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New Zealand made it look easy to qualify fourth for the prestigious Motocross des Nations teams event in Belgium today (Sat Euro).
With all three of its riders in the top echelon of their respective classes, the tiny nation is tipped to shake some of the fancied countries in the Sunday event.
Motueka-born expat Josh Coppins had probably the toughest task, facing more than half a dozen of the regular grand prix stars in the 250 class.
After a bad start, the 24-year-old blasted through to fifth place on his Suzuki.
“I got shut out when the gate dropped, then I fell trying to pass Carl Nunn for third,” commented Coppins.
“But I think I passed more riders than anyone else in the race, so from there fifth is not too bad.
“I can definitely do better tomorrow.”
Former world champion Shayne King then sealed the qualifying spot with a gutsy ride for third in the Open class.
Riding with a cracked bone in his ankle, the man from New Plymouth took a great start and muscled his big 500 KTM around the tough Citadel circuit at Namur.
“My foot was wasted by the end and for the last couple of laps I was in big pain,” said the 1996 title-holder.
“I could have nailed it and maybe held onto second but I have two rides tomorrow and they are more important.”
With just two of each team’s three results counting for qualifying, New Zealand was able to discard the seventh spot of its 125 class rider Daryl Hurley.
But that ride was itself a gem and bodes well for the Sunday trophy event.
In his first visit to the legendary circuit, the Suzuki racer started in the top 10 and worked his way forward.
“I felt I was going OK, but I’m still finding my way around,” said Hurley. “I can go better tomorrow.”
With Belgium and Italy pre-qualified after podium positions last year, Australia rocked the favoured European nations by qualifying top ahead of France and Great Britain.
But New Zealanders fearful of another Tasman drubbing can breathe again unlike qualifying, the Sunday race format does not allow countries to drop the result of their lowest rider.
In that case Australia, which had Chad Reed (Kawasaki) first 250 and Brett Metcalfe (KTM) third 125 today, will also have to count the score of Andrew McFarlane (KTM) who was 10th qualifier in the Open class.
Under a complicated raceday format, each rider competes twice and of the resulting six rides the top five are counted.
Pundits say the home nation will still be the one to beat with the French best-placed to upset them.
However Australia and Great Britain are rated a good chance and with its showing today New Zealand has taken the dark-horse tip.
The trophy event, pitting three-man teams from most of the world’s top countries, carries great prestige and attracts big media interest.
Seldom in its 55 years the oldest motocross event in the world - 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.
Under a qualifying system changed at the last moment, only 14 of the previous 17 nations went through today.
They are Australia, France, GB, NZ, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, South Africa, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Czech and Latvia.
Except for the bottom-qualified Greece and Lithuania, the others have a chance to make the four repecharge places Sunday morning. The next four in qualifying were Slovenia, Denmark, Netherlands and Norway.
The trophy races Sunday afternoon combine 125 and 250 classes, 125 / 500, and 250 / 500.
Confused yet?
