Taupo breakfast radio show host Andrew Leiataua managed to catch up with Team New Zealand manager Josh Coppins to ask him a few questions ahead of the squad’s big mission in Germany next month.

Motueka’s Coppins (pictured here) talks about how hard it was to make the team selection and just how important it is to get everything right ahead of the big day at Teutschenthal on September 29.

One of the Kiwi riders to miss out on selection, Queenstown’s national MX2 champion Scotty Columb, is reported to have been “wild” about missing out.

Columb had been focusing on the event as he recovered from knee surgery in April to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.

“’I’m wild because I had a goal, although it was touch and go whether I’d be strong enough again and be ready,” Columb said.

Columb said he had not been given the green light yet by his physiotherapist to resume riding but he had felt confident he could have been able to compete in seven weeks’ time.

The New Zealand riders named were Cody Cooper, Rhys Carter (both Mt Maunganui) and Kayne Lamont (Mangakino).

When he was appointed manager, Coppins rated Columb as one of the top contenders for a spot in the team. Although Coppins’ role was to advise the team selectors, the final decision was not his to make.

“’Because Scott hasn’t actually ridden yet, they [selectors] weren’t ready to take the risk,”’ Coppins said.

Columb was a “logical” choice, due to his top form over summer and the fact he had ridden in the MXoN twice before, but the timing of selection was not in his favour, Coppins explained.

“We have to choose the team six to eight weeks beforehand, so we can get organised with everything from booking flights, to team uniform and ordering gear.”

Click HERE for the radio interview.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com