Australian Nathan Crawford has been named in Team New Zealand for the 2024 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, set for Matterley Basin the first weekend of October.

Team New Zealand have announced their three-rider squad, with Crawford, Brodie Connolly and Hamish Harwood. Crawford a dual citizen of both Australian and New Zealand will be a nice addition to the field, that is already looking like one of the best Nations ever.

1996 World 500cc champion Shayne King will be the manager of the Kiwis and Crawford mentioned to motoonline in Australia how excited he is to race for his mothers homeland.

“I’m super-stoked to have been chosen to represent New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations this year,” Crawford told MotoOnline. “It works out great for me having dual citizenship and a New Zealand passport from my mum’s side of the family. It’s given me the opportunity to throw my name in the mix for Team New Zealand, and I’m stoked that they chose me. Most people are aware, but for those who aren’t, MXoN is basically the Olympics of motocross, so I’m just stoked to get over there and have a crack against the best guys in the world. Thank you to Bevan [Weale] and Shayne for seeing the potential in me and giving me this opportunity – it’s probably the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had in my career.”

With the Australian Grand Prix, set for Darwin in 2025, it will be nice to see how Crawford and team Australia rider Kyle Webster do against the World elite. Team Australia was announced earlier this month, with Jett and Hunter Lawrence alongside Webster.

Crawford had made a convincing return to the Australian ProMX Championship podium after claiming a third-place result at the demanding Echo Valley circuit on Toowoomba, Queensland, two weeks ago.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F and wearing a special one-off retro livery, Crawford was second quickest in regular qualifying and then finished the Top 10 Shootout in fourth position. He regrouped from a crash early in the opening MX1 moto to make a charge up the order and finish P3, setting some of the fastest laps of the race in the process.

Determined to finish the day strongly, the Queenslander scored the holeshot in the final moto and led the opening laps, before settling for third. Crawford’s pair of P3 results saw him finish third overall, and solidified his third-place position in the championship standings with two rounds remaining.

Nathan Crawford: "I’m happy with my riding in practice, but in Superpole I was just rushing it a little bit. I rode really well in moto one and there were times I was consistently the fastest on track and matching those top guys – I’m kicking myself as I had a little crash in that moto and had to fight my way back to third. I wanted a good start to the second moto and I ripped the holeshot. I led a couple of laps, but found myself settling into a pace that was a bit off those guys and ended up third. The track was tricky, because it was one of those days where it felt like there was high risk out there, especially with the sun position in that final race. I’m stoked to be back on the podium and look to finish out the next two rounds on the podium as well. I’d like to tick off an overall, that's the aim, so we’ll see how we go!"