Lawson Bopping is taking a nothing to lose approach in his guest ride with Empire Kawasaki this weekend at Wonthaggi’s second round of the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals, where he’ll fill-in for injured rider Dylan Long.

Long confirmed yesterday that he’ll sit out the weekend’s encounter as he continues to recover from an elbow injury sustained at Appin’s opener, calling for the official Kawasaki team to draft in Bopping.

The New South Welshman hasn’t contested an outdoor round in three years after a mystery illness prevented him from competitive racing, however improved health allowed him to return for the 2018 Australian Supercross Championship, scoring a fill-in ride at CDR Yamaha Monster Energy for the AUS-X Open Sydney and S-X Open Auckland.

“It was pretty unexpected really,” Bopping admitted to MotoOnline.com.au. “I got a phone call from Tyson Cherry on Monday and mentioned Dylan might not be racing this weekend, and he asked if I’d be interested in a one-off race this weekend – I have Larbert MX open this week as well, so I was running around organising this and that, but we made it happen and I’m actually down in Melbourne at the moment.

“I haven’t had a whole lot of time on the bike, but I’ve got a Kawasaki at home, so I’m familiar with it. My bike at home is dead stock, and I hopped on Longy’s bike yesterday – obviously we have quite a different stature, so we had to change a few things. I like the bike – the Kawasaki is my bike of choice.

“I’m going to go there and ride as hard as I can and for as long as I can, then see where I end up. I’ve got a nothing to lose attitude going into it – I’m just going to wing it and have some fun.

“I’ve been riding a bit at home – I haven’t been throwing down 30-minute motos, but whenever the tracks are good, I’ve been spinning some laps just to stay ready if an opportunity like this popped up – and it just so happened to on a Kawasaki team. It’s not good for Longy – it’s not good at all – but it is part of the sport.”

Bopping will join Empire Kawasaki regular Deakin Hellier, who’s currently contesting the MXD category.

Dylan Long has withdrawn his entry from this weekend’s second round of the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals at Wonthaggi in Victoria as he continues to recover from an elbow injury.

The Empire Kawasaki rider’s season started in a bitter manner at Appin’s mudder less than two weeks when a first turn clash in the one and only moto saw him damage his right elbow, prompting him to make an early retirement from the round.

Hopeful of making round two, Long discovered in the past week after visiting specialists in Melbourne that he’ll have to sit out this weekend’s event in order for the damage to adequately heal, which could see him benched for an indefinite period.

“About five years ago I crashed and broke the end off my elbow, and after I had surgery, I haven’t been able to straighten my elbow out – it was a pretty big surgery and I couldn’t get my arm straight at all,” Long explained to MotoOnline.com.au.

“With the crash that I had [at Appin], my elbow hyperextended on a weird angle when I got hit. My elbow not being able to bend straight, and how much it was bent in the crash, it’s stuffed some ligaments and the joint around in my elbow. I’ve gone to some of the best [specialists] in Melbourne to try and get it sorted, plus visiting my physio in Albury.

“They’re going to let me know how I’m going – it’s a weird one, with broken bones you know you’re out for four weeks or whatever. I was hoping to be on the line this weekend, but obviously went in to see these couple of people, and they said there is no way I’m racing this weekend.

“I’m hoping to be back for the next one at Broadford – that would be ideal, but I’m really not sure about that either. I’ll just have to keep coming back and wait until it’s feeling good.”

It’s understood the Empire Kawasaki will field a MX1 replacement alongside MXD contender Deakin Hellier.

Josh Grant experienced a troubled return to racing at Seattle’s 12th round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship last weekend.

The former AMA regular hadn’t raced a supercross until Saturday night, where he commenced his guest deal with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing to fill-in for the injured Aaron Plessinger.

Grant ultimately failed to make the main event after crashing both in his heat race and the LCQ, acknowledging he needs more bike time under his belt to become more acquainted with the factory specification YZ450F.

“The bike was great all day,” Grant commented. “The track conditions were difficult to adjust to though, and there were some really slick spots and we struggled in the whoop section.

“I’m going to head home, work on a few things and come back to Houston with a little more riding under my belt. Everybody has bad days and looking at that main event, mine still went better than most.”

The main event was won by Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in controversial circumstances after he jumped on red-cross flags, leading to a seven-point penalty and forfeiture of his prize purse.

Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Star Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis has been overwhelmed with emotion after clinching a career-first 250SX West victory at Seattle’s stop of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

The Frenchman transferred from the MX2 World Championship to pursue a career on the AMA pro circuit with the factory Yamaha squad in 2017, scoring a number of podiums in his transition to supercross racing, however was yet to experience a triumph in the discipline until Saturday night.

Ferrandis put on a gritty display, inheriting the lead in the early stage while fending off a charge from points leader Adam Cianciarulo (Pro Circuit Monster Energy Kawasaki) in the closing laps.

“For sure the emotion is at its maximum tonight,” Ferrandis stated. “It was a big moment for everybody to finally get this first 250SX win. We were waiting for it for so long and finally made it happen. The feeling is really awesome.

“The bike was really good tonight. We made some changes on it between practices to get the best bike as possible for the track condition. The track wasn’t that difficult this weekend at Seattle even though some rhythms were a bit tougher than other ones. The most difficult part about this race was myself.

“I’m not used enough to leading a race so I did not want to make mistake and was not riding at 100 percent because of that. But I am very happy to take this win tonight. It gives me more confidence for the next upcoming races now that I know I’m able to win a Supercross race in the US!”

The number 34 is currently positioned second in the standings, 12 points shy of Cianciarulo.