Cody Cooper Changes Gear

New Life in the Fast Lane

maddix park mx

The rumours have been circulating discreetly for quite some time. Today they were confirmed and  by the man himself. Yes, Cody Cooper is changing disciplines.  Cody Cooper is moving to road racing !

We caught up with New Zealand’s newest MX1 Champ just before he left for Round 2 of the Australian MX Nationals in Sydney this weekend.  Cody is running in 2nd place and on his current form, series’  leader, Billy McKenzie, should be worried, really worried.

Why, we asked, why on earth this change?

 “Well, when I was a kid, I really wanted to be a road racer,” admits Cody, “but there wasn’t much going on in that line in Opotiki so I got into dirt bikes instead.  I seemed to win a few  things, I was having fun so I just kept on doing it, picked up some sponsors  and got to be a pro racer.  MX, supercross, the whole dirt scene was pretty cool, still is. Heaps of good mates.  But this year I’ve been mulling things over a bit. I loved the battle for the MX 1 title – and especially winning it, of course - and I’m pretty focused on grabbing the Oz one as well, but I guess it all boils down to wanting and looking for a fresh new challenge”.

And has he been head-hunted?

“Let’s just say that nothing is confirmed, I’ve got a few options, but I have started to learn Italian” is the coy reply.

It may be a coincidence but Cody’s move to road racing coincides with the press release of the new “Pesce d’aprile “ 6 cylinder radial April1a road racer which has been under development in the April1a  factory in Noale for just on a year.  Radial motors were used extensively in the early days of the bi-plane.  However, you would be far-fetched to find any resemblance between the new motors and the era of Snoopy and the Red Baron. New balancing methods and advances in metrology have them fair pumping, with the 6 cylinder April1a rumoured to be capable of 22000 revs. 

Come 2012, with both Cody Cooper and the Pesce d’aprile on the start line, the superbike scene won’t know what’s hit it.

Click here for the April1a press release and photos of the new “Pesce d’aprile .

Click here for more info about Cody Cooper.

 
Bookmark and Share