Cooksley Wraps Up World Cup Win

[Posted 28.08.07]

It was both sweet and sour for Kiwi race fans at the weekend’s FOX FIM Motocross Grand Prix of Great Britain at Donington Park.

New Zealand’s national anthem rung out when Auckland’s Tony Cooksley wrapped up the Veterans’ World Cup in front of 28,000 cheering, horn-tooting fans.

It was the realisation of a dream for 51-year-old Cooksley as he completed a four-race clean sweep of the series, easily winning both of the weekend’s races on the new track constructed on the infield of the famous road-race circuit.

The Yamaha stalwart had also scored back-to-back race wins at the opening round in Belgium three weeks earlier, dominating the action in the Veteran class.

It came as no surprise when Cooksley again put himself on pole with a blistering qualifying session and, as he’d done in Belgium, he then ran away with both races, winning both by more than 23 seconds.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Cooksley afterwards.

“Initially I had no expectations that I would win the Cup this year. You never know who is going to show up. After winning the first race (at Donington Park), I knew I’d wrap up the title if I stayed calm and did nothing silly.”

Runner-up was Frenchman Paul Barbara, with Belgium’s Philippe De Jong third.

While the large contingent of Kiwi race fans enjoyed supporting Cooksley’s victory, there was less to celebrate in the main action with Motueka’s Josh Coppins losing his MX1 World Championship lead for the first time since that 15-round season kicked off in April.

A serious shoulder injury suffered in the Czech Republic a month ago continued to trouble the Kiwi Yamaha star. He struggled to 14th in the day’s first race but, as the pain became too much to bear, he was forced to withdraw from the second race.

Coppins is now 14 points behind Belgian Steve Ramon with just next weekend’s 15th and final round, the Dutch GP at Lierop, to wrap up the series.