It’s one down and two to go for Suzuki supermen Cody Cooper and Scotty Columb.

There were no real surprises when the New Zealand Supercross Championships wrapped up at Taupo on Saturday afternoon, Cooper and Columb collecting the silverware for winning the open (MX1) and Lites (MX2) classes respectively.

Now Cooper (Moto City Suzuki RM-Z450) and Columb (Murray Thorn Suzuki RM-Z250) now each have their sights set on winning their respective categories at the big annual Woodville Motocross in a fortnight’s time and then the four-round New Zealand Motocross Championships, which kick off  in South Canterbury on February 12.

Queenstown’s Columb completed the job he started when he dominated round one of the three-round supercross series near Timaru just over two weeks ago, securing the MX2 crown with another solid performance at Taupo on Saturday and showing that he will certainly be a contender at both Woodville and at the nationals.

Columb didn’t win the day at Taupo – that honour instead going to fellow Suzuki star Rhys Carter, of Mount Maunganui – but Columb’s 3-1-2 results at Taupo were enough to give him a whopping 18-point championship-winning margin over visiting Australian Geran Stapleton, while Carter had to settle for third overall in the championship.

That the 28-year-old Columb should dominate the series as he did was something of a surprise considering he had been off the race scene, sidelined with injury, for nearly two years.

“I’m back, that’s for sure,” beamed Columb afterwards.

“I’m getting into shape now for the motocross nationals. I’m not quite ready for that yet, but I hope to be 100% before February.”

It was a similar display of supremacy from fellow Suzuki star Cody Cooper, the Mount Maunganui man now adding the MX1 supercross crown to the MX1 motocross crown he collected last year.

Cooper won seven of the nine MX1 races in this year’s supercross nationals, beaten only by Christchurch’s Justin McDonald (in the second race in Timaru) and by Motueka’s Josh Coppins (in the third race at Motueka).

Cooper finished the series a massive 24 points clear of McDonald, with Gisborne’s Matt Hunt clinching third overall with a solid performance at Saturday’s final round.

“Winning the supercross series is an excellent build-up for the motocross nationals,” said Cooper.

“The bike was awesome, although I’ll be getting a new one before Woodville and the nationals.”

In addition to Woodville and the New Zealand Motocross Championships, Cooper is looking ahead to another campaign across the Tasman this season, racing the MX1 class in the Australian Motocross Championships.

“That’s a big focus for me too. I want to add an Australian MX1 title to my CV this year,” he said.

For further information contact Simon Meade, Motorcycle Sales Manager, simon@suzuki.co.nz.