New Zealand’s Motocross of Nations team for 2018 has been announced.
Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) has today named the riders to represent New Zealand at the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, the motocross equivalent of the Olympic Games.
The three riders and one reserve, all with international racing experience, are:
Cody Cooper (Mt Maunganui) – multi-time NZ MX and supercross champion, currently competing in the 12-round United States Motocross Championships and sitting 9th in the 450cc class standings
Rhys Carter (Mt Maunganui) – currently 6th in MX1 class of the Australian MX Nationals.
Dylan Walsh (Christchurch) – currently 5th in EMX250 class in the European Motocross Championships.
Reserve: Hamish Harwood (Takaka) – the national MX2 champion and currently 3rd in MX2 in the Australian MX Nationals.
New Zealand has a strong record at this most prestigious of motocross events, an annual spectacle that typically attracts teams from almost 40 countries.
New Zealand has finished on the podium at the MXoN on three memorable occasions (in 1998, 2001 and 2006) and also finished an impressive fifth in 1993 and fourth in 2003 and 2005.
Team managers Shayne King and Bevan Weal are well-placed to lead the NZ campaign: King is a former Motocross of Nations competitor and won the FIM World 500cc Motocross Championship in 1996, becoming New Zealand’s first MX world champion; Weal has been the Motocross of Nations team manager for the last two years and is President of the Taupo Motorcycle Club.
Supported by major sponsor Penny Homes and supporting partner Best Builders, the team will travel to Red Bud, Michigan, in the United States to challenge for the Motocross of Nations crown the weekend of October 6-7.
King said: “I’m really excited that we have so many riders at the moment that could represent NZ at the MXON. I feel the team that has been selected is very strong for the race at Red Bud. It is such a demanding track and has the potential to be one of the toughest and best races this year in motocross around the world.
“To have John and Kelly from Penny Homes come on as our official team sponsor and Best Builders Construction as a supporting partner has given us the added tools to compete with the best teams in the world.”
© Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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