18 January 2010 

Suzuki riders bagged both senior classes at the third round of four in this season’s New Zealand 

Supercross Championships in Tokoroa on Saturday night.

Despite having to brave a painful knee injury following his crash at round one, Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper (MotoGB Suzuki RM-Z450) won the open class in Tokoroa with 1-3-2 results and leapt from fourth to third equal in the championship standings. 

"The way things have been going for me lately, I have to say I'm surprised I won the night," said Cooper.

"I was sick at round one and then crashed and hurt my knee. Then I got only second placing at round two … but now I've got an overall win to celebrate.

"I struggled a bit tonight because my sore knee has no strength in it. It's all swelled up. I'll just have to see what I can manage at the final round next weekend in Auckland."

Meanwhile, defending Senior Lites (250cc) class champion Scott Columb, of Queenstown, took his MotoGB Suzuki RM-Z250 to 2-1-1 finishes on Saturday night, extending his championship lead to nine points over Mount Maunganui’s Mason Phillips.

Although he has now bolstered his points lead in the 250cc class, Columb downplayed his own performance at Tokoroa.

"It almost went according to plan tonight … I didn't win all my races, but I have extended my lead and I'm happy about that," said the 26-year-old.

"I'm not riding as well as I know I can but I seem to be getting the job done. Mason Phillips has really stepped it up this year. He's riding really well." 

Third in the 250cc championship standings is Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Action Suzuki RM-Z250), who also finished the night third equal in Tokoroa.

Groombridge stunned the crowd with his aerial antics to also win the cross-up jump competition. 

In the junior 250cc action, Wanganui’s Tom Managh (Suzuki RM-Z250) has suffered a tragic accident, crashing and breaking his ankle on Saturday night.

He had started the night first-equal in the Junior 250cc championship chase and he had been riding brilliantly until that point, but medical advice has now ruled him out of action for up to three months.

Managh may still have enough points that, even though he won't be racing at the fourth and final round in Auckland this Saturday, he may still hold on to third overall in the championship.

Paraparaumu's Jesse Donnelly (open class, Suzuki RM-Z450), Te Awamutu's Luke Richmond (senior lites class, Suzuki RM-Z250) and Kaukapakapa's Josh Jack (junior 250 class, Suzuki RM-Z250) also stood out at Toko

roa on Saturday night.