Coppins Poised To Claim Aussie Crown

Coppins Poised To Claim Aussie Crown

JULY 29, 2011: It's the final throw of the dice for motocross title hopefuls in Australia this weekend.

Sunday is the ninth and final round of the 2011 Rockstar Motocross Nationals at Coolum and it is a New Zealand rider who is favoured to steal away with the main prize.

Motueka's Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Yamaha YZ450F) is comfortably on top of the open class standings, 18 points clear of his own CDR Rockstar Yamaha team-mate, defending champion Jay Marmont.

If either Coppins or Marmont finish the weekend on the top of the podium it will be the fourth successive time that a member of this powerful team has won the title.

It seems a long shot for their nearest rivals - Kawasaki pair Dean Ferris and Billy Mackenzie - to snatch away the glory at this late stage but nothing is impossible as fortunes for all the riders have soared to the highest of highs and plummeted to the lowest of lows at various stages in the series.

A crash, a flat tyre or a bolt of lightning may still have an impact on where the title ends up.

With rounds eight and nine on consecutive weekends, Coppins remained in Australia to train during the week.

"It's actually been nice to stay here and enjoy the warm weather," Coppins said. "With the team also staying in Queensland, I have been able to get some riding in and hit the gym so, for me, it's business as usual this weekend and I'll try to post the four best motos I can."

Hamilton's Darryll King, the 2011 New Zealand MX2 motocross champion, has also crossed the Tasman this week to tackle the one-off Australian Veterans' Motocross Championships that share the programme with the open class and Pro Lites racing.

The 42-year-old King (Rockstar Yamaha) will also contest the Open class in Australia for the first time this season, meaning he will be in action eight times this weekend.

King is no stranger to racing in Australia. He won the veterans' (over-40 years) class there last season, but also previously won the premier open grade in Australia in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

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