Features 15 Nov 2011

Race Recap with Lawson Bopping

MotoOnline.com.au reflects on Maitland Super X with first time winner, Lawson Bopping.

Raceline Pirelli Suzuki’s Lawson Bopping raced to a huge win at last weekend’s Hunter Valley round of Monster Energy Super X, a great result that cemented him as one of the country’s premier Pro Open contenders.

At just 21, Bopping has been strong all year on the 450, making what looks to be a simple transition from the Lites. It has been Super X where he has made his biggest impression though, scoring two podiums so far and claiming that superb win in Maitland.

If it wasn’t for a DNF in the mud at Melbourne’s opener, we may very well have seen the number 70 toward the top of the points table by now, with only Jay Marmont out-scoring him through rounds two through four.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with Bopping straight after the race on Saturday to speak about his success, about that DNF in round one and also about his future as he’s yet to lock in a seat for next year.

Lawson Bopping raced to a first career Pro Open win at Maitland's round of Monster Energy Super X.

Congratulations on the win, it was a great result to win just four races into your Pro Open career!

Thanks a lot. You know, it was great to get the win and the whole night went so good. I won my heat race, went okay in that Man on Man thing, then I got three decent starts in the main.

I rode up front and got three seconds for the overall. I still didn’t feel totally comfortable, like I felt a bit sketchy in the whoops and stuff, but I can’t complain.

I got the overall – it’s sick.

As you said, you got three seconds in the finals, but you were leading that third one with Jay right behind you. You knew he had a bad result in the first race, so I guess it was easy for you to settle in and take second to cap it off for the overall?

Yeah, especially after last weekend in Sydney cos Jay just killed it. I was thinking all week how am I going to beat this dude? But yeah, he had a bad first race and I was consistent all night.

I saw him there in that last one and I was all tight, so he got around me and I followed him to the finish. I’m just over the moon to get the overall result.

You’re 15 points off the lead with one round to go and can’t change anything now, so how disappointing is it for you to look back at your DNF in the mud at round one in Melbourne?

I bet something happens and I’m like, I wish I got one point at that first round [laughs]! But, you know, I’m just taking it race by race.

I’ll keep doing my own deal, keep doing what I am doing and hopefully have a good weekend next weekend. Hopefully the track is a bit better and the weather holds out.

Bopping isn't yet sorted for the 2012 season, but his win should add to his value for the new year.

Even though you won the Maitland round through consistency, you have won three out of four heat races this year and no doubt have the outright speed. How have you gone about being so strong, your first season on the 450?

Yeah, like you said, it’s my first season on the 450 and I don’t really have too much pressure on me. I’m just going out to ride, have fun, and the heat races have been going great man. I’ve only dropped one and that was a second, so they’ve been good.

Every round has been getting better and better. We have one more round and I wish the series was a bit longer, but I’m just pumped on the weekend.

We’re right in the middle of the silly season, which has been a crazy one so far, so do you have any idea where you’ll be at in 2012 yet? Any plans sorted?

Nah, not really. I definitely want to ride a 450 again. I’m actually pretty keen to go to the States and do some supercrosses there, because we have nothing going on here for a while.

I just have to get some connections, try get a bike or on a team, or whatever. Next year I don’t know what I’m doing, but hopefully it’s good.

Well I’m sure your form so far in Super X and the win in Maitland would have opened up some eyes for sure. Well done.

Yeah, hopefully! Thanks a lot.

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