News 21 Oct 2019

Season remainder in limbo for Bopping as health issues continue

Empire Kawasaki contender undergoing further scans this week.

Image: Foremost Media.

Lawson Bopping is contemplating cutting his Australian Supercross Championship campaign short as he continues to battle ongoing health issues.

Bopping faced the fatigue-related health problem in 2016 which prompted him to step away from racing, however the New South Welshman was thought to have overcome the issue upon making a comeback with Empire Kawasaki until it reemerged at the halfway mark of the season.

The number 70 has shown genuine speed amongst the front-runners in the supercross championship, qualifying fifth fastest at Port Adelaide on Saturday before finishing third in his heat.

The Kawasaki pilot is set to undergo further medical evaluation this week, and while it’s likely his season is over, Bopping is confident it’s not the end of his career.

“Right now, I’ve got chronic fatigue,” Bopping revealed to MotoOnline.com.au. “As soon as my heart rate goes up, I just hit a wall very quickly compared to how I used to be or anyone else. You have to be super fit to ride a dirt bike, and I don’t have the stamina to do it.

“I feel as though I definitely have the talent to run up front in Australia, but I’m rolling around at 50 percent out there. Basically, the chronic fatigue is cooking me. But this Tuesday I’ll see the doctor for more scans – it’s a cardiologist, so I’ll be running on a treadmill and that. Even with chronic fatigue, there’s no quick cure – you’ve just got to rest.”

The next stop on the Australian Supercross Championship calendar is scheduled on 9 November in Wollongong, New South Wales.

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