The 34-year-old
New Zealander won the third round in NSW to edge nine points ahead in
the Pro Open standings, another consistent effort of 2-1-1-2 results in
the four 20-minute motos enough to clinch the overall.
"I wasn’t really sure what to expect today, but the bike was good and we got better starts – I really have to thank CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha,” Coppins said.
"I just rode decent all day, didn’t do anything special, but was just solid and consistent. That’s what I was hoping to do. I knew if I could get good starts and ride like I can then I’d have a good shot to win. That’s what happened.”
On a day where starts were all important, Coppins’ teammate and defending triple champion Jay Marmont, 28, produced a string of fast-starts to score second overall in a stunning 1-2 for the factory Yamaha team.
Wollongong resident Marmont’s 5-3-3-1 results raised him to third in the title standings, while former title leader Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) rounded out the overall podium with 3-2-2-5 finishes to maintain second in the title chase.
Fourth overall marked a return to form for 2007
champion Dan Reardon (JDR Motorex KTM), the Queenslander still battling a
variety of niggling injuries, but managing to qualify first and win the
opening moto of the round.
Completing the top five in the premier class was Victorian Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing).
Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing - Michael Phillips.
Michael Phillips finished the day seventh
overall and is tied with Ryan Marmont on 163 points for seventh spot on the
ladder.
Phillips had a
tumultuous day but never gave up. He endured a clutch problem on the start
for Race 1 and fought back from first turn incidents in Motos 2 &
3.
Finishing ninth, 11th and 13th in the first three races
Phillips regrouped and gave his best performance in the last race of the
day where he enjoyed a clean start and finished third.
"I
felt like I was fighting back all day,” Phillips said. "I had a
problem with the clutch in Race 1 and got a shocking start but still
managed to come back up to ninth.
"In the second race I
got sandwiched in the first turn and ended up nearly dead last I came
through to 11th and then the exact same thing happened in Moto 3.
"I was pleased to end the day with a top three result. I got
good clean start and sat behind Cheyne (Boyd) for most of the race,”
he added
2011 Australian Motocross Championship - Round 3 Results:
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 94
2. Jay Marmont (CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha) 81
3. Dean Ferris (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 80
4. Daniel Reardon (JDR Motorex KTM) 69
5. Cheyne Boyd (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) 67
6. Lawson Bopping (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki) 67
7. Michael Phillips (Honda) 50
8. Billy Mackenzie (Monster Energy Kawasaki) 50
9. Beau Ralston (Yamaha) 36
10. Ryan Marmont (JDR Motorex KTM) 35
Championship Standings (after 3 of 9 rounds):
Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open
1. Josh Coppins 228
2. Dean Ferris 219
3. Jay Marmont 199
4. Cheyne Boyd 190
5. Lawson Bopping 188
6. Billy Mackenzie 187
7. Ryan Marmont 163
8. Michael Phillips 163
9. Daniel Reardon 142
10. Louis Calvin 132