Coppins reigns supreme in Oz MX

Former world No. 2 Josh Coppins (Yamaha) captured his maiden victory in the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals in Sydney on April 3.

Thirty-four-year-old Coppins, who entered the round with an ankle injury sustained in the NZ national title last weekend, won the overall with 2-3-4-3 results, his consistency sealing the overall.

“I knew it was going to be tough and that the track would be tricky, especially since I picked up an injury last week,” Coppins said. “I had to be a little bit careful and I think it worked into my favour – I backed it down slightly and was really consistent. Guys kept crashing around me and I managed to pull it off.”

Talented 20-year-old Australian Dean Ferris (Kawasaki), last year’s No. 3, finished second overall at Appin – as well as taking over the Pro Open lead from team-mate Billy Mackenzie by 2pts.

Ferris finished with 10-6-1-1 results, missing out on the overall by just 4pts.

“To get the red plate now that I’m leading the championship is awesome and I’ve been dreaming for a long time about this,” a beaming Ferris said. “I don’t plan on giving it up and I’m going to put in a lot of hard work to try and keep it on my bike.

“To go 1-1 in the last two motos was such a great feeling. To win races so early in the season is great because it took me until the second last round to win a race in 2010. This is a massive confidence booster for me.”

Rounding out the Appin podium was Wollongong’s defending triple champion Jay Marmont (Yamaha), whose run for the overall was ruined by a crash on the opening lap of the final moto.

Kiwi Michael Phillips (Honda) and Marmont’s 26-year-old brother Ryan Marmont (KTM) completed the top five.

Ryan won the second moto, while Suzuki’s Cody Cooper won the opener before a crash and subsequent rib injury saw him complete the day in a disastrous 15t overall.

KTM’s Matt Moss made it two victories from two attempts since returning to Australia for this season, the 2009 champion proving victorious in the Pro Lites class

The 22-year-old scored 1-1-5-3 results, good enough to stretch his championship lead to a comfortable 47 points after two of nine rounds.

“It’s pretty much my home race, so I really wanted to win today in front of my family and friends,” Moss reflected. “I won the first two pretty convincingly, but in the final motos I just made some silly mistakes.

“I got back to where I needed to be to win overall and now I’ve got a 47-point lead in the series. I just need to eliminate the mistakes and I think I can keep stretching my lead – it’s all about plugging away so I can get back to the U.S. next year.”

Second behind Moss was South Australian Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha), who enjoyed a consistent round with 2-2-4-5 results to boost himself to second in the title chase.

Rounding out the podium was American import Phil Nicoletti (Kawasaki), managing to take his first ever race victories in Australia during motos three and four. Nicoletti was eighth in moto one, but had a costly DNF in moto two.

Fourth overall was another local in Cody Mackie (Honda), while Daniel McCoy (Suzuki) rounded out the top five.

Errol Willis took a triumphant clean-sweep of the Under 19s development category, the Suzuki rider proving the dominant force at Appin.

With his victory, Willis took over the title lead from round one winner Luke Arbon (Yamaha), who finished fourth overall today in the series’ second round.

“I’ve been working my whole life to come out and do something like this, so it’s an amazing feeling,” Willis said. “Now that I have the red plate and a 26-point lead in the series, I couldn’t ask for much more.”

Round three of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals will be held at Raymond Terrace (NSW) on Sunday, 10 April. Practice and qualifying will commence at 8:30am with the official opening ceremonies taking place at approximately 10:30am.

Click on the following link for more information on the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals.

Pro Lites
1. Matt Moss (KTM) 86
2. Kirk Gibbs (Yamaha) 78
3. Phil Nicoletti (Kawasaki) 63
4. Cody Mackie (Honda) 60
5. Daniel McCoy (Suzuki) 59
6. Ford Dale (Yamaha) 58
7. Josh Cachia (KTM) 58
8. Luke Styke (Yamaha) 54
9. Keiron Hall (Honda) 53
10. 48 Kade Mosig (Honda) 50

Under 19s
1. Errol Willis (Suzuki) 100
2. Shaun Redhead (Yamaha) 73
3. Dylan Peterson (Honda) 68
4. Luke Arbon (Yamaha) 61
5. Kyle McKeddie (Kawasaki) 57
6. Dylan Long (KTM) 51
7. Anthony Feliks (Honda) 47
8. Joshua Melis (KTM) 46
9. Corey Lucas (Suzuki) 42
10. Mitch Norris (Suzuki) 41

Under 19s
1. Errol Willis 181
2. Luke Arbon 155
3. Shaun Redhead 131
4. Dylan Peterson 113
5. Kyle McKeddie 99
6. Jacob Mcleod 89
7. Kale Makeham 84
8. Jacob Wright 83
9. Jake Emanuelli 83
10. Anthony Feliks 79