He may not have led at the start of the first race, but he was in front at the end and that’s what counts.

Once he got wound up, Honda Racing Team rider Cody Cooper was simply untouchable at the weekend’s annual Waikato Motocross Championships, on the outskirts of Te Kuiti.

Taupo’s Jake Tomblin. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

After fighting through traffic to win the first race, he snatched the lead quickly in each of the remaining three races and then looked comfortable as he led a Honda 1-2-3 to the top of the MX1 class podium.

Cooper comfortably won all four races in this premier class, crossing the line 3.5 seconds ahead of Honda team-mate Micah McGoldrick in race one; 10.5 seconds ahead of Taupo’s Cohen Chase (KTM SXF450) in race two; 17.1 seconds ahead of McGoldrick in race three and then 5.6 seconds ahead of Honda team-mate John Phillips in the final outing of the day.

Snack time for future champions. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

“I don’t like being behind other riders and getting dirty at the start of races. It makes the clean-up at the end of the day to be such a chore,” laughed Cooper. “But it was good for my intensity training to be behind the bunch and have to work past the other riders.

“It was a peg draw for the starting positions and I got the No.21 pick for the gate, which wasn’t so good because the track was quite muddy at the start of the day. I didn’t get a good start in the first race, but I was okay after that.

“I am still carrying a little bit of an injury, so I wasn’t pushing hard the whole time.

Oparau’s James Scott. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

“I was trying to keep my feet up and on the foot-pegs, but that’s not always possible here because the ruts get to be so deep.”

Guess what bike brand Te Awamutu’s Nixon Parkes likes to race? Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

It probably came as no surprise that 34-year-old national MX1 champion Cooper would dominate the MX1 class, but what did come as a pleasant surprise was the performance of young team-mate McGoldrick.

Tauranga-based former Rangiora racer McGoldrick usually races in the MX2 (250cc) class, but, as he awaited the arrival of his new Honda CRF250F, he was offered the chance to take one of the team’s 450cc bikes and instead enter the MX1 class.

He was impressive – the 22-year-old twice finishing runner-up to “the master”, Mount Maunganui’s Cooper, and crossing the finish line in sixth and third positions in the remaining races, good enough for him to claim the No.2 spot for the day.

Pukekawa’s Jack Dunlop. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Third overall in the class was Rotorua’s Phillips (Honda Racing Team CRF450), who edged out Chase to claim the third step on the podium.

“I was a little bit surprised at how well I rode on the 450, but not really, if you know what I mean,” said McGoldrick. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work lately, so I knew it was possible.

“I crashed at the start of the second race and had to regroup a bit. That little hiccup cost me a few points.”

The next major event for these riders is the annual Auckland Motocross Championships at Tuakau in two weeks’ time (November 18-19).

© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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Leading final overall standings:

SUNDAY:

MX1 class: 1. Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui) 200 points (max); 2. Micah McGoldrick (Tauranga) 174; 3. John Phillips (Rotorua) 168.

MX2 class: 1. Wyatt Chase (Taupo) 200 points (max); 2. James Anderson (Rangiotu) 179; 3. Trent Collins (Ohaupo) 171.

125cc class: 1. James Scott (Oparau) 200 points (max); 2. Joshua Bourke-Palmer (Rotorua) 181; 3. Hunter Miller (Palmerston North) 173.

Hastings rider Luke McGrath Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Junior 12-14 years’ 125cc/14-16 years’ 250cc class: 1. Jed Bixley (Te Awamutu) 143 points; 2. Kyan Loomans (Te Puke) 133; 3. Kian de Lacy (Great Barrier Island) 128.

12-16 years’ 85cc class: 1. Seth Henson (Rongotea) 150 points (max); 2. Donovan Ward (Tauranga) 135; 3. Yanni Emerson-Rae 125.

8-11 years’ 85cc class: 1. Jack Coleman (Hamilton) 136 points; 2. Troy Holmes (Waitoki) 132; 3= equal Boston Doherty (Stokes Valley) and Phoenix Van Dusschoten 124.

New Plymouth’s Rian King. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

SATURDAY:

Junior 14-16 years’ 250cc class: 1. Reef Wheki (Hamilton) 200 points (max); 2= Josh Clausen (Taupiri) and William Macdonald 173.

Junior 15-16 years’ 125cc class: 1. James Scott (Oparau) 200 points (max); 2. Seton Head (Cambridge) 184; 3. Carlin Hedley (Otorohanga) 168.

Junior 12-14 years’ 125cc class: 1. Liam Everts (Belgium) 191 points; 2. Jack Dunlop (Pukekawa) 183; 3. Hunter Miller (Palmerston North) 165.

Junior 12-16 years’ 85cc class: 1. Liam Everts (Belgium) 200 points (max); 2. Seth Henson (Rongotea) 184; 3. Nicholas Westgate (Hamilton) 166.

Junior 8-11 years’ 85cc class: 1. Rian King (New Plymouth) 189 points; 2. Reuben Smith (Bombay) 177; 3. Alex Garland (Napier) 174.

Veterans’ 35-44 years’ class: 1. Richard Beuck (Te Awamutu) 200 points (max); 2. Allen Nickalls (Mangakino) 174; 3. Dion Steiner (Te Puke) 172.

Hamilton’s Carson Mackie. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Veterans’ over-45 years’ class: 1. Morris Pulman (Putaruru); 2= Rod Pickerill (Hamilton) and Wayne Strachan (Te Kuiti) 178.

Women: 1. Shelby Catley (Tauranga) 189 points; 2. Roma Edwards (Nelson) 187; 3. Chloe Steel (Te Awamutu) 174.

Rongotea’s Rhys Jillings. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com