Kiwi motocross stalwart Josh Coppins claimed a pivotal win at the second round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, at Coonabarabran in New South Wales on Sunday, 15 April.

Following his second overall result at the opening round at Conondale two weeks prior, the CDR Yamaha rider took control of the championship lead with a 4-3-1 result in the three premier MX1 motos.

“It feels good to win because I felt like I struggled and didn’t really ride that well today,” former world number two Coppins said. “The two back-to-back five-lap races aren’t what I’m used to, but I guess everyone has to adjust to it.

“The 30-minute moto suited me a lot better, as it gave me enough time to chase down Tye [Simmonds] and take the overall for the day. It’s been a great start to the season for me so far.”

CDR Yamaha’s Josh Coppins won the premier MX1 round and took over the title lead. Image Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Coppins’ triumph came as a late surprise after Australian class returnee Jake Moss took two spectacular moto wins in the back-to-back races, proving himself once again as a surprise threat for this title chase in 2012.

With expectations high for Mossy to clean-sweep the day’s proceedings, the Sussex Inlet local fell early in the final moto and was forced into damage control.

After picking himself off the deck Moss clawed his way back to 16th, which was enough to land him on the podium.

“I was really pleased with how I rode in the first two races,” Jake reflected afterward. “But then the old habits crept back in for the last race.

“I was pretty disappointed as I’d built a great platform for a better result with the first two wins. I’ll take the good points from this weekend and keep working hard and come out stronger at Wonthaggi in two weeks’ time.”

Coppins (5) and Moss (6) shared the race victories at Goanna Tracks. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Capping off a great weekend for privateer riders, Bourke’s Tye Simmonds scored a satisfying second overall, despite forming his own team just weeks before the start of the championship.

Simmonds 5-4-2 result, including leading most of the final moto, was the perfect birthday present for his dad, Greg.

“We’ve been working flat-out to get this bike up to speed in such a short time-frame, but we’re starting to see the results now,” Simmonds explained. “I really enjoyed this track today – it was fast and flowing and it held up well.”

Defending four-time champion Jay Marmont proved he’s already gaining momentum and shrugging off a pre-season knee injury.

Marmont was in the driver’s seat for a final moto victory when he built an early lead, but succumbed to pressure from Simmonds and Coppins. However, his fourth overall has boosted him from seventh to third in the standings.

Coppins, Tye Simmonds and Jake Moss made up the MX1 podium. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Marmont’s cause was helped by the disastrous crash of Ben Townley on Saturday, when he dislocated his hip on just the second lap of practice.

BT was stabilised by Suzuki RACESAFE at the circuit before being flown to Sydney. The tragic injury almost certainly rules out Townley’s US Outdoors campaign for Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports.

Townley’s withdrawal saw Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s hopes rest on the shoulders of British champion Brad Anderson, who finished the weekend in fifth overall.

Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha Racing’s Luke Styke took a spectacular clean-sweep of the three Motul MX2 class races, proving he is back fitter, faster and stronger than ever before. By doing so, series leader Kirk Gibbs relinquished his red plates to his team-mate Styke.

“It was a perfect weekend for me,” Styke said afterward. “I’m real motivated this year after spending last year as a privateer. It has made me appreciate everything so much more and I’ve been working hard to make the most the opportunity Serco Yamaha has given me.

“I’ve been stepping up everything, from my training to my work ethic, and things are falling into place. I couldn’t have wished for a better result.”

Styke was untouchable at Goanna Tracks to take over the MX2 red plate. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Styke’s teammate Kirk Gibbs, finished in the runner-up position at Coonabarabran with a consistent 5-4-2 result.

“I struggled in the first two short motos and hit the deck in both of them,” Gibbs explains. “I had to put in some hard charges to minimise points, deficit, but I put together a good race in the third moto.

“Luke was hard to beat today, but having two riders on the podium two rounds in a row shows just how well the team is working.”

Completing the podium for the round was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Kade Mosig despite getting caught up in the start gates in the third and final moto. Mosig raced to 2-5-6 results in his first podium for Kawasaki.

A resurgent Cheyne Boyd (DPH Motorsport Honda) finished the day with an impressive fourth overall and just one point shy of a podium finish, living up to pre-season expectations after stepping across from the MX1 class in 2012.

Styke topped the MX2 from Kirk Gibbs and Kade Mosig. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Ford Dale (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) rounded out the top five, but was hampered by frustrating bad starts and had to elbow his way through the pack in the two short races.

“It was tough out there,” Dale said. “I qualified well yesterday, but I kept getting bad starts and it made my day a lot harder than it needed to be.”

The Pirelli MXD class for Under 19s riders was won by 18-year-old Tasmanian talent Dylan Leary (KTM), riding a borrowed 250 SX two-stroke to the overall in a tight race for the victory, after his personal bike suffered a mechanical failure on Saturday.

“It’s a really good result and I had to borrow a bike for this weekend after practice,” Leary said. “It’s a surprise because last year I did the final three rounds and my best race result was something like ninth.

“But this off-season I worked hard and it’s all about consistency. If I can stay in the top five every race in should work out well.”

Dylan Leary on his way to a first career victory - on a borrowed bike! Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Leary won the round by a single point from Axis Kawasaki’s Mitch Norris, who suffered a flat tyre while leading the third and final moto of the weekend.

Completing the top three was another KTM privateer in Joel Milesevic, who proved the victor in the second moto of the weekend.

The opening moto victory went to former junior world champion Jay Wilson aboard the Raceline Pirelli Suzuki, however he was forced to settle for seventh overall, with a fall in race two and a bad jump off the gate in race three.

Round one winner Dylan Long maintained his championship lead with fourth overall for Choice Motorsports KTM.

Leary won the MXD class ahead of Mitch Norris and Joel Milesevic. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

The series will continue at Wonthaggi in Victoria on 28-29 April, marking round three of 10 for the 2012 season.

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals
Round Two – Coonabarabran, NSW

MX1 Overall Results:
1. Josh Coppins 63
2. Tye Simmonds 56
3. Jake Moss 55
4. Jay Marmont 54
5. Brad Anderson 50
6. Cody Cooper 49
7. Lawson Bopping 48
8. Daniel McCoy 40
9. Daniel Reardon 39
10. Todd Waters 35

MX2 Overall Results:
1. Luke Styke 75
2. Kirk Gibbs 56
3. Kade Mosig 53
4. Cheyne Boyd 52
5. Ford Dale 48
6. Scott Columb 48
7. Errol Willis 46
8. Justin McDonald 40
9. Ryan Marmont 39
10. Josh Cachia 36

MXD Overall Results:
1. Dylan Leary 59
2. Mitch Norris 58
3. Joel Milesevic 58
4. Dylan Long 52
5. Kale Makeham 51
6. Sam Martin 50
7. Jay Wilson 41
8. Kayne Lamont 36
9. Dylan Wills 35
10. Jarrad Davis 33

MX1 Championship Standings (after 2 of 10 rounds):
1. Josh Coppins 125
2. Jake Moss 101
3. Jay Marmont 95
4. Brad Anderson 94
5. Tye Simmonds 94
6. Lawson Bopping 89
7. Todd Waters 89
8. Cody Cooper 87
9. Ben Townley 75
10. Daniel Reardon 72

MX2 Championship Standings (after 2 of 10 rounds):
1. Luke Styke 132
2. Kirk Gibbs 119
3. Ford Dale 110
4. Kade Mosig 97
5. Josh Cachia 92
6. Justin McDonald 88
7. Cheyne Boyd 87
8. Adam Monea 80
9. Errol Willis 76
10. Ryan Marmont 67

MXD Championship Standings (after 2 of 10 rounds):
1. Dylan Long 124
2. Dylan Leary 106
3. Mitch Norris 101
4. Sam Martin 99
5. Kale Makeham 96
6. Kayne Lamont 94
7. Joel Milesevic 92
8. Jay Wilson 89
9. Dylan Wills 58
10. Mitch Budd 54