Josh Coppins leads the premier MX1 category into Murray Bridge. Image: Adam Riemann.

The Monster Energy MX Nationals will converge on Murray Bridge’s fifth round of the 2012 Australian Motocross Championship in South Australia on Sunday, 20 May.

Over 20 world class international riders have competed throughout all three national championship classes – MX1, MX2 and MXD – so far in the 2012 season, making for a truly international series on Australian soil.

It’s been an all-international whitewash at the top of the podium in the premier MX1 class following four of 10 rounds, with the Murray Bridge round serving as mid-round of the season before the series takes a six-week break from competition.

New Zealand’s former world number two Josh Coppins has set the pace so far for CDR Yamaha to lead the title, winning at both Coonabarabran and Wanneroo, which was contested last weekend. With experience on his side and in his final year of professional racing, last year’s MXN runner-up has been inch-perfect to date.

“The team’s working really well and we’re gelling together,” Coppins said. “I’m trying to help Lawson [Bopping] and Craig [Dack] has also got a lot of experience.

“I was thinking about it after the weekend and I think all the success that the team has had is not just luck, it comes down to preparation and work from the whole team. The proof is in the results.”

Coppins leads the series over dual British champion Brad Anderson, who won round three at Wonthaggi for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing. Anderson’s teammate Ben Townley, another Kiwi, won the season opener at Conondale before injury forced him out of the proceedings.

Last year’s leading contenders at Murray Bridge, Billy Mackenzie and Dean Ferris, will be missing from the action next weekend. After winning last year, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Mackenzie is out injured, while Ferris has gone on to compete in the Motocross World Championship.

Replacing Ferris at Kawasaki is four-time defending series champion Jay Marmont, who sits a lowly seventh in the standings to date, but did break through for a moto win aboard the KX450F in WA. Marmont was fourth in South Australia 12 months ago.

The Motul MX2 category has also been a relentless affair to date, with Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha Racing revelation Luke Styke leading the series at this stage of the season after winning at both Coonabarabran and Wanneroo. He currently heads Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Ford Dale and teammate Kirk Gibbs, with all three claiming round victories so far in 2012.

South Australian local Gibbs will be eager to get his season back on track after winning the round at Murray Bridge last year, and he’s well aware that it’s vital he peg back teammate Styke in the standings as the series reaches its halfway point.

“This year I seem to struggle to string three races together to make a good round,” Gibbs explained. “With Luke being so consistent, no rider can afford to drop motos. But we head to my home state [this] week and its time I got it together and put in three good races at the level I’m capable of.”

The Pirelli MX Development class will resume after the nation’s top Under 19s racers sat out the WA stop on the calendar. The class is so far led by round one winner Dylan Long for Choice Motorsports KTM, from fellow teenage tearaways Sam Martin and Dylan Leary.

The Murray Bridge round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals will take place in South Australia on Sunday, 20 May.

Murray Bridge Rd5 Event Information:
Adults $30
Children (aged 5-15 years) $15
Family (two adults and two children aged 5-15 years) $70
Gates Open 7.00am
Practice Starts 8.30am