Motocross: Cody Cooper's gain

In the rough-and-tumble world of pro motocross, one rider's pain can be another's opportunity.

Such are the circumstances that have put Papamoa's Cody Cooper on a factory Rockstar Energy Suzuki 450 for the last two rounds of the MX1 World Championship next month.

Cooper, 27, the reigning New Zealand MX1 champion, flies out to Brussels next Tuesday to climb aboard the ride of Belgian star Clement Desalle, who suffered a shoulder injury at a national championship race in Belgium last weekend. Desalle had been running second in the world champs behind Italian Antonio Cairoli.

"There wasn't time to get organised for the race this weekend [the British Grand Prix], so I fly out on the 24th and should get a week of testing before my first race," said Cooper.

Cooper will race at the GP of Europe at Gaildorf in Germany on September 4 and the final round of the world championship at Fermo, Italy the following weekend.

The opportunity with the team run by 1970s motocross legend Sylvain Geboers came just as a door had closed on another racing plan in Europe.

"I had been talking to Suzuki about getting a bike for the Motocross of Nations," says Cooper.

But with stars Ben Townley and Josh Coppins out of racing at the moment, Motorcycling NZ took a different track by naming three young riders already racing in Europe - Joel Doeksen, John Phillips and Kieran Scheele - for the international teams event at Saint Jean d'Angely in France on September 18.

"I'd talked to Suzuki and put a quote to Motorcycling NZ. Then things changed and then Desalle got hurt, so I've got a different opportunity," says Cooper.

Cooper has raced in Europe on four occasions, but has never started a Grand Prix.

"Back when I was 16, I didn't qualify for the Belgian Grand Prix," he said.

His biggest success on the international stage came when he rode a privateer Suzuki to fifth place in the US Nationals in 2008. He's raced in Australian champs in 2010 and 2011. An Aussie title challenge had looked a strong possibility early this season, but Cooper's campaign was interrupted by a crash, which saw him sidelined with a collapsed lung.

"This will be a great opportunity to race in Europe and see if I like it over there."

In 2012, Cooper has the possibility of racing in Australia again, returning to the US or switching his attention to Europe if his last-minute call-up leads to further chances.

"I'm going to defend my title with Suzuki New Zealand, but I've got nothing set for outside of New Zealand so far," he said.