MXoN TEAM REVEALED
NZ NAMES STRONG TEAM FOR 2022 MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS
Brodie Connolly
Hamish Harwood
Josiah Natzke
A
mix of youth and experience will represent New Zealand in contesting this year ’ s Motocross of Nations in the United States .
Things move quickly in the motocross world and , less than a week after the Battle of the Teams fundraiser motocross in Taupo , Team New Zealand has been named to contest this year ’ s Motocross of Nations ( MXoN ) in the United States . Team New Zealand will now begin in earnest their preparations to tackle the 2022 Motocross of Nations at Red Bud , in Michigan , this September . The Kiwi contingent will be West Auckland ’ s Hamish Harwood ( MX1 ); Tauranga ’ s Brodie Connolly making his MXoN debut ( MX2 ) and Tauranga ’ s Josiah Natzke ( Open Class ). The reserve rider will be Waipukurau ’ s Rhys Carter . Team co-managers Bevan Weal and Shayne King said they were spoiled for choice in naming the team . They said : “ With a record number of expressions of interest this year it was a difficult team to put together and , especially due to the COVID-19 vaccination rules entering the USA , but we both feel we have selected one of
the strongest teams to represent our country .” Motorcycling New Zealand general manager Mike Kerrisk said , “ We are delighted to be able to support these riders and the management through this campaign after such an absence through ‘ global challenges ’ over the past two seasons .” “ The team shows a great blend of youth , experience and obvious ability , we wish them all the very best and know they will represent [ New Zealand ] well .” The last time New Zealand was represented at this “ Olympic Games of Motocross ” was at Assen , in the Netherlands in 2019 and the Kiwi team that year ( Wyatt Chase , Dylan Walsh , Maximus Purvis ) finished 19th overall . New Zealand has been on the MXoN podium on three memorable occasions over the years – at Foxhills , in England , in 1998 ( with Darryll King , Shayne King and Josh Coppins waving the silver fern flag ), at Namur , in Belgium , in 2001 ( Daryl Hurley , Josh Coppins , Shayne King ) and at Matterley Basin , in England , in 2006 ( Josh Coppins , Cody Cooper , Ben Townley ). This year ’ s edition of the MXoN is set for Michigan , in the United States , on the weekend of September 24-25 .
40 KIWI RIDER