 |
| Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com |
In the space of just 48 hours, Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (Suzuki RM-Z450) had pushed aside the nightmare of a tough day in the mud, racing his way to a courageous third overall at the annual Whakatane Summercross on Tuesday, to celebrating a dream run at the New Zealand Supercross Open at Te Puke on Thursday evening.
The Power Balance MotoGB Suzuki rider was in sensational form at the one-off stand-alone event in the Bay of Plenty, beating former GP star Josh Coppins, of Motueka, and Summercross winner Michael Phillips, of Rotorua, to the top step of the podium.
“I won tonight but I feel I still need to work on a few things,” said the 27-year-old Cooper afterwards.
“I just can’t seem to push hard on that sort of slick clay. It’s very slippery.
“I have the second round of the national supercross championships coming up in Taupo this Sunday and hope I can keep up the momentum there.”
Power Balance MotoGB Suzuki team manager Andrew Hardisty, of Mount Maunganui, said he was thrilled with the result.
“The team is coming together really nicely and we have fantastic personnel. To get a result like this tonight is a great reward for all the hard work.
“It’s great to see Cody at the front of the pack … just where he belongs. His team-mate Tom Managh (of Wanganui) rode really well in the 250cc class tonight too.”
National motocross No.2 Cooper is also preparing for an all-out assault on the New Zealand Motocross Championships, which kick off near Timaru on February 20, and, after his recent form, must surely rate as a warm favourite to win the MX1 crown.
Source: Suzuki NZ