COOPER SUPREME | Bikesportnz

Suzuki riders topped the podium in both the MX1 and MX2 classes at the third round of four in this season’s New Zealand Motocross Championships near Pukekohe on Sunday.

Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper was supreme in the MX1 class and Australian visitor Ryan Marmont, making his debut in the series at the weekend, was top of the MX2 class podium when racing wrapped up for the day.

The 29-year-old Cooper took his Speed Shop-prepared RM-Z450 to an impressive hat-trick of wins at the undulating Harrisville circuit on Sunday, extending to a massive 31 points his lead over Scottish former Grand Prix star Billy MacKenzie (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ450F).

This means Moto City Suzuki Team hero Cooper is possibly now just a couple of races away from reclaiming the national MX1 motocross crown that he last held in 2011 – he has more than a race up his sleeve with just three races to go.

And so, with just one round remaining to wrap up the series, set for Taupo on March 31, Cooper is in prime position to claim the 2013 crown.

“This was one of my best day’s racing ever,” said Cooper afterwards.

“The work I’ve been doing with my new trainer (Hamilton’s John Appel) is starting to pay off. My upper body strength has improved and it’s all coming together nicely now.

“I’m all set for the final round at Taupo now and the Australian Motocross Championships series to follow that. I’m really hungry to win and my confidence is really high.”

Marmont, a guest rider on an Action Suzuki RM-Z250, was involved in a collision near the start of his first race and recovered to finish eighth in that race, but he rebounded to finish runner-up in the next race and won the final outing of the day.

“This trip to New Zealand is all about getting to know the bike and my new team, looking ahead to the Australian series. Racing here is good training for me and I’ll have a head-start on some of my rivals in Australia. There’s nothing like real racing to sharpen you up.”

Cooper’s Moto City Suzuki team-mate in the MX2 class, Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter, had a tough afternoon. He won the day’s first race but was then involved in several handlebar-banging incidents and had to settle for seventh and fifth in his next two races.

However, Carter remains third overall in the championship standings and even improved his position to now be just 13 points behind the No.2 ranked rider, Australian Brock Winston (CMR Red Bull KTM 250SX).

The Moto City Suzuki team is supported by Suzuki New Zealand, Bel Ray oils, Pirelli, Renthal, The Dirt Guide, Taupo Diesel Solutions, Koromiko Engineering and BikesportNZ.com.

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