Today we bring you the second instalment, part two of our interview with Kiwi Motocross of Nations debutant Kayne Lamont …

The Team New Zealand riders – Josh Coppins, Cody Cooper and Lamont – had been forced to do it tough at this year’s Motocross of Nations in Lommel, Belgium.

They had to win the “last chance qualifier”, to battle their way out of the B Final to reach the main event later that Sunday afternoon.

With Coppins and Cooper finishing 1-2 for New Zealand, the Kiwis advanced, but that’s when things got really tough.

“Because we were the last qualifiers, as winners of the B Final, we had the 20th and 40th picks on the gate for the three main races. I was in the worst start position for my races and I got sand-blasted all the way around the track by the 450cc bike riders.

“My lower back took a pounding and, as well as getting arm pump, I felt like I had leg pump and shoulder pump, if that’s such a thing. I simply had no strength left to pull up on the handlebars. My mind was telling me one thing but my body couldn’t respond,” said Lamont.

It was always going to be extremely demanding in the torturous, energy-sapping sands of Lommel.

Motueka’s Coppins (MX1), in his last hoorah at international level, was the best-performed of the Kiwis, finishing 11th in his first race but pulling out of the second – credited with 34th – as fatigue became too much.

Mount Maunganui’s Cooper (Open class) finished 17-32, completing just 10 of 17 laps in his second moto as his body also had cried enough of the torture.

Lamont (MX2) chimed in with 34-33 finishes.

In the end, Team New Zealand settled for 15th overall of the 33 countries represented.

“I think we did pretty well in the end to finish 15th overall,” said Lamont.

“The experience I gained was enormous. After winning (the under-19 championship title) in Australia this year and then racing the MXoN, I have learned so much. I have a few different training techniques to apply now.

“The milk was horrible and the bread was horrible too in Belgium … real hard crusts … and the language barrier was quite hard. We had to find people who could speak English and then not talk to them too fast.

“I’m hoping I get chosen to represent New Zealand again next year, at Teutschenthal in Germany. I have raced there before at a Grand Prix there in 2010. It’s not sandy, so fatigue won’t be an issue like it was in the sand of Lommel.

“My body was pretty beaten-up after Lommel and it took me a good 10 days to recover.

“Finally, I want to thank the Jacky Martens team guys who did so much for me in Belgium, and I want to thank Alan and Lewis Gregory and Jeff Leisk in Australia too.”

Nearly a month has gone by since Team New Zealand flew the flag in Belgium, so it’s really just 11 months now until it all happens again … plenty of time for the Kiwis to regroup and plan the next MXoN assault.

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