Image: Jeff Crow.

Peter Stevens DPH Yamaha’s Lawson Bopping has broken through for his first MX1 MX Nationals round win of the 2015 season at Coolum’s fifth round.

Moto one of the premier class belonged to retired former world champion Ben Townley, the New Zealander racing to the victory in what was his first appearance of the year.

Townley overcame longtime leader Lawson Bopping in the final third of the moto, despite a mid-moto stall that almost cost him a shot at the win. At the end of the moto it was Townley winning comfortably ahead of Bopping, while Luke Styke battled to third.

Three of the series’ best went down in the first turn including Kirk Gibbs, Dan Reardon and Kade Mosig, forcing the trio to charge back through the field into the final stages.

Gibbs was able to finish fourth, while Jesse Dobson was fifth after he fell out of a podium position in the closing laps. Next in sixth was Adam Monea, from Mosig, Reardon, Ford Dale and Dylan Long, who had run inside the top three for much of the moto before mistakes dropped him down the order.

Upon return to racing Matt Moss was 17th due to a mistake that saw him take a long period to refire his Suzuki, and it was also a difficult moto for teammate Kale Makeham in 19th. Moss would later DNF the second moto.

The second moto belonged to Gibbs in a stunning performance, taking charge early and quickly establishing himself at the front of the field.

Behind Gibbs it was Bopping who rode to an eventual second place, which secured him the overall for the round – his first since Hervey Bay in 2012.

It was looking as though Townley would claim the round win as he sat inside a podium placing for much of the moto, but a late mistake dropped him down the order and denied him the overall for this weekend.

Third in the moto was Mosig in a strong effort, chased home by Monea, Townley, Dobson, Styke, Reardon, Cody Cooper and Long.

Overall it was Bopping the victor, Gibbs extended his championship advantage in second, and completing the overall podium was Townley. Gibbs now carries a 52-point buffer over Styke entering the mid-season break.

2015 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round five – Coolum, QLD

MX1 overall results:
1. Lawson Bopping 64
2. Kirk Gibbs 63
3. Ben Townley 61
4. Kade Mosig 54
5. Luke Styke 54
6. Adam Monea 53
7. Jesse Dobson 51
8. Daniel Reardon 46
9. Cody Cooper 42
10. Dylan Long 42
11. Ford Dale 40
12. Daniel McCoy 39
13. John Phillips 37
14. Ricky Latimer 34
15. Kale Makeham 28
16. Richie Evans 28
17. Darcy Jones 27
18. Aaron Tanti 26
19. Daniel Banks 20
20. Izak Maule 18

MX1 championship standings:
1. Kirk Gibbs 341
2. Luke Styke 289
3. Adam Monea 283
4. Lawson Bopping 282
5. Kade Mosig 281
6. Jesse Dobson 240
7. Dylan Long 234
8. Daniel Reardon 230
9. Cody Cooper 219
10. Kale Makeham 180
11. Ford Dale 171
12. John Phillips 168
13. Aaron Tanti 167
14. Daniel Banks 140
15. Daniel McCoy 128
16. Izak Maule 125
17. Darcy Jones 118
18. Daniel McEntee 113
19. Cheyne Boyd 83
20. Matthew McEntee 71

Click here for detailed results