The team to represent New Zealand at the upcoming Motocross of Nations has been announced.

Motorcycling New Zealand’s motocross commission has named Belgian-based GP rider Josh Coppins (Motueka), US-based AMA championship contender Ben Townley (Tauranga) and Hawera’s Brad Groombridge to fly the Kiwi flag at the MXoN in Colorado in September.

Coppins and Townley will ride the MX1 and MX3 bikes.

Groombridge will ride MX2.

Under the new FIM rules, the rider submitted for the MX2 class must be aged under 23 years.

New Zealand finished 11th overall at the MXoN when it was staged in Italy last year but the Kiwi team has previously been on the podium.

New Zealand finished third overall at Foxhills, in Britain, in 1998, were third again at Namur, in Belgium, in 2001 and third again at Matterley Basin, near Winchester, in England in 2006.

New Zealand currently has several riders eligible for selection in the MX2 class and, working from a rider ranking system developed by the MNZ motocross commission, Groombridge was selected.

His consistent results at national level, his versatility, combined with his age were all deciding factors.

Groombridge finished third overall, behind Justin McDonald and Cody Cooper, in the MX1 class at the nationals last season.

The position of team manager has yet to be confirmed.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com