CDR Yamaha has officially confirmed Lawson Bopping will be joined by Billy Mackenzie for the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals.
With the team aiming for a sixth straight title outdoors, Bopping and Mackenzie will aim to continue to the success achieved by Jay Marmont and Josh Coppins with CDR Yamaha since 2008.
“I have watched Billy a lot over the past few seasons and his speed has always been impressive,” said team owner Craig Dack.
“I felt there were a couple of areas he needed to address and we have spoken about them and now that he is settled in Australia and comfortable racing here.
“Combined with his new attitude and CDR’s on going desire to stay out front, I’m confident Billy will be a major contender in 2013.”
Mackenzie himself is excited to be on the CDR team and back on Yamaha where he spent a lot of years on the blue bikes during his GP career.
Since getting a YZ450F in December, Mackenzie has been hard at work in preparation for the New Zealand Motocross Championships and the prized MX Nationals.
“The first time I sat on the team bike, it just felt right,” said the Scotsman. “The team has great staff and enormous knowledge on the bikes and the years spent developing them is obvious.
“CDR Yamaha is the most professional team in the pits and I’m humbled Craig selected me and this is my chance to make this year the best year of my career.”
After impressing in 2012, Bopping is back on the team for his second year and looking to continue his surge up the field.
Bopping surprised many in 2012 with his bursts of speed and fantastic results that saw him finish in the top five of both motocross and supercross championships.
“Last year was great and it was a huge learning curve for me to be on a team like CDR,” Bopping said. “I now know what is expected and how things work within the team and also I’m totally familiar with the YZ450F so with a good preseason behind me, I expect my results to improve in 2013.
“We already have a great base to start pre-season testing and the team is ready to go. The MX Nationals start in April and it’s going to be a great year.”
Mackenzie will be going back and forth to New Zealand to work with and ride for the JCR Yamaha team in their MX1 championships.
It will prove to be the perfect hit out and warm up for the MX Nationals for Mackenzie and hopefully kick-start his 2013 campaign.
Bopping will work closely with the team in getting the bike perfect to his requirements and also spend some time at the AIS in Canberra honing his fitness prior to the April kick-off.
It’s expected national supercross number two Daniel McCoy will return to the team alongside Bopping for the supercross season later this year.