Hawke's Bay motocross rider Kieran Scheele will struggle to forget his 20th birthday in future.
"You're right it's the best possible way to celebrate it ... representing your country for the first time at senior level and it can't get any bigger than this," said Scheele.
Elsthorpe's Scheele, who has been Europe-based since January, will be in the three-man New Zealand team which competes in this weekend's Motocross of Nations event in France. The event which will involve teams from more than 30 countries has been nicknamed "the Olympic Games of Motocross" and is expected to attract more than 60,000 spectators.
"Sunday is the main day of the event and that's my birthday. Our goal is to qualify for Sunday which will involve the top 13 countries ... it will be unrealistic to expect a podium finish as we are the youngest team entered," said Scheele.
The Suzuki RMZ450 rider who will tackle the open class was referring to the fact he is the oldest of the Kiwi trio.