The team to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Motocross at Barrabool, Australia, on October 28, has been named.
Motorcycling New Zealand has again named a strong team this season as it bids to reclaim the Oceania title that its trans-Tasman neighbours took away again at Taupo last season.
Despite dominating the MX1 ranks, thanks to sterling performances from Kiwi internationals
Josh Coppins,
Luke Burkhart and
Cody Cooper, the Australians proved stronger in the MX2 and junior ranks to win the Oceania crown by 596 points to New Zealand‰Ûªs 562.
The event was staged in Australia in 2005, at the same Barabool circuit, and on that occasion it was a similar case of New Zealand winning the battles but losing the war. Australia beat New Zealand by 327-309 in 2005.
With Yamaha factory ace Coppins to spearhead the Kiwi cause, ably backed by two-time and current women‰Ûªs world motocross champion
Katherine Prumm (Kawasaki), the New Zealand team looks more than a match for the Australians.
The Kiwi juniors will also be a driving force with
Hamish Dobbyn (Yamaha),
Cameron Dillon (Honda) and
Henry Madams (KTM) chosen to represent their country.
The New Zealand team is:
Women: Katherine Prumm, Nikki Scott, Letitia Alabaster
Lites: Michael Phillips, Damien King, Luke Burkhart, Brad Groombridge
Open: Josh Coppins, Daryl Hurley, Nick Saunders, Jesse Donnelly
Junior: Hamish Dobbyn, Cameron Dillon, Henry Madams
Main Photo: Kiwi international Josh Coppins (Yamaha No.6), spearheading the Oceania effort for New Zealand.
Credit: Andy McGechan,
BikesportNZ.com 
