MX1 frontrunner Lawson Bopping is pleased to have opened his 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals campaign with a solid seventh place finish and has targeted improvement as the season progresses.

The second-year CDR Yamaha rider was in the mix for most of the day, his toughest battle coming when he was forced to fight back from a fall early on in moto one.

Bopping mounted a comeback charge through the pack to score seventh, and raced hard in moto two to take a top five finish.

It was the safe start the YZ450F rider had hoped for, and he says he will now look to build up to better results.

“Like most riders, I tried to get through the opening round without too many dramas, review my racing and bike and then improve as the series goes on,” said Bopping.

“Today was good without being great and the up and down results of a few of the other guys has kept the points pretty tight.

“All up, it wasn’t too bad and I will be looking for improved results at the next round in Murray Bridge.”

Bopping took 50 points from the first of the series’ 10 rounds, and is locked in a tight battle on the leader board with positions three through to 10 separated by just 15 points.