The race teams enter round seven of the 2011 Rockstar Australian Motocross Nationals this weekend with plenty to fight for with just two more rounds to follow this weekend’s action.

This weekend’s Albury-Wodonga round marks the start of the business end of the motocross season with just two more rounds to follow Albury in the nine-round championship.

Collectively, the CDR Rockstar Yamaha duo of Josh Coppins and Jay Marmont have won three of the six rounds completed so far. Coppins taking the Appin and Raymond Terrace rounds while Marmont chipped in with his first win at the last start in Coonabarabran. When the conditions have been dry and fast the duo have been almost unstoppable.

Coppins took a spirited third at the least round with some gritty and determined racing. The likeable New Zealander also currently holds down third in the Pro Open championship but with only 32 points separating him from the series leader and 300 points still available over the final three rounds, the championship is alive and well within grasp.

“It’s getting down to the time when races have to be won and round victories must be earned. The 32 points isn’t a big gap, but now is the time I must put some pressure on the riders in front of me and claw back points in each and every race,” the 34-year-old Coppins explained.

Coppins is currently third in the series standings, behind Monster Energy Kawasaki duo of Dean Ferris and Billy Mackenzie, but still within strike range with just 19 points needed to bridge the gap to third-ranked Mackenzie.

Defending champion Marmont is down in fourth spot overall.

Marmont has left his run late, but it’s never too late and only a fool would write of the determined Woolongong based rider in this championship. Marmont has hit his best form of the year at the last round and feels his bike is as good as it’s even been and he enters the round with confidence and determination.

“Winning at Coonabarabran was just what I needed to get my season back on track and get a reward for the hard work myself and the team have put in. But, if I want to regain this championship in 2011, I have to continue winning races and be prepared to fight right down to the last corner of the last lap in every race we have left,” Marmont said.

Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing team-mates Cheyne Boyd, of Victoria, and Kiwi Michael Phillips are next best in the standings, fifth and sixth overall respectively, while rookie wonder Lawson Bopping will be looking to recapture his early season form for Raceline Pirelli Suzuki.

Last year’s winner of the Wodonga round is New Zealand MX1 champion Cody Cooper, the Rockstar Motul Suzuki rider currently eighth in the points race after suffering a string of injuries early in the season. He will contend for the victory on Sunday.

2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals

Championship Standings (after 6 of 9 rounds):

Rockstar Energy Drink Pro Open

1. Dean Ferris 461

2. Billy Mackenzie 448

3. Josh Coppins 429

4. Jay Marmont 407

5. Cheyne Boyd 384

6. Michael Phillips 348

7. Lawson Bopping 323

8. Cody Cooper 263

9. Louis Calvin 227

10. Ryan Marmont 206

Motul Pro Lites

1. Matt Moss 419

2. Kirk Gibbs 365

3. Daniel McCoy 345

4.Brenden Harrison 344

5. Phil Nicoletti 339

6. Josh Cachia 312

7. Justin McDonald 302

8. Cody Mackie 294

9. Kade Mosig 292

10. Luke Styke 273

Pirelli Under 19s

1. Errol Willis 464

2. Luke Arbon 426

3. Shaun Redhead 366

4. Dylan Peterson 338

5. Jake Emanuelli 296

6. Kyle McKeddie 286

7. Jay Wilson 285

8. Kale Makeham 215

9. Dan Banks 182

10. Ben George 173

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Meanwhile, Yamaha has prepared this video so you can see the private side of Coppins and hear how he got to where he is.