Image: MXN.

It will be business as usual for Yamalube Yamaha Racing at Appin’s second round of the 2017 Motul MX Nationals despite team newcomer Cooper Pozniak sporting the MXD series leading red plate following Wonthaggi’s season-opener.

Aware of the stiff competition in the development category and a long season ahead, it will be vital to keep the one-time round winner level-headed and focused on the task at hand according to team manager Scott Bishop.

“The bottom line is that you keep your feet on the ground,” Bishop told MotoOnline.com.au. “It’s one round in a bunch of rounds and it’s a great confidence builder and a great start, but at the end of the day we all line up again on the same start line and everyone starts on zero points again at round two. We need to do that eight times to effectively win the championship.

Multi-time championship winners and current MXD title holders thanks to Mitch Evans’ victory in 2016, Bishop and the Yamalube Yamaha Racing squad are aware of the work involved in bringing home the number one plate at the season-finale.

“From my point of view, it’s a good start and a small reward for the team, but there’s a long way to go and a lot more work to be done from us,” he explained. “Our competitors will be better, so we’ve got to be better, we need to keep moving forward. For Cooper, obviously it’s an exciting time for him, but it’s only the beginning and he has to keep his feet firmly on the ground and keep doing the work to match or better those results.”

Pozniak currently holds an eight-point lead over second place rider Jy Roberts with seven rounds remaining on the 2017 Motul MX Nationals MXD schedule.