AUGUST 8, 2007: Team New Zealand means business.
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.
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.”
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Originally Posted by scott411
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