Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Cody Cooper dominated the second round of the New Zealand Motocross Championship last weekend at Patetonga.

As the New Zealand Motocross Championship edged past the halfway stage with the second round of four, Cooper raced to a 2-1-1 result in the premier MX1 class.

Former world championship contender Josh Coppins (CDR Rockstar Yamaha) finished second with a 3-2-2 result, yet he had no answer for the raw speed of Cooper. Honda’s Michael Phillips was third after winning race one.

All three are in their final stages of preparation for the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals Championship.

In the lead up to the Australian Motocross Championship, Cooper was very happy with his result.

“It was an awesome day and I can’t thank the team enough for having everything right for me,” said Cooper. “It’s great that my Australian team manager, Jay Foreman, came over.

“And that’s where I’m focussed too, being strong for the Australian nationals. I don’t want to peak too soon for that and I think I’m getting stronger each time I ride, which is good.”

Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Australian rider Daniel McCoy maintained his challenge for the MX2 title with another solid performance.

McCoy finished the day runner-up to Hamilton’s Darryl King and he remains third in the overall championship standings, just two points behind Cody Mackie.

“This New Zealand series is all about me testing ahead of the Australian nationals but I still want to win here. I know how good King is – he may be in his 40s but he’s an all-out racer and he knows what it takes to win,” said McCoy.

Countryman Coduy Mackie was third overall for the round.

The Australian Motocross Championship will commence at Broadford in Victoria on Sunday, 13 March.