The 24-year-old Suzuki rider will take over the MX2 duties for Team New Zealand at the big race on Sunday (September 28). The course has been constructed on the infield of the famous Donington Park road-race circuit, about two hours' drive north of London.

It is the same venue that was used for the British motocross GP last year. In addition, Waikanae teenager Michael Menchi (Suzuki), a rising star in the sport in New Zealand, has been drafted in as reserve rider, while business commitments have forced Auckland's Russell Burling to hand over the job of team manager to Scotsman Neil Flockhart.

Wellington's Mike McLeod retains his job as New Zealand representative on the international jury. Even with the shake-up, the three Kiwi riders still have high hopes they will be declaring excess baggage when they return home from the Motocross of Nations, widely regarded as the "Olympic games of motocross".

Motorcycling New Zealand CEO Paul Pavletich said he would even be quite happy to pay for an extra ticket if it meant they could have the Chamberlain Trophy in the cabin with them.

Pavletich said the shock last-minute changes to the team has not dampened his enthusiasm or diminished his expectations and he has "no doubt that first-timer Scott Columb will rise to the occasion".

"It is fantastic that both Scott and Michael have stepped up to the plate. Scott has been riding brilliantly in Europe this year and his selection is just reward for his hard work," said Pavletich. "Menchi is one of our young lions and I feel very confident with him on standby.

"We still have a good chance of a podium finish and an outright win is not out of the question," he said. Of the 35 three-rider teams entered, the American trio looks the strongest, although New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, France, Belgium and Italy also loom as title threats.

New Zealand's threesome are all proven international stars and a podium finish beckons for them.

But first it will be important for the Kiwis to survive the tough qualification process on the Saturday, something they failed to do last year in the United States when two of the three riders crashed out. If bad luck does not play a part again this year, team New Zealand has a chance of equalling the podium finish they achieved in England in 1998, in Belgium in 2001 and the last time the great race was staged in England, at Winchester in 2006.

Despite what happened in the USA last year, New Zealand remains one of the favoured nations to win in England next weekend, the event widely regarded as the Olympic Games of motocross.

Motueka's Coppins is a perennial world championship contender while Mount Maunganui's Cooper has just finished fifth on his debut season racing the national championships in the United States.

Columb has been scoring points on the world GP circuit and wrapped up his comparatively low-budget privateer season with an MX1 world ranking of No.29.