Cooper makes it three in a row
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Cody Cooper made it three in a row when he romped to victory at the 35th annual Tarawera 100 cross-country endurance race on Saturday.
The Mount Maunganui man, formerly from Opotiki, took his Moto City Suzuki RM-Z450 to a comprehensive victory on Saturday, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of another former Tarawera 100 winner, national MX2 motocross champion Darryll King, of Hamilton.
Third overall was Cooper's housemate, fellow Suzuki ace Rhys Carter, crossing the finish line just 34 seconds behind King.
Although thrilled to win the big annual event once again – and he was overwhelming favourite as the 160 competitors lined up for the start – Cooper certainly didn't look a likely champion immediately after the start.
Unable to ignite his bike at first kick, Cooper suddenly found himself down in 65th place as the mass of riders left the start paddock and hit the bush for the first time.
But, by the end of the first of four 40-kilometre laps, Cooper had remarkably powered his way up to second spot and he was closing in fast on the surprise early leader, local hero Mitch Rees, of Whakatane.
Carter had suffered similar misfortune with his bike at the start and he was back in 60th spot, but he too wasted no time in making up lost ground and was up to sixth spot by the end of his first lap.
The two Suzuki men worked their way even further through the field, eventually sandwiching King on the podium when the race was wrapped up after three hours of gruelling cut and thrust battling.
Carter was declared winner of the battle-within-a-battle for under-300cc four-stroke class honours, while Cooper easily won the over-300cc four-stroke class.
"It was pretty dangerous on that first lap with me being on the charge and with so many slower riders ahead of me," said Cooper. "I wasn't just out there to do a parade lap ... I was pushing hard ... but, thankfully, lots of riders left enough room for me to fight through.”
The 28-year-old Cooper has made the Tarawera 100 his own in recent times. He won it the first time in 2007 but has now won it three times consecutively, the top man in 2010, 2011 and again this year.
Cooper now switches back to motocross mode to continue his campaign across the Tasman, racing the Australian Motocross Championships.
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Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
