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Tiny New Zealand has rocked the motorcycle world with a stunning third spot in the prestigious Motocross des Nations teams event in Belgium today (Sun Euro).
The team of Shayne King (Open class KTM), Josh Coppins (250 Suzuki) and Daryl Hurley (125 Suzuki) shut down many highly fancied countries to climb onto the podium at the event known as the Olympiad of Motocross.
With the unpredictable French grabbing top honours ahead of the widely-tipped home nation, the proud Kiwi trio turned in consistent rides around the demanding circuit at the Citadel of Namur to shine among 31 entrants.
Lost in the mud were big motocross nations like Great Britain, Germany, Italy and top qualifiers Australia who lost a rider with a broken arm.
“It was a total team effort that got us home,” commented Manager Yvette King (wife of Shayne) amid flowers and trophies at the close of sunny autumn day in southern Belgium.
“A lot of people wrote us off when we had a bad time last year,” added Shayne, who rode with a broken bone in an ankle today.
“But now we are back to the third place of the time before and we can be very happy with that.
Josh Coppins, who announced on the podium that he is leaving the Suzuki grand prix squad next year, said the Kiwi team knew if it worked together it could shine on the day.
“We realised none of us could win the races, it was a matter of sharing information and turning in consistent rides,” he said.
Daryl Hurley, who flew in from his Australian racing commitments to join the team, described his first European experience as awesome.
“It’s unbelievable really,” said the young man who landed in Belgium less than a week ago.
“Shayne and Josh helped me out a lot and as grand prix regulars they really knew what to do here.”
France celebrated its first ever victory in the 55-year-old event, the oldest in motocross, with a team of Seguy, Vuillemin and Demaria while Belgium fielded Ramon, Smets and Everts for second.
The trophy event carries great prestige and attracts big media interest.
Seldom in its history has it been favoured by a setting like the historic Citadel at Namur in French-speaking, southern Belgium.
The long, steep track winds through forests and fortifications of an historic walled city on a hill dominating the flat Flanders fields where Roman conquerors once trod.
Final results:
1 France 28 points, 2 Belgium 37, 3 NZ 47, 4 Great Britain 56, 5 Germany 57, 6= Australia and Sweden 73.
