Chance Hymas has been ruled out of the SMX World Championship Finals and Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, after a trivial overjump in free practice left him with two small wrist fractures. Additionally, there is a concern about an injured ligament between those two damaged bones.

The American Motorcyclist Association is in a literal race against the clock to find a replacement. With no time to ship a bike, and limited riders available, common sense would dictate that a KTM rider will fill the spot. Ryder DiFrancesco or Julien Beaumer on a 450F makes sense logistically, but neither athlete has significant time on the bigger bike. With both in the crux of a $500,000 250SMX title fight, one would think that they don't want to consider that mighty challenge today either.

Hymas' injury marks the third consecutive year that Team USA has lost at least one rider at the SMX World Championship Finals. There was a spare weekend prior to the Motocross of Nations in those years, however, which allowed for more breathing room. This is the worst-case scenario for all involved, including Hymas who lost an opportunity to represent his country in a similar fashion in the September of 2023.

Clarification on Team USA's position and line-up is bound to be published in due course, but rumors at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena also position Jordon Smith as a candidate.