The Kiwis are planning an “Italian job” of their own this weekend, a hit-and-run raid north of Milan.

Every year, the Motocross of Nations lives up to its billing as the biggest and best dirt bike spectacle on the planet and this weekend the hills of northern Italy will host this famous teams’ racing event.

Widely referred to as “The Olympic Games of Motocross”, this one-weekend affair brings together the word’s elite for an event where the racers put aside the past season’s bitter rivalries and unite instead along different battle lines, with three-rider teams formed to fly the flags of their respective homelands.

And it will be a talented trio of riders who will represent New Zealand at this season’s 70th annual edition of the MXoN, set for Maggiora, near Borgomanero, north-west of Milan, this Saturday and Sunday (Sept 24-25).

Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Honda), Takaka’s Hamish Harwood (KTM) and Hamilton’s Josiah Natzke (KTM) will fly the Kiwi flag on the race track in Italy this weekend, while Taupo businessman Bevan Weal will take care of managing the campaign from behind the scenes.

The Kiwi riders know it won’t be easy facing the world’s elite on such a massive stage, but each of them is determined to put on another good showing.

The three-rider teams are glittering with the biggest names in the sport, including riders from both the United States national championships scene and the predominantly European-based World Motocross Championships.

From rookie first-timers in 1984 to top-10 regulars just over 10 years later, Kiwi motocross riders have boxed well above their weight and often rated among some of the best in the world.

Team New Zealand has finished among the top 10 a creditable 14 times in 26 appearances at the event since they first attended in 1984.

New Zealand has been on the MXoN podium on three memorable occasions in recent times – at Foxhills, in England, in 1998; at Namur, in Belgium, in 2001, and at Matterley Basin, in England, in 2006 – and, while unlikely, another podium finish is not out of the question.

Cooper is one rider in particular who should feel right at home in Italy this weekend, the Honda rider having been an integral part of seven MXoN campaigns in the past.

His wealth of experience could be the difference between the team earning a top 10 result this weekend or failing to qualify among the 20 countries that will reach the final stages of the competition on Sunday.

A top 10 result would be considered a massive achievement for the New Zealanders, especially considering the Kiwis have one of the smallest populations and have the furthest to travel.

In 2006, when the MXoN was staged near Winchester, in southern England, Cooper raced with Taupo’s Ben Townley and Motueka’s Josh Coppins as his team-mates and they finished a remarkable third overall.

But the past 10 years have been lean times for the Kiwis.

New Zealand has finished among the top 10 just three times since 2006 – eighth in England in 2008, eighth in the United States in 2010 and eighth in France last year – but two of last year’s squad, Townley and Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont, are unavailable this time around because of injuries.

Cooper, the New Zealand MX1 champion, is under no illusion that the task ahead in Italy is a daunting one, but he has faith that Harwood and Natzke will bring great strength to the squad.

National MX2 (250cc) motocross champion Harwood has just completed a solid season of racing in Australia, finishing seventh overall in the MX2 class.

The youngster of the squad, 17-year-old two-time former New Zealand senior 125cc champion Natzke, has been racing the European 250cc Motocross Championships this season and finishing as high as runner-up among young riders who will no doubt be Grand Prix stars of the near future.

With generous support for this year’s campaign coming from the sport’s governing body here, Motorcycling New Zealand, and from Auckland company Workshop Graphics, along with massive fundraising undertaken by the Taupo Motorcycle Club with their Battle of the Clubs motocross event in June adding to the coffers, the Kiwi contingent left for Italy in a confident mood.

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

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