“ I have myself been on the MXoN podium twice as a rider for New Zealand , so I know it ’ s possible and I also know it won ’ t be easy ,” said King . Motorcycling New Zealand general manager Mike Kerrisk said : “ The team shows a great blend of youth , experience and obvious ability . We wish them all the very best and know they will represent us well .” Team New Zealand finished 21st overall at the MXoN last season , when the event was staged in Michigan , in the United States , and on that occasion the riding trio was Tauranga ’ s Josiah Natzke , Waipukurau ’ s Rhys Carter and Tauranga ’ s Brodie Connolly . It was three seasons prior that the Kiwis were last represented at the MXoN , in The Netherlands in 2019 , where they finished 19th out of the 34 nations entered after two of the trio – Canterbury ’ s Dylan Walsh and Taupo ’ s Wyatt Chase – became injured . The team ’ s third rider , Taupo ’ s Maximus Purvis , did still perform with distinction but it wasn ’ t enough for the team to recover from the injuries setback .
Oparau ’ s James Scott , a young man who will be making his MXoN debut this year , but also a rider already with vast international experience .
The MXoN did not proceed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and New Zealand did not send a team to the MXoN in Italy in 2021 because of safety concerns and continuing travel difficulties associated with the pandemic . However , from rookie first-timers in 1984 to top-10 regulars just over 10 years later , Kiwi motocross riders have always boxed well above their weight and have often been rated among some of the best in the world . A New Zealand squad has finished among the top 10 an incredible 14 times in 31 appearances at the event since they first attended , in Sweden in 1984 – including three times finishing on the podium – and that ’ s not bad for a country with an entire population less than that of many cities in the countries of most of their rivals . More than $ 16,000 was raised towards this year ’ s MXoN campaign by the Battle of the Clubs fundraiser motocross in Taupo .
58 KIWI RIDER