Image: Foremost Media.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team has signed Lawson Bopping for the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Championship, which will see the talented New South Welshman line-up at next week’s AUS-X Open Sydney followed by the S-X Open Auckland on 24 November.

Bopping, who made a surprise return to racing in the Australian Supercross Championship after battling a mysterious health issue in recent years, will effectively replace injured athletes Dean Ferris and former fill-in rider Nathan Crawford.

The CDR Yamaha outfit is familiar territory for Bopping, having raced full-time with the Victorian-based squad in the 2012 and 2013 racing seasons.

“It’s pretty exciting to get the call from Craig to do these final two rounds,” Bopping commented. “It’s never good to get the gig because of rider injures, so I feel for both Dean and Nathan in their situations.

“It’s going to be fun racing for CDR Yamaha again and I look forward to hanging out with the guys and racing their amazing bikes for the next couple of weekends, and hopefully I can do a good job of keeping the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team flag flying high.”

Team owner Craig Dack spoke of drafting in Bopping, highlighting the importance of fielding a full team at two of the most prestigious events on the calendar.

“With the last two events of the year the highest profile on our racing calendar, I felt it was important that we were well represented by having two bikes on the track,” Dack explained. “We have a commitment to our sponsors to provide them with quality riders, good coverage at events and solid results and we believe Lawson can fill that role for us at these two events.

“Lawson will slot in easily for us as he knows everyone on the team, has worked with us in the past and is very comfortable on the Yamaha YZ450F. We have no expectations on him other them compete like he has every other weekend and represent our team, brand and sponsors well and I’m sure he will do a great job.”

Bopping sits eighth in the championship standings despite entering the series at round two, while regular CDR Yamaha SX1 contender Dylan Long is positioned fifth in the rankings.