KEY POINTS:
It will be all or nothing now for title hopefuls after a weekend of high drama at the third of four rounds in this season's New Zealand Motocross Championships near Hastings.
When the day dawned at the Valley Road circuit, just off State Highway 50, it was Mt Maunganui's Cody Cooper (Honda CRF450) leading the 500cc class by six points from fellow Kiwi international Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki RMZ450).
When Hurley was taken to hospital with serious injuries to his eye after taking a rock in the face during qualifying, fired at full force off the rear wheel of Australian visitor Ryan Marmont (KTM), it looked as if his championship bid may have ended.
But he returned next day, with 11 stitches inserted into the wound above his right eye, determined to tough it out.
It wasn't quite enough, however, and, with sweat running rivulets down his face and adding to his visibility problems, a brave Hurley managed only third overall on the day, finishing 2-6-3 in his three outings.
In contrast, Cooper, who had again set fastest time in Saturday's qualifying, looked in sublime form, finishing the day unbeaten to extend his championship lead from six to 24 points over Hurley. With just the fourth and final round in Taranaki all that remains is for him to complete the series.
"It was a shame with Daryl (Hurley) hurting his eye," said the 24-year-old Cooper.
"It was an easy day with Daryl hurt. I felt good today and had plenty in reserve. I could have gone faster."
Meanwhile, in the 250cc class, the motocross fisticuffs continued between Hawera's Luke Burkhart (Suzuki RMZ250) and Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Kawasaki KX250F).
Burkhart finished 1-2-7, enough to preserve his championship lead and, despite having to charge through from last place in the day's final race, he even extended his series lead from one point to four over Phillips, who had an equally mixed bag at Hastings, finishing 3-4-3.
Taranaki's Shayne King (Honda CR250) was winner of the 250cc class on the day in Hastings, finishing 2-3-2, but it still wasn't enough to improve his position from fourth in the series standings.
"There are now just three races to go before I retire from racing," said the 37-year-old King, whose career highlight was winning the 500cc world title in 1996.
"I want to go out with a bang and after the way I rode today, I think I can do that next weekend in New Plymouth."
In the 125cc class, King's younger brother, Damien, has stretched his lead from 26 points over Christchurch rider Justin McDonald (Honda), to 65 points over new second-ranked man Michael Menchi (Suzuki).
McDonald won the day's first race, the first time Cambridge-based King had been beaten this series but had a spectacular crash in the next race and took no further part in racing.
He has slipped from second to third in the standings.
King has been almost unbeatable in the 125cc championship and only a complete disaster at his old home track in Taranaki next weekend will prevent him from defending his national title.
Apart from Waikanae's Menchi, who moved up from fifth to second in the rankings, the other big movers in the 125cc class were Te Awamutu's Mark Penny (Suzuki), who went from sixth to fifth overall, and Hayden McKay of Christchurch (Yamaha), who moved up to seventh in the rankings.
Women's world champion Katherine Prumm (Bombay, Kawasaki) was, not unexpectedly, again too good for her opposition in the women's class, extending her unbeaten run by another three races at the weekend.
Prumm is now 41 points ahead of new the No 2 rider, Australia's Kristy Gillespie (KTM).
NZ MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS, LEADING STANDINGS AFTER ROUND THREE OF FOUR:
500cc class:
1 Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui, Honda) 216 points
2 Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki) 192
3 Peter Broxholme (Tauranga, Honda) 172
4 Nick Saunders (Taupo, Kawasaki) 138
5 Matt Haworth (Australia, Honda) 110
250cc class:
1 Luke Burkhart (Hawera, Suzuki RMZ250) 195 points
2 Michael Phillips (Rotorua, Kawasaki KX250 and KX250F) 191
3 Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha YZ250 and YZF250) 177
4 Shayne King (New Plymouth, Honda CR250) 174
5 Brad Groombridge (Taupo, Kawasaki) 150
125cc class:
1 Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha) 217 points
2 Michael Menchi (Waikanae, Suzuki) 152
3 Justin McDonald (Christchurch, Honda) 146
4 Cameron Negus (Rotorua, Yamaha) 145
5 Mark Penny (Te Awamutu, Suzuki) 143
Women's class:
1 Katherine Prumm (Auckland, Kawasaki) 225 points (maximum)
2 Kristy Gillespie (Australia, KTM) 184
3 Letitia Alabaster (Raetihi, Yamaha) 161
4 Nellie Knarston (Pukekohe, Kawasaki) 135
5 Nikki Scott (Auckland, KTM) 126
