo, as the previously dominant Europeans were starting to feel heat from a progressively fast crop of American talent. Still, the 500cc World Championship had never been won by an American, until Brad Lackey from California finally accomplished the feat in 1982, his tenth year on the World MXGP circuit. Lackey would retire after that season, the first and only American ever to win the title.

Danny LaPorte

Danny LaPorte was a champion in the AMA series in the early '80s. After winning the 500cc AMA title in 1979, LaPorte rode on Team USA to their first win ever in the Motocross of Nations, the beginning of a 13-year winning streak that officially marked the changing of the guard in motocross world domination. LaPorte then set his sights on the World Championship, and in 1982, in his first attempt, LaPorte won the 250-world title, which along with Lackey’s 500cc championship marked the most dominant year ever for America in world motocross.

Trampas Parker

In 1989, Trampas Parker rode a KTM to the 125 World Championship title. He was the first American to ever win in the small-bore class. After a poor season in 1990, Parker rode a Honda to the 1991 250 World Championship title, the first American ever to win two World Championships.

Donny Schmit

Donny Schmit was the cream of the crop for Americans in the GPs in the early '90s. Schmit was a successful racer on the AMA circuit when he stepped over to the World Championship in 1990, winning the 125 title in his first attempt much like Parker. After injuries kept him out of the running in '91, Schmitty took the 250 World Championship in 1992, solidifying four straight years of Americans winning a world title, the most dominant streak for the U.S. in the series. After a third in ’93 and a seventh in ’94, Schmit called it a career in the GPs. He came back to the U.S. for a part-time race schedule and to film awesome MX video segments on iced-over lakes.

Bobby Moore

In the early '90s, the AMA Motocross Championship had gained enough ground to be dubbed the highest profile series to American racers. Still, some Americans travelled overseas to do some damage in the World Championship. Bobby Moore became the latest American world champion when he won the 125 title in 1994, and he remains the last winner of any motocross world championship representing the red, white and blue.