Motorsport: Groombridge prepares for the race of his life

Taupo lad Brad Groombridge will represent New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations in Colorado. Photo / Supplied

Brad Groombridge is counting down the days to the biggest race of his career.

The Hawera-based Taupo lad heads off shortly to represent New Zealand at the annual Motocross of Nations (MXoN), the "Olympic Games of motocross", in the United States, with the big race set for Colorado on September 25-26.

He was selected last month as the MX2 (250cc) class rider to join Kiwi internationals Josh Coppins and Ben Townley to make up New Zealand's three-rider entry for the event and, since that selection, 20-year-old Groombridge has devoted every minute to getting prepared.

"It's a huge honour to be chosen to represent my country and a huge responsibility, too," said the MXoN debutant.

"But I'm not letting nerves affect me just yet. It might be different, though, when I board the plane and it all sinks in."

It is a very daunting prospect.

As well as hosting the event, Team USA is also the defending champion, having won the MXoN when it was held in Italy last year. That victory gave the US a phenomenal 20 wins in the 63-year history of the event. Few would bet against the Americans winning for the 21st time in September.

That's not to say Team New Zealand will be there just to make up the numbers - New Zealand finished 11th overall out of the 35 countries that fought in Italy last year and the Kiwis have, in recent years, also been podium contenders.

This year's MXoN will be held at Lakewood, on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, and temperatures there are expected to reach around 40C.

It's with this in mind that Groombridge has been pushing his body to the limits in recent weeks and breathing in this higher altitude could also cause him problems.

"I've been training pretty hard. I've lost about 4kg in the past four weeks and hope to trim down a bit more yet. My ideal weight would be around 75-76kg.

"The heat in Colorado might be a problem, but also the height of the track above sea level will bring its own problems, too.

"I have a special breathing device to train with that restricts the air flow and gives me an idea of what it might be like racing in Colorado.

"I may head across to the US a few weeks before the race, too, possibly to enter the final round of their nationals at Pala, in California."