CODY COOPER 2ND IN AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS NATIONALS

Riding superbly on the hard packed, rocky track in the Pro-Open Class, No Fear Honda's Cody Cooper from Mt Maunganui, scored equal points with KTM's Jay Marmont on the day but under the points system was placed 2nd. Series leader Dan Reardon (Kawasaki) placed 3rd but earned enough points to make him unbeatable in the 2007 series with only one round to go at Coolum, Queensland, this weekend.

In Moto 1, Marmont stole the holeshot from Cool Air Racing's Troy Carrol and series leader Reardon who crashed around a sharp corner on the first lap and dropped back to the rear of the field. Carrol also crashed soon after that and it was Marmont in the lead followed by Cooper and defending champion Craig Anderson (No Fear Honda). Cooper caught Marmont in spectacular fashion in the second half of the moto and pulled away to eventually finish 1st. After a long battle for 2nd place, Marmont proved too good for Anderson who had to settle for 3rd. Despite not placing, Reardon rode a brilliant race, clawing his way back to finish a very respectable 6th.

Moto 2 turned into a battle between Cody Cooper in the lead and Jay Marmont chasing him with Dan Reardon following in 3rd. In the final laps, Marmont made a successful move for the lead and crossed the line to take 1st in the moto and on the day. Cooper crossed in 2nd and Reardon took 3rd.

Pip Harrison, Team Manager of No Fear Honda, said "Cody has really taken a step forward and put in a lot of effort lately and is getting results."

Cooper himself was well pleased with his performance. "In the first moto I felt good but started to get arm pump at the half way mark, which I rode through. The race seemed to go really quickly but the track was really hard packed and quite difficult to ride but I like the bigger jumps on this track" he said.

Blue Wing Honda's General Manager in New Zealand, Clive Cooper-Smith, was also pleased. "Cody has been working with Dave Borlase which I think has really helped Cody get on the right track.

With one round to go Cody now has the task of defending his 3 point lead."

At the previous round at Wonthaggi Cooper pulled in 47 points and another 47 at Lakes elevates him into 2nd position just 3 points ahead of Hurley. Overall points are: Reardon 390, Cooper 331, Hurley 329, Marmont 326 and Carrol 240.

After the Australian Nationals Cody Cooper departs for the USA for six weeks where he will stay with Ben Townley and plans to compete in the last two rounds of the AMA. A CRF450 has been organised through Honda Racing in New Zealand that will be looked after by Townley's team, Pro Circuit.

The 2007 Motocross of the Nations will take place at Budds Creek in the USA on 22-23 September and the NZ team has yet to be announced. Obviously Josh Coppins and Ben Townley are 'it' but with Daryl Hurley's (Shift Motul Suzuki) shoulder injury and the fact that Cooper is really riding so well places him in a prime position for selection. Cooper will then return for the four round NZ Motocross Championship.