Motorsport: Kiwi riders ready to take on the world

Ben Townley (above) will join Josh Coppins and Brad Groombridge at the Motocross of Nations. Photo / Supplied

This year's edition of the Motocross of Nations is just days away and Team New Zealand will be there, boots and all.

The best riders from 32 countries will converge on the revamped Thunder Valley facility in Denver, Colorado, for this weekend's big annual event, commonly referred to as the "Olympic Games of Motocross".

The three-rider teams sparkle with the biggest names in the sport, including riders from the US-based national championship scene and European-based World Motocross Championships.

Team USA is again favoured to win the event after capturing its fifth straight win at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) when it was staged in Italy last season. The teams from Italy, France, Belgium and New Zealand, which head the list, are most likely to challenge the host Americans.

New Zealand's line-up comprises Josh Coppins from Motueka, Ben Townley from Taupo and Brad Groombridge from Hawera.

Coppins, who just over a week ago celebrated his final grand prix race of a 15-year world championship career, is no stranger to success at the MXoN, having been a part of the team on all three occasions where New Zealand finished on the podium, in 1998, 2001 and 2006.

Team New Zealand also finished as high as fourth on two occasions, in 2003 and 2005, so a top-five finish is not unrealistic.

Townley was in the Kiwi team in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and he also brings a wealth of experience with him. He was world MX2 champion in 2004, world MX1 No3 in 2005 and won the East Coast Lites Supercross Championship in the US in 2007, as well as finishing runner-up in the 250cc championships.

Groombridge is the Kiwi dark horse. Making his MXoN debut this season, the 20-year-old rates among the lead riders on the New Zealand domestic scene but this will surely be a learning year at the MXoN for him.

"It is always an honour to represent New Zealand and fly the silver fern," said Townley.

"Josh and I have a lot of experience at this race and I believe Brad was the best choice for the job this year. It is a very stacked field as always, but that's why they line us up every year to see which nation is fastest."