Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki rider Cody Cooper has to be one of the most easy-going blokes in the pits, but all that changes when he gets behind the grips. As far as raw speed goes, New Zealand-based rider is one of the toughest guys to beat when he’s on point.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with Coop and thought we’d throw a few tricky questions his way to see if he can handle the pressure as well as he does out on the track. We get his thoughts on several random topics we threw his way.

Cody Cooper. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Jetting back and forward to New Zealand between rounds…
It works out well for me because there are a lot of tracks and it’s always easy to find somewhere to ride. It’s almost like racing in America – a three-hour flight from your home and you’re at the next round, ready to race.

Being based in another country doesn’t really affect the team dynamics much – the bike is set up really well now, and if there is ever an issue or the team wants to test some different settings I can simply fly back over and sort it out, or stay a bit longer after a race.

Performance so far in 2012…
Until Wonthaggi it has been pretty average to tell the truth. The second round at Coonabarabran was good, but I didn’t capitalise on my good luck and I kinda managed to turn it into bad luck.

I grabbed the holeshot in the first race, but then I stalled it going into the first corner, then I got another great start in the final race but crashed and had to fight my way back. I still managed fourth in that race, but I felt I could’ve got better results considering the hand I got dealt.

Cooper has been a fixture at Motul Pirelli Suzuki in recent seasons. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Results this year compared to last year…
It’s definitely better. At the second round last year I injured myself and was pretty over the whole season! I’m happy to start off where I am and build on it, rather than start off shit and having to make up ground throughout the rest of the championship.

Life outside of motocross…
I really like playing golf, which is all I really do apart from riding my bike! Golf is good because it means I’m able to put the bike aside and focus on something else.

If I only had racing in my life I’d get a bit bored and over it, but golf and a good social life keeps me balanced. I have a golf handicap of 13, which is okay, but there were a few bent clubs along the way!