The racing was fast and furious at round one of the New Zealand Motocross Championships near Timaru on Sunday as the nation’s dirt biking elite fired their opening salvos in the four-round series.
The Power Balance MotoGB Suzuki team spread its talents across all four classes and came away from the Timaru track with plenty to smile about in each case.
Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Suzuki RM-Z450) fought his way onto the podium in the MX1 class on Sunday and looks well placed to finish the season in a top-three spot as the series heads back across Cook Strait for the three remaining rounds in the North Island – at Patetonga, near Morrinsville, this coming weekend, at Rotorua on March 20 and in New Plymouth on March 27.
Cooper finished the day just 14 points behind early leader Josh Coppins, of Motueka, and only 11 points behind Rotorua rider Michael Phillips.
Cooper’s confidence is high as he heads now to Patetonga this Sunday, a track where he proved himself unbeatable just over a week ago.
The MX2 class was also fiercely-fought with Australian visitor Cody Mackie emerging as the points leader after this opening phase of action, with fellow Australian Daniel McCoy (Power Balance MotoGB Suzuki) keeping him honest and finishing the day just eight points behind.
“Daniel is truly in the hunt for the title,” said Power Balance MotoGB team boss Andrew Hardisty.
One of the fastest riders on the track was Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont (Power Balance MotoGB Suzuki), but, unfortunately, his points tally at the end of the day did not reflect this speed.
“Kayne was amazing. He went from eighth to third place in race one but then took a few too many soil samples in the next race,” said Hardisty.
“He just needs to be able to turn that raw speed into points.”
Meanwhile, Waitakere’s Ethan Martens topped the 125cc class standings at Timaru, just ahead of fellow Aucklander Shaun Fogarty and Tauranga’s Scott Barr-Smith, chased all the way by a trio of Suzuki’s young rising stars, Atiamuri’s Dion Picard, Kaukapakapa’s Josh Jack and Wanganui’s Tom Managh.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
For further information contact
Simon Meade
Motorcycle Sales Manager
e simon@suzuki.co.nz
