New Zealand announces Motocross of Nations team -ozzy go- fullnoise.com.au

It was announced today that Motueka’s Josh Coppins, Taupo’s
Ben Townley and Tauranga’s Cody Cooper will represent New
Zealand at this year’s edition of the Motocross of Nations.

After the final round of the Nokia MX Nationals this weekend Cody
Cooper will head to the USA to get ready for the MXoN

Motorcycling New Zealand debated long into the night about
which riders to send to the annual Motocross of Nations – the
international teams’ championship that is often labelled the
“Olympic Games of Motocross” – and feels confident its three
chosen representatives have the best chance of winning.

“This is the year I feel we are the most likely to succeed,” said
MNZ CEO Paul Pavletich.

“Cody is a lot stronger and more confident now than he was last
year; Ben is on fire in the United States and I expect Josh will be
world champion before the year is out. I am oozing confidence,”
he said.

This year’s Motocross of Nations will be held at Budds Creek,
near Washington DC, on the east coast of the United States, on
September 22-23.

It was the same trio of riders who put New Zealand on the
podium -- third overall from the 31 countries that qualified -- at
last year’s edition of the great race, staged near Winchester,
south-west of London.

Third is the best New Zealand has ever achieved at this stand-
alone clash of countries – and the team did that in 1998 and
2001, as well as last year – so it is likely that the Kiwis will again
be among the favoured line-ups in the US next month.

Coppins is 43 points clear at the top of the standings in the MX1
world championships after 12 of 15 rounds and Townley currently
tops the Lites (250cc four-stroke) class in the United States after
eight of 12 rounds.

New Zealand team manager Russell Burling explained that
Hawera’s Daryl Hurley, the other contender for the No.3 spot in
the team that has again been assigned to Cooper, was
“extremely gracious” about the final decision.

“Normally Daryl would probably be our pick for the No.3 spot but
with him breaking his collarbone a few weeks ago and with Cody
riding so well in Australia at the moment, we thought that this was
the way to go. Daryl phoned me and said he’d gladly step aside in
favour of Cody,” said Burling.

Cooper will have two Honda CRF450 bikes waiting for him in the
US. At the conclusion of his Australian campaign this weekend,
Cooper heads to the US to contest the final two rounds of the
American national series as part of a build-up to the Motocross
of Nations. His bikes are being prepared for him by Pro Circuit
in California.

“It is probably wishful thinking to believe we will beat the
Americans on their home turf (the US is a record 17-time winner
at the Motocross of Nations and also won in England last season),
but I expect we will rate as the No.2 favoured team,” said Burling.

“Motorcycling New Zealand has been terrific in its support and I
believe a lot of New Zealand fans will be making the trip to cheer
the boys on too.” Fullnoise.com.au