CODY COOPER OPENED HIS
2019 CHAMPIONSHIP ATTACK
WITH A 2-1-1 STREAK
MX1
he number 121 is emblazoned on the
front and sides of Cody Cooper’s Hon-
da CR450F, an unprepossessing digit
that hints at nothing more than the
fact that he is not the reigning New Zealand
Motocross Champion.
But that could be set to change this season
as the man from Mount Maunganui launched
his bid for top honours in the premier MX1
class at the first of four rounds for the 2019
Fox New Zealand Motocross Championships
in Taranaki on February 3.
Coincidentally, those same digits were also
the same ones that could be used to regis-
ter his results at the Barrett Road Motocross
Park, on the outskirts of New Plymouth,
Cooper finishing the day with a 2-1-1 score-
card, enough to give him a three-point edge
over his nearest threat, defending champion
Kirk Gibbs.
Australian visitor Gibbs finished the day 1-2-
2 to settle for the runner-up position, while
Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont chimed in with
three third placings and he took the third
step on the MX1 podium. Lamont is just nine
points behind Gibbs.
Cooper is a six-time former New Zealand
MX1 champion and did not take kindly to
losing his crown to Gibbs last season, some-
thing he is determined to rectify this year, his
performance in Taranaki certainly setting him
on the right path to achieve that.
Cooper is in hot form at the moment – he
won the MX1 class at the annual Honda New
Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville
the previous week.
But what Cooper craves most is winning the
national title and there is actually still a long
way to go before he can relax, with another
three tough events (and nine races) to sur-
vive in the coming weeks.
“I was trying to tippy-toe around the track to-
day, to not make any mistakes,” said Cooper.
“There are parts of this Taranaki track where
you can be pushing and feel good and then
suddenly it all lets go.
“As long as I was in the hunt for the title
when I left here today I would be happy and
I’m actually leading the way, so that’s even
better.”
KIWI RIDER 81