Monster Energy MX Nationals head to Moree for penultimate round
Wednesday 15 August: The Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, will reach its penultimate round of the season this Sunday, 19 August, at Moree in New South Wales.
Pro Open Class: A
popular circuit amongst the riders of the MX Nationals, Moree will play
host to a pivotal weekend in the 10-round series. Entering round nine, CDR
Yamaha’s Josh Coppins holds a slender 12-point advantage over Motul
Pirelli Suzuki’s Todd Waters.
It’s an all-ANZAC
battle at the top with retiring Kiwi veteran Coppins determined to keep
21-year-old Cairns ace Waters at bay. Last time out during round eight it
was Coppins who won, on a weekend where he announced his retirement at the
close of the season.
Waters has been a revelation of sorts in
2012, displaying consistency beyond his years after being signed by Suzuki
during the pre-season. For both riders, the Moree round will set the stage
for an all-out war come Coolum’s season finale on 25-26 August.
"If I extend [the lead] out and take that further four
points, it will turn from 12 to 16 going into the last round,”
Coppins explained, looking ahead to Moree. "That starts to put him
under a hell of a lot of pressure.
"If he brings that from
12 down to eight, it puts the pressure more onto me as well. I don’t
think he wants to go into Coolum knowing that he has to win all the motos.
Obviously he’s going there to pull some points back and I’m
going there to extend some points.”
Behind Coppins and
Waters, still in with a mathematical shot at the title, is second CDR
Yamaha contender Lawson Bopping. He’s 60 points in arrears of
Coppins, but has his own battle on his hands in the race for the final
podium position.
Just eight points behind Bopping is defending
dual British champion Brad Anderson (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing), while
in-form New Zealander Cody Cooper is coming on strong in fifth as teammate
of Waters.
Defending four-time champion Jay Marmont (Monster
Energy Kawasaki) has conceded his crown after a nightmare campaign, but has
a renewed bout of confidence on his side after a solid state-level victory
in Western Australia earlier this month.
Bourke local Tye
Simmonds is scheduled to return following a number of rounds off the bike
through injury, and last week won a local event in Dubbo upon return to
racing. With two podiums picked up during the season’s first half,
his national return could be a strong one with hometown support urging him
on.
The
Motul MX2 category is led by Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha
Racing’s Luke Styke, maintaining a commanding 31-point margin out
front with just two rounds remaining. Despite his buffer, Styke is aware
that consistency in the final races will be key.
"It’s a handy lead, but with so many good riders in the field
I have to keep my training and preparation up and work towards getting in
the top three every race,” Styke said following Appin. "So,
it’s right back to work tomorrow and stay on my regular
routine.”
Chasing Styke will be Carlton Dry Honda Thor
Racing’s Ford Dale, fresh from victory at round eight. The wildcard
in the title chase is JDR/KTM Fatcory Racing’s Josh Cachia, who has
been a standout in the season’s second half to date.
Editor: Kiwis Scott Columb and Justin McDonald are placed 8th and 9th in this class with just 4 points between them. Rhys Carter and Ethan Martens are contesting this round also and the final at Coolum the following weekend.
Pirelli
MX Development (MXD): Kiwi
Kayne Lamont enjoys a 27-point lead ahead of the Moree round in the Pirelli
MX Development (MXD) ranks for Under 19s competitors, stamping his
authority on the class in the latter stages of the season.
Lamont has fellow KTM contender Dylan Long on his tail, while recent Axis
Motorsports Kawasaki convert Dylan Leary is placed third. The most recent
round of the MXD series was taken out by Raceline Pirelli Suzuki’s
Jay Wilson.