Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 grand prix regulars Kevin Strijbos and Clement Desalle will contest the Thunder Valley and Muddy Creek rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series in the US.

Strijbos and Desalle will represent the Rockstar Energy brand during the rounds in Colorado and Tennessee, an interesting development for the GP contenders.

“The news about Clement and I going to race two AMA MX Nationals in America is now out,” Strijbos said. “I first heard about the possibility after the grand prix in Bulgaria.

“I had already asked the team about going there when we heard that the Mexican GP round was cancelled and they said it would be pretty difficult but then Davi Millsaps needed his operation and we had a call from Rockstar.

“Eric [Geboers, team manager] told me about a potential plan of doing a whole season there but it turned out to be too difficult and that changed into making one or two race appearances.

“Going for the whole season would have been a big change and I was told not to get too used to the idea initially, but it was impossible not to think about it. There would have been a lot to organise and would have been something new.

“Anyway I was fifth in the world championship and I felt uneasy about switching halfway through the series. It wouldn’t have been easy, but I would have done it if I needed to.

“I’m excited and also a bit nervous. I’ve been talking a long time about going there to try a race and it is actually happening at the age of 28 this year! I love America and whenever we go there for a GP and I’ve been twice for training and preparation.

“I really do not have any expectations. My aim is to make this as much of a fun experience as possible. This might be the last time I can go to the US with this level of support so I want to make the most of being there and enjoy it.

“I think I’ll need the first race just to take everything in and see how the event runs and then maybe be a bit better for the second meeting in Tennessee. Of course they are fast there, but we are not slow here and I don’t think Clement or I will be going to fight for 15th place. I’ll go to make my laps and battle where I can.

“We’ll be taking our suspension and exhausts with us and I think it is good that we’ll be using their Suzukis over there, simply from the point of resources. I don’t have a problem riding the RM-Zs in the U.S. to see how they might feel, especially at the altitude in Lakewood.”

Strijbos currently sits fifth in the MX1 World Championship while Desalle is third after seven rounds.