Coppins inches closer to MX title

CDR Yamaha’s Josh Coppins is now one step closer towards winning the 2012 Australian Motocross Championship following a hard-fought victory at Moree’s penultimate round on August 19.

The 35-year-old New Zealander now has a 14pt lead with one round remaining, in what is his final season of professional competition.

Coppins was inch perfect in an action-packed day at Moree, battling through the trio of motos with second in motos one and two, before he clinched the overall with a dominant win in the final outing.

“It wasn’t a bad day overall and good to win the last moto,” Coppins said. “I had arm pump in the first two motos, but the last one went to plan. It was good to win the final 30-minute moto and that’s three of them in a row now, so I’m happy.

“Fourteen points ahead heading into Coolum isn’t a big lead, but I’d rather be 14 ahead than behind. I’m healthy, the bike’s good, so… I want to win (at Coolum) and the championship.”

Behind Coppins at Moree was title rival Todd Waters, the 21-year-old Motul Pirelli Suzuki rider finishing with 1-3-2 results.

Waters’ teammate Cody Cooper was third overall, while British champion Brad Anderson (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) and Lawson Bopping (CDR Yamaha) continued their fight for third in the series, placing fourth and fifth respectively.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s defending champion Jay Marmont finished sixth overall following a mixed round, but boosted himself up into sixth in the title. Marmont will miss out on the MX1 title for the first time since 2008.

It was a pivotal day in the MX2 championship, with former series leader Luke Styke suffering a disastrous penultimate round for Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha Racing. He entered the weekend with a 31pt advantage, but left with a deficit of 21.

New series leader Ford Dale takes over the red plate ahead of Coolum next weekend. Dale won for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing at Moree, claiming a trio of moto victories in a career-defining day.

“It was awesome, because I came into the last few rounds just hoping to win races and let the rest fall into place behind me,” Dale said. “It’s all gone to plan, so I just can’t wait until Coolum last weekend and hopefully do the same thing.

“I’ve been working hard all year and have won the past five, but there’s another round to go and anything can happen. I feel for Stykes, but that’s racing. I’m always excited to race at Coolum, so I’ll take it one race at a time and see what happens.”

Styke was forced to settle for 13th overall after he suffered a non-finish in moto three. Earlier, he finished moto one in sixth despite a flat tyre and then finished 13th in moto two after stalling out of the start gates.

Second for the round in a continuation of his podium form was Josh Cachia for JDR/KTM Factory Racing (2-2-3). Styke’s teammate Kirk Gibbs rounded out the podium with 9-3-2 finishes.

A new face rose to the top of the Pirelli MXD category at Moree, with Luke Clout returning from a lengthy stint in the US to claim MX Factory Honda’s first national victory with a clean-sweep of three wins.

The final round of the 2012 Australian Motocross Championship will take place at Coolum (Qld) on August 25-26.

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for more information.

MX2
1. Ford Dale 75
2. Josh Cachia 64
3. Kirk Gibbs 54
4. Kade Mosig 52
5. Errol Willis 50
6. Kieron Hall 36
7. Luke Arbon 36
8. Adam Monea 35
9. Scott Columb 32
10. Rhys Carter 32

MXD
1. Luke Clout 75
2. Dylan Leary 66
3. Jay Wilson 52
4. Kayne Lamont 50
5. Wade Hunter 46
6. Dylan Long 45
7. Kale Makeham 45
8. Mitch Norris 39
9. Nicklas Scott 39
10. Sam Martin 36

MXD (after 8 of 9 rounds)
1. Kayne Lamont 464
2. Dylan Long 432
3. Dylan Leary 418
4. Jay Wilson 392
5. Kale Makeham 382
6. Sam Martin 359
7. Mitch Morris 276
8. Joel Milesevic 230
9. Wade Hunter 222
10. Mitch Budd 180