Papamoa's Cody Cooper has claimed the biggest prize in Kiwi motocross - the New Zealand MX1 (450cc) title at the final round near New Plymouth yesterday.
Cooper's fightback from third place after the opening round at Timaru last month saw him win the following two rounds at Patetonga and Rotorua to
close to just one point behind former GP star Josh Coppins. Cooper surged ahead yesterday with an unbeaten performance at the final round.
Three wins from three starts powered the Suzuki star to a clear national title win, with Coppins taking runner-up honours. Mt Maunganui's Michael Phillips (Honda), a two-time champion in the MX2 category, finished third in the championship.
There was also success for Tauranga teenager Scott Barr-Smith who completed the nationals as runner-up in both the 125cc championship and the under-21 Youth category.
Barr-Smith had won the previous round at Rotorua and although he was further down the order yesterday with a sixth and two seventh places he retained second behind Yamaha's Ethan Martens.
Veteran Darryll King (Hamilton) edged out Australian Daniel McCoy by just four points to win the MX2 (250cc) title while Tauranga's Peter Broxholme (Honda) and Mt Maunganui's Rhys Carter (Suzuki) claimed fifth and sixth respectively.
