Team New Zealand passed its first big test at the Motocross of Nations in Germany today.

Mechanics took the Kiwi bikes through the mandatory sound checks and all three bikes passed with flying colours.

All that remains now is for the three riders — Cody Cooper, Rhys Carter and Kayne Lamont — to have a good feed and a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s qualification races.

New Zealand has had mixed results in the past with the qualification stage of the great event.

In the United States in 2007, two of the three Kiwi riders crashed out of the event.

In 2008, at Donington Park in England, Cody Cooper topped the MX3 class qualifying as he beat all the best MX3 riders on the planet.

Last year in Belgium, Cooper’s bike was sound checked after his qualification race and found to be over the decibel limit, thus consigning the Kiwis to the last chance qualifier on race day morning. The Kiwis eventually advanced but their energy reserves were low and 15th was the best that they could achieve.

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