What was eagerly anticipated at Pukekohe on Sunday was to learn how the rest of the podium positions would form.
Australian KTM rider Kirk Gibbs came on strong at the final round, registering a 7-1-1 scorecard in the day's three races and strengthened his position to second in the series standings, with Rotorua's Phillips (The Honda Shop Racing Team CRF450) settling for third overall.
Cooper rode conservatively and wrapped up the title after winning the first MX1 race of the day, before finishing runner-up in his next two outings at Pukekohe.
"I was quite relaxed today. I knew I didn't have to do much to win the title. I'd really set myself up with the results from the earlier rounds," 31-year-old Cooper said afterwards.
In the MX2 class, Wilson scored a hat-trick of wins to again dominate, but Takaka's Hamish Harwood (CMR Red Bull, KTM) managed to defend his spot at No2 in the class thanks to his 2-3-3 results.
Amberley's Micah McGoldrick (Timaru Honda CRF250) was again solid with 8-4-4 results at Pukekohe and so held on to his position at third overall in the class.
In the 125cc class, Waikato's Natzke was in sublime form, scoring another hat-trick and making it 11 wins from 12 races in the series.
Positions changed behind him, with Taupo's Cohen Chase (Total BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ125) doing enough with his 3-5-3 results to leapfrog Ngatea's Ben Broad (CMR Red Bull BikesportNZ.com KTM) and snatch back the No2 spot. Broad finished 8-3-4 and was forced to settle for the third step on the national championship podium.
- NZ Motocross Championships final standings:
MX1 (450cc): Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui) Honda, 263 points, 1; Kirk Gibbs (Australia) KTM, 239, 2; John Phillips (Rotorua) Honda, 216, 3.
MX2 (250cc): Jay Wilson (Australia) Yamaha, 290, 1; Hamish Harwood (Takaka) KTM, 240, 2; Micah McGoldrick (Amberley) Honda, 206, 3.
125cc: Josiah Natzke (Hamilton) KTM, 288, 1; Cohen Chase (Taupo) Yamaha, 231, 2; Benjamin Broad (Ngatea) KTM, 227, 3.
