Coppins strong at 2012 MX Nationals round 8
The Kiwi veteran announced that he would retire from professional motocross racing at the end of this season, but it didn't slow down the multiple World MXGP runner up, who won the round with a solid performance in the MX1 class, including a win in the final long moto, at Appin in New South Wales on Sunday, 29 July. Coppins was fourth in the opening moto and second in moto two.
The round win was the third for Coppins this season, with the CDR Yamaha rider still holding a small, but not unsurmountable 12-point lead in the MX1 class at the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals.
"In the first two motos I struggled with arm-pump, which I was surprised with because the track was really smooth," Coppins said. "It's always good to win and nice to take a few points back [in the race for the championship]. Hopefully we can keep it up in Moree and not make it too tense at Coolum."
While the focus was on Coppins given his retirement announcement, the Kiwi's main championship challenger, Todd Waters (Motul Pirelli Suzuki) showed he can't be counted out for the title, winning the first MX1 moto, before claiming a pair of fourths in the final two motos.
Third for the round was Honda privateer Jake Moss, a rewarding result in what was his home round. Moss was seventh in moto one, but a third and a second in the final motos landed him on the podium for the round. New Zealand's Cody Cooper (Motul Pirelli Suzuki) won moto 2 in fine style, and finished the round fourth, while JDR/KTM Factory Racing's Dan Reardon completed the top five just one week after announcing his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2012 season.
CDR Yamaha's Lawson Bopping was on fire during the qualifying session, posting the fastest time, but average starts in the first two motos left him scrounging for points. He clawed his way back to fifth in each of the first two motos, but things didn't start out well but in the final 30 minute moto. Bopping finished the first lap in 14th place, but put his head down and with two laps to go was knocking on the door of third place. Hard luck struck again as he miscued a rut and fell, eventually finishing in eighth.
"It was a tough day and the results don't really show how I raced," Bopping said. "My track speed was good, just starts let me down and I was always stuck in traffic in the early laps of the race. I feel confident on the bike but I will get in plenty of practice on my starts before the next round."
The penultimate round of the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, will take place at Moree in New South Wales on Sunday, August 19.
Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for further information on the Monster Energy MX Nationals series.
2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round Eight - Appin, NSW
MX1 Round Results:
1. Josh Coppins 65
2. Todd Waters 61
3. Jake Moss 56
4. Cody Cooper 52
5. Daniel Reardon 51
6. Lawson Bopping 45
7. Dean Porter 40
8. Billy Mackenzie 38
9. Jay Marmont 34
10. Brad Anderson 32
MX1 Championship Standings (after 8 of 10 rounds):
1. Josh Coppins 480
2. Todd Waters 468
3. Lawson Bopping 420
4. Brad Anderson 412
5. Cody Cooper 388
6. Jake Moss 311
7. Jay Marmont 288
8. Daniel Reardon 278
9. Dean Porter 257
10. Daniel McCoy 249
images: twothreepr and Shayne Rice (Yamaha)
