New Zealanders Cody Cooper and Ben Townley have come through the first big test at Glen Helen today with flying colours.

As the two Bay of Plenty men get ready for racing at this weekend’s MXGP of the United States, just outside San Bernadino, both the Honda CRF450 bikes of Cooper and Townley passed scrutiny at “noise control” and will be lining up for practice and qualifying on Saturday.

With temperatures reaching the high 20s today and even more extremes forecast for Saturday and Sunday, likely to soar to around 36 or 38 degrees Celsius, the steep Glen Helen course promises to test riders and machines to the limit at this weekend’s final round of the MXGP season.

When asked if the heat would be a problem, Cooper’s answer was a simple and blunt “YES!”

But Cooper said he was looking forward to reacquainting himself with the Glen Helen track.

“I finished seventh in an AMA race here in the 2007 season and I like the track. We have had to stiffen up the suspension a bit.

“This weekend is really just about getting warmed up for the Motocross of Nations (in France) next weekend, so I don’t feel any pressure on me here. Next weekend is what’s really important.”

Pictured above is Cooper’s mechanic, Craig Guy, putting the bike through the noise testing session.

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

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One of the riders the Kiwi heroes will be lining up against this weekend is multi-time world champion Antonio Cairoli, who is making his comeback from injury at this weekend’s event at Glen Helen.

He too is getting ready for the weekend’s racing, but not before he takes time out to chat with BikesportNZ.com’s Bridget McGechan.

CURRENT WORLD CHAMPIONSHP STANDINGS:

MXGP Championship Top Ten:

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 688 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 566 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 539 p.; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 481 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 442 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 426 p.; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 416 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 393 p.; 9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 344 p.; 10. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 331 p.

MX2 Championship Top Ten:

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 556 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 538 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 506 p.; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 475 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 467 p.; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 423 p.; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 418 p.; 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 393 p.; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 356 p.; 10. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 304 p.