Josh Coppins holds his MX1 lead as the series goes on a mid-season break. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Current Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 series leader Josh Coppins admits that the Murray Bridge circuit is one of the toughest of the year for him on the MXN schedule.

Coppins struggled on the wet and deep Murray Bridge circuit on Sunday, even though the CDR Yamaha rider took solid moto finishes throughout the round.

Coppins took 3-6-8 finishes in the three motos, with the final moto doing the most damage when he and Jake Moss collided, causing Coppins to lose valuable championship points.

The former MX1 Motocross World Championship runner-up left South Australia with a respectable sixth place overall, retaining the points lead and red plate.

“I just didn’t ride well at all,” Coppins explained. “I really like the look of this track and it is a challenge to ride which I like, but both times I have raced here, I have had issues.

“The positive is that I still have the lead and the damage wasn’t too bad.”

Coppins is now set to head to Europe for five weeks to race some international events and will return for round six at Hervey Bay in Queensland when the Monster Energy MX Nationals return on 1 July.