LOOKING FOR A CLEAN SWEEP
Waikato’s Darryll King is determined to make it a clean sweep of titles on Sunday for the team that bears his initials.
The MXDK Rockstar Yamaha Team heads to the fourth and final round of this year’s New Zealand Motocross Championships in New Plymouth with a realistic chance of winning all four titles.
Motueka’s Josh Coppins (Yamaha YZ450F) leads the MX1 class by one point from an on-form Cody Cooper (Power Balance MotoGB BikesportNZ.com Suzuki), of Mount Maunganui, and knows he’ll need to be at his best to keep Cooper at bay on Sunday.
“I just need to win some races,” said the 34-year-old matter-of-factly.
Third and fourth overall in this class after three rounds are Honda pair Michael Phillips (Honda Hamilton), of Rotorua, and defending No.1 Justin McDonald (Timaru Honda), of Christchurch.
Coppins’ team-mate in the MX1 class, Hamilton’s Hayden Clark (Yamaha YZ450F), is fifth in the standings and he will also be worth watching this weekend.
After the first two rounds of this year’s championships, King (Yamaha YZ250) was leading the MX2 (250cc) class and, following round three near Rotorua last weekend, he is still in contention.
Although he’s now slipped to second spot, he is only two points behind Australian visitor Daniel McCoy (Power Balance MotoGB BikesportNZ.com Suzuki) and the MX2 title will almost certainly go to one of these men on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s going to be a battle like nothing else this weekend,” said King.
“I grew up on the Barrett Road circuit, so it’s my home track and I know how it needs to be ridden to win there. It was a surprise to be leading the championship after round two and, although I’m second now, I know I can win it on Sunday.”
King’s younger brother Damien King (Yamaha YZ250F), heavily strapped to prevent aggravating his shoulder injury, is also proving to be a solid performer. He is currently sixth in the MX2 title chase and capable of moving up this weekend.
In the 125cc and under-21 years’ classes, raced concurrently but scored separately, it has almost been a one-horse race with the youngest member of the MXDK Rockstar Yamaha Team, Waitakere’s Ethan Martens (YZ125), winning seven of the nine 125cc races thus far.
Martens needs only to keep a cool head on Sunday to bring home both titles.
Credit: Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
Leading championship points standings after three of four rounds:
MX1- Open
1st Josh Coppins –203
2nd Cody Cooper – 202
3rd Michael Phillips – 180
4th Justin McDonald – 150
5th Hayden Clark – 130
6th Mason Wilki – 119
7th Shannon Hewetson – 109
8th Jesse Donnelly- 108
9th Mason Phillips – 92
10th Mitch Rees – 91
MX2 – 250cc
1st Daniel McCoy – 183
2nd Darryl King – 181
3rd Cody Mackie – 158
4th Luke Burkhart- 154
5th Peter Broxholme – 152
6th Damien King – 124
7th Rhys Carter – 120
8th Cameron Dillon – 108
9th Nick Saunders – 107
10th Jesse Wiki – 101
Under 21 – 125cc
1st Ethan Martens (U21) – 211
2nd Scott Barr Smith (U21) – 189
3rd Cameron Negus – 157
4th Tom Managh (U21) – 143
5th Shaun Fogarty – 120
6th Joshua Jack (U21) – 119
7th Hamish Harwood (U21) – 117
8th Dion Picard (U21) – 93
9th Ryan Thompson (U21) – 84
10th Logan Blackburn (U21) – 83