New Zealand’s Cody Cooper will contest the final two rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship in place of injured title contender Clement Desalle.

Cooper, who won five motos and the Toowoomba round during the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals this season, will ride for Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki in the MX1 premier class.

After winning his maiden New Zealand Motocross Championship earlier this year, Cooper was in stunning form as the MX Nationals commenced in Australia, only to be forced out of title contention during the Appin round.

Cooper suffered rib injuries and a collapsed lung in moto two at Appin after winning three motos in succession, ruled out of that round and the following one at Raymond Terrace to dash his title hopes.

The world championship rounds in Germany and Italy next month won’t be Cooper’s first appearance on an international level, previously spending two seasons in the U.S. and finishing a fine fifth in the 2008 AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Cooper has also represented New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations, finishing on the podium with Josh Coppins and Ben Townley in 2006. He’ll head to Europe on Wednesday next week.

Desalle suffered a broken left shoulder last weekend while contesting a round of the Belgian Motocross Championship, undergoing surgery on Tuesday and expected to be ruled out for six weeks.

Cooper will skip this weekend’s British Grand Prix, joining the team for the European Grand Prix at Galidorf on 4 September and the Italian Grand Prix at Fermo on 11 September.