It’s just a matter of days now until Queenstown’s Scott Columb leads Team New Zealand into battle in Latvia.

The Altherm JCR Yamaha Race Team ace is no stranger to competing at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) – commonly referred to as the “Olympic Games of Motocross” – but this time it will be his first as Kiwi captain and just the second time he’s campaigned on the big 450cc machine.

This year’s 68th edition of the traditional international season-ending competition is set for Kegums, in Latvia, on September 27-28 and this time Columb will be teamed with a couple of MXoN rookies, Takaka’s Hamish Harwood and Dargaville’s Hamish Dobbyn, who both ride for the CMR Red Bull KTM team.

“I’m quite anxious and a little nervous, but also very excited,” said Columb, who flies out in just a few days’ time.

“I’ve been training since July, not knowing if I would be selected or not, but I am super pumped right now.

“The hype around this event is huge, but it is certainly the most enjoyable event of the year to ride.”

Columb knows it will be a tough proposition to compete with the world’s elite riders, particularly in a sport as tough as motocross and with them competing so far from home support.

But the 30-year-old says his 10-year professional career, including seasons based in Europe, has been character-building and it will be with this vast experience that he hopes to help guide his young compatriots.

Columb is familiar with this competition, having also ridden for New Zealand at the MXoN in England 2008 and in Italy the following year, contesting the MX2 (250cc) class in 2008 and the MX3 (open class) in 2009.

Team New Zealand placed eighth and 11th respectively in those years.

For Latvia this month, where the course is very tough and his two team-mates are less experienced, he says: “If we were top 10 to 15 in the world, then that would be great.

“For me personally, I’d like to be around that 15th to 20th mark in the races.”

Columb’s best individual achievement at the MXoN was a 12th placing, in the combined MX3/MX2 race in Italy in 2009.

He has set a target for the team this year – to finish higher at the event than Team New Zealand did at the MXoN in Germany last year.

The Kiwi trio that raced in Germany comprised Mount Maunganui pair Cody Cooper and Rhys Carter and Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont and they qualified 13th of the more than 40 nations entered.

However, after team captain Cooper had major mechanical problems in one race, they had to settle for finishing 20th overall.

“I hope we can do better than that. Hopefully we can get through qualifying and get to the final races,” said Columb.

“We will certainly give it our all … ride with a lot of heart. That’s the best that we can do.”

When he returns from Europe, Columb will prepare for the upcoming New Zealand season, starting at Taupo over Labour Weekend.

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

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