Posted: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 : 8:31 PM - - 4,202 Reads

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Daryl Hurley remains an outside chance of snaring the Pro Open title at the season finale, while Lawson Bopping is poised to challenge for the Under 19s championship.

Riding his fuel-injected, 2008 Suzuki RM-Z450, Hurley has enjoyed a strong season and sits second in the standings, 38 points behind Pro Open leader Jay Marmont.

While there are only 50 points on offer, Hurley has vowed to give it his all and is gunning for Moto wins in Queensland.

"All in all, we've had a good year," the New Zealander said. "Obviously Jay is in the box seat, but you never know what's going to happen; we're just going to ride as hard as we can and score as many points as possible.

"I've been feeling good in training and the Team Shift Motul Suzuki crew have been working tirelessly to further improve the RM-Z450, I can't wait to get out there."

Hurley's good friend Craig Anderson who rides for the Woodstock Honda Thor Racing Team won't be of much help.

"Really, you'd have to back Marmont - he's been so consistent all year," Anderson said.

"Although, Hurley is always a tough competitor and you can never count him out - he's been right up there for the last 10 years.

"Hurley and I are good mates and now that I'm out of the running I'd love to see him take the title, but given that he's the man standing between me and second place, I'll be doing everything I can to keep him behind me.

"I've only ridden at Coolum once, but I'm feeling good and strong - at the Lakes and Newry rounds I had the speed and was doing it easily, so I'm confident I can be up there to take second overall.

"I'll be working as hard as I can to take second for myself and Woodstock Honda, so I guess I'm going out to help Marmont take the title."

Hurley's Pro Open team-mate Luke Burkhart will also be one to watch, keen to end an up-and-down season in style by translating his recent speed into a strong result.

In Pro Lites, young gun Matt Moss is intent on adding to his Lake Macquarie and Newry wins with victory at Coolum, to end his injury-interrupted season with three consecutive wins.

A pre-season title favourite, Moss was injured during qualifying for the season opener in Tasmania and sidelined until Round Six.

Since finishing third in his return meeting at Murray Bridge, the 20-year-old has been in scintillating form aboard his RM-Z250 with one eye on the upcoming Super X season.

"If not for the fall in Tassie, I've got no doubt we would have been up there in title contention," Moss said.

"The RM-Z250 is a great package and our results since coming back into the series have been really pleasing.

"We're looking to continue that this weekend and end the year with three consecutive wins."

Team Shift Motul Suzuki Under 19s rider Bopping sits third, just 14 points behind Under 19s points leader Tye Simmonds.

Bopping has been a contender all season and is keen to claim the national crown this Sunday for Suzuki's junior team, formed at the start of 2008.

"Winning the title for Team Shift Motul Suzuki Under 19s in its first season would be a fantastic result," Bopping.

"The guys have given me a great bike to ride and we've been strong at most tracks.

"We're only 14 points off the lead so we're right in the thick of the battle; we're just going to ride our own races and hopefully it will be enough to get us across the line."

The 2008 Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals season finale takes place this Sunday, 3 August, at Coolum Pines Motocross Park (QLD).

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