The second half of the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals will commence at Hervey Bay in Queensland on Sunday, 1 July, marking the start of a spectacular five-round race to this year’s Australian Motocross Championships.

The premier Monster Energy MX1 category is currently led by experienced New Zealander Josh Coppins, who has spent the mid-season break in Europe training and contesting a number of races in a bid to boost his form during rounds six through 10.

Coppins, who is a former world championship runner-up, has a handy 21-point lead in the series for CDR Yamaha. After finishing second in the series on debut last year, he’ll lead the MX Nationals into the second half at Hervey Bay.

“I didn’t want to sit around during the break and lose my rhythm,” Coppins said. “I called up a few friends in the UK and organised myself a bike and was able to get in some solid practice and the odd race.

“But it’s good to be back and I’m ready to get stuck into the second half of the season.”

Chasing Coppins is top Australian contender Todd Waters, the Motul Pirelli Suzuki rider coming off a spectacular victory at round five in South Australia before the layoff. The 21-year-old has been relentless since switching to Suzuki, applying pressure on Coppins every step of the way.

“We’re not even halfway and, as I’ve found out previous to this, I’ve had the red plate and it just gets snatched away very quickly,” said the Gold Coast-based Waters.

“It’s not over until that last race. That’s what I’m going for, just to get to that last race, keep chipping away and doing what I’m doing.”

Another international in reigning two-time British champion Brad Anderson sits third for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing, six points shy of Waters. Anderson picked up a victory in Western Australia’s prestigious Manjimup 15,000 earlier this month, now certain to carry that form into the MX Nationals’ final five rounds.

Two more Aussie rising stars are ranked in positions four and five, with Lawson Bopping (CDR Yamaha) and Tye Simmonds (Simmonds Racing Honda) already picking up multiple podiums this season. Bopping has been located in the United States for the past month refining his form, hopeful that the investment will pay off as soon as the gates drop at Hervey Bay.

Defending four-time Monster Energy MX Nationals Champion Jay Marmont has confirmed that he’ll sit out Hervey Bay. Marmont has been plagued by injury all season long so far, recently undergoing surgery in a bid to regain full fitness by season’s end.

Stay tuned for complete covereage all weekend via MotoOnline.com.au as well as by searching MotoOnline on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.