    |
 |
|
|
|
Motocross ace Josh Coppins has slipped to a single point off the lead in the Italian All-Comers championship after a hard-fought round in Umbria today.
The star of the Honda world title team blasted his CR250 racebike to fifth place on the winding hillside track at Castiglione del Lago, near Assisi north of Rome.
But his only championship rival, three points behind, picked up five extra points for a win at this third round of the prestigious title.
Chicco Chiodi now has 115 points to Coppins’ 114 as they await the final round in October.
“It doesn’t come much closer than that,” commented New Zealand expat Coppins.
“Nobody was going to beat Chicco around here today, it’s his home track.
“But I was in the hunt for the minor money till I ran over my right foot and slowed up: I’ve hurt my leg a little but it’ll be fine for the first round of the world champs in a fortnight, and that’s our major objective.”
It’s not the way Coppins wanted to celebrate his 25th birthday tomorrow, but with fourth and fifth placings today he showed he is approaching peak form for the 24 March world opener in The Netherlands.
Ironically it was Coppins’ teammate Andrea Bartolini who took away his fourth place and the vital point that would have left him equal with Chiodi.
Bartolini, another Italian, was on the comeback after being forced out of race one while leading, when a stone lodged inside the engine protector of his big CR450.
“That’s racing,” commented Coppins. “Andrea would have beaten me fair and square in race one so I can’t complain that he slipped past when I slowed near the end of the second.”
Today’s third of four rounds in the Assoluti d’Italia, the title open to riders from all nations, was at the circuit on which the Italian Grand Prix will be raced in a few months.
.......
Coppins was further cheered to hear news from The Netherlands that his young protege Ben Townley also scored fourth and fifth placings today.
The 17-year-old, another Kiwi expat, was riding a KTM 125 for the Big Five Vangani team in round one of the Dutch championship.
Townley will also line up in the world champs this year, backing up an impressive rookie season when he claimed 33rd place outright.
