Yamaha Racing set to thunder into Echo Valley

Round five of the 2011 Rockstar MX Nationals at the picturesque Echo Valley track in Toowoomba, Queensland, marks the halfway point of the championship with Yamaha riders and teams well placed for a strong charge home.

Each of the three factory supported Yamaha teams have a rider inside the top two in the points' standings of their respective classes and challenging for a national championship.

The Toowoomba circuit is arguably the most difficult of the nine round championships, yet the Yamaha teams are primed and ready for a big weekend.

CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Josh Coppins enters round five just nine points off the lead in the premier Pro Open class, despite not finishing the final race at the previous round. Coppins has since fully recovered from his fall and has been able to prepare properly for what looms as a season shaping round.

"Echo Valley is another track that I haven't raced, but the team tells me it is the most like a European or GP track with long hills and technical ruts. I actually like the fact of going to a new track and dialing it in quickly. I hope it gets as rough and challenging as everyone tells me it usually does as that sorts out who has done the work and who hasn't."

"I look forward to racing it this weekend," Coppins concluded.

Coppins' team-mate Jay Marmont bounced back to some form in the final two motos at Murray Bridge and has continued the improvement on the practice track during the break in between the rounds. Totally recovered from a finger injury prior to Murray Bridge, Marmont feels this weekend just might be the one to mount his charge for his fourth championship.

"I have felt as good as ever on the bike the last couple of weeks in practice," Marmont says confidently. "I took the positives from the final motos at Murray Bridge, worked hard on my training and bike set up and feel that I'm riding as good as I have in a long time. I just have to take that to the race track and everything will be fine."