BOPPING BREAKS THROUGH AT 2012 MX NATIONALS ROUND 6

Returning from the mid-season break, Hervey Bay's round 6 of the championship saw Bopping battle it out with one of the other emerging stars in the MX1 class, Motul Pirelli Suzuki's Todd Waters. Bopping won the opening MX1 moto in a stellar performance, before finishing second in moto two, which was won by Waters' Suzuki teammate Cody Cooper. Bopping then backed up to win the final moto of the day.

"I'm stoked with 1-2-1 finishes and it was almost a perfect day for me," Bopping said. "My team has worked so hard and the time I spent in America during the mid-season break has really paid off.

"We'll see what we can do from here, but so far, so good and I'm feeling good about where we are at in the championship. CDR Yamaha is definitely going really good this year, so it's awesome to get a win for them."

Waters finished second overall and now sits just 12 points behind championship leader Josh Coppins, who was fourth overall at Hervey Bay after a round of mixed results for CDR Yamaha.

"It was a great day, the track got really tricky out there and I have to hand it to Lawson," Waters said. "The whole Motul Pirelli Suzuki team have worked hard during the break, we made a few changes, and I've been training hard. Now I can't wait to get to Horsham and see what we can do there."

Completing the MX1 podium for this round was Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing's Brad Anderson. While he hasn't blitzed the field as expected, Anderson's consistent effort see home still in championship contention. Anderson and Bopping are now tied for third in the championship standings.

"I'm happy to be on the podium, third overall is really good and it's a positive way to start the season's second half," Anderson reflected. "I haven't raced at Horsham before, but I look forward to it and it will be another new experience for me."

Fifth overall at Hervey Bay behind CDR Yamaha's Josh Coppins was JDR KTM's Dan Reardon. Both Reardon and sixth place finisher Dean Porter experienced great improvements to commence the season's second stretch. Coppins retained his series lead following round six, but now just 25 points separates him from Waters, Anderson and Bopping, who becomes the fourth serious title contender in the mix.

Defending MX1 champion, Jay Marmont (Monster Energy Kawasaki) sat out this round on medical instruction. Post-surgery infection delayed Marmont's anticipated return following the mid-season break from racing, and given his slow start to the season, Marmont has conceded that a fifth straight MX1 title is now highly unlikely.

"It's no secret that I've been riding injured and fighting through pain all year so I guess this is nature's way of telling me to let it go for this year's MX Nationals," Marmont said. "We've reassessed our goals though and we're now very eager to get out there and win as many motos as possible in this championship. I'm looking forward to Horsham where I'll be fit and ready and able to come out and give it 100%."

See separate report for MX2 and MXD results from this round.

The Australian Motocross Championship will continue on 15 July at Horsham in Victoria. Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for full results and further information on the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals series.

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals
Round Six - Hervey Bay, QLD

MX1 Round Results:
1. Lawson Bopping 72
2. Todd Waters 60
3. Brad Anderson 53
4. Josh Coppins 51
5. Daniel Reardon 49
6. Dean Porter 46
7. Jake Moss 39
8. Cody Cooper 37
9. Dylan Peterson 34
10. Craig Anderson 33

MX1 Championship Standings (after 6 of 10 rounds):
1. Josh Coppins 352
2. Todd Waters 340
3. Brad Anderson 327
4. Lawson Bopping 327
5. Cody Cooper 269
6. Tye Simmonds 234
7. Jake Moss 210
8. Jay Marmont 207
9. Daniel Reardon 196
10. Daniel McCoy 189