New Zealand will again have solid representation on the Australian motocross scene this season.

Mount Maunganui’s national MX1 No.2 Cody Cooper spent the past two seasons racing in the AMA outdoor championships in the United States but now he is crossing the Tasman to tackle the open class in Australia.

Cooper (pictured above) will race for the factory-backed Australian Rockstar Motul Suzuki Team, the same Jay Foreman-managed team that fellow Kiwi Daryl Hurley rode for when he took the Australian open class title in 2005.

Warkworth’s Hamish Dobbyn also heads across the Tasman to take up a ride with the same Rockstar Motul Suzuki Team.

He will ride in the Under-19s Championship, filling the vacancy made by Lawson Bopping who has moved to the Lites class.

Meanwhile, Cambridge’s Kieran Leigh (Yamaha), Taupo’s Cam Dillon (Honda) and Rotorua’s John Phillips (Honda) fill the three spots set aside for New Zealand riders in the Australian Under-19 Championships.

The Australian Motocross Championship season kicks off at Horsham, Victoria, on March 28.

Calendar:

RND 1 Horsham Vic March 28;

RND 2 Canberra ACT April 18;

RND 3 Barrabool Vic May 2;

RND 4 Toowoomba QLD May 16;

RND 5 Raymond Terrace NSW May 30;

RND 6 Wodonga Vic June 27;

RND 7 Port Macquarie NSW July 18;

RND 8 Coolum QLD July 25.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com