Motocross: Cooper makes comeback in Rotorua

Riders in action at round three of the New Zealand Motocross Championships in Rotorua on Sunday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Cody Cooper's title defence is back on track.

The Honda rider from Mount Maunganui arrived at Rotorua for the third round of four in the New Zealand Motocross Championships yesterday with his national MX1 title defence in disarray. He was in third place overall in the MX1 standings and a distant 19 points behind Australian rider Dean Ferris, with another Australian visitor Todd Waters second in the standings, and five points ahead of the Kiwi hero.

However, by the end of the day everything had been given a massive shake-up. Cooper was now leading the championship five points ahead of Waters, with Ferris slumping back to third position. Before the weekend began, Cooper had vowed to "toughen up" and that's exactly what he did, posting a 1-1-2 scorecard in his three races.

"I really would have liked to win that last race, but I mucked it up on the downhill section on the last lap and Dean (Ferris) snatched it away.

"But I have to be thankful too. I was a long way behind at the start of the day and now I'm leading," he shrugged.

It was a similar case of upsets in the MX2 (250cc) and 125cc classes with the respective class leaders not winning the day yesterday.

In the MX2 class, it's still Takaka's Hamish Harwood at the top of the championship standings, but it was Mangakino's Kayne Lamont who came on strong yesterday, scoring an impressive hat-trick of wins at Rotorua.

In the 125cc class, Ngatea's Ben Broad remains the championship leader, but his advantage over Taupo's Wyatt chase has been trimmed from 28 points to 23 after Chase won the day at Rotorua, posting a 1-2-1 scorecard on the rough and hilly track off SH 30 at Horohoro.

The fourth and final round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships will be held on the outskirts of Taupo this coming Sunday.

Standings after three rounds (of four):

MX1 class: 1. Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui, Honda) 198 pts; 2. Todd Waters (Australia, Suzuki) 195; 3.Dean Ferris (Australia, Yamaha) 193.

MX2 class: 1. Hamish Harwood (Takaka, KTM) 197 pts; 2. Jed Beaton (Australia, Yamaha) 184; 3. Ethan Martens (Waitakere, Yamaha) 163.

125cc class: 1. Ben Broad (Ngatea, KTM) 214 pts; 2. Wyatt Chase (Taupo, Yamaha) 191; 3. Kurtis Lilly (Karaka, Husqvarna) 148.