The naming of the three-rider squad to represent New Zealand at the upcoming Motocross of Nations in England will be delayed for at least a month.

This year’s “Olympic Games of Motocross” is set for the popular GP course at Matterley Basin, near Winchester, on the weekend of September 30-October 1, but the Kiwi selectors are not pushing any panic buttons.

The Team New Zealand squad selection panel is not willing to rush things with a “welcome problem” forcing the delay.

“We are spoiled for choice with the strength of candidates this time around,” said MXoN team manager Bevan Weal.

The squad was expected to be named this weekend, as part of formalities during the Battle of the Clubs motocross fundraiser event at Taupo.

“We will now not be naming the team until probably July 24,” he said.

“We will take a bit longer to make the important decisions and continue to evaluate the candidates’ results at events over the coming weeks.”

It is probably fair to say that five-time national MX1 champion and the current MX1 No.1 Cody Cooper, of Mount Maunganui, is a foregone conclusion to be selected as one of the trio, but nothing is certain about the MX3 (open class) or MX2 positions.

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

Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here