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COPPINS PLOTS TO HOLD SECOND SPOT:
Motocross star Josh Coppins is testing tyres this week as he builds towards for the biggest season's finish of his illustrious career on the world stage. The expat Kiwi is in the hot seat for runner-up position in the glamour 250 class when he heads his Honda to Moscow next week.
How best to prepare?
"We have some new tyre compounds and patterns to test, so we are riding at a track in the north of France," said the 25-year-old. "It can be repetitive work, but I always enjoy tyre testing ... it gives us an edge when we come up with a new combination, plus it helps keep me focused on my riding. "There's also the feeling that my work is helping riders all over the world: there's a direct feed from what we develop at the world champs to tyres sold over the counter," Coppins added.
The New Zealander's eighth GP year will become his best yet as he is guaranteed of at least third spot in the 250 championship, even if he strikes disaster in Russia on 15th September.
After a commanding ride to second place in the Czech Republic last Sunday, Coppins is 11 points ahead of the German who was his teammate for much of this year, Pit Beirer.
Beirer has been just behind Coppins before the final round each of the past two years, and both times has sneaked past to take third and fifth places respectively.
That task is much tougher this year after the outspoken 29-year-old managed just 15th position at the Czech GP. Even if Beirer wins in Russia, Coppins needs finish no higher than sixth to maintain runner-up spot in the championship . and sixth would be his poorest result of the season.
"It's a big jump for Pit to haul back, but I'm not concentrating on him," Coppins explained. "I just need to go out and do what I've done all year . enjoy my riding and stay smooth and focused."
Observers have been impressed with the Kiwi's resolve through the gruelling, 12-round season as he proved the only rider who could challenge the runaway success of mercurial Mickael Pichon. While the Frenchman was building on his title win from last year, Coppins was in a fight to prove his innocence of doping charges after taking the wrong hay fever tablet. And at the same time Fabrizio Berni's Vismara team was financially collapsing beneath the likeable Kiwi.
But for the loss of 20 points (from the Austrian GP) when he was found negligent over the hay fever treatment, Coppins would have run the high-flying Pichon much closer.
From 11 grands prix this year, Coppins has stood on the podium eight times.
"Things were very tough for quite a few months and it did affect me a couple of GPs ago when I finished down in fourth place, but overall I feel I'm riding better now than ever in my career," said Coppins. "The mess over the Berni team is far from resolved, but my best approach is just to keep scoring the points."
Factory-backed bike distributor Honda Europe, which withdrew its backing from Berni last month, recognised Coppins' professionalism by supporting him directly. Beirer has not received the same support.
Coppins has been the major contributor to Honda's now-unassailable second place in the constructors championship.
"I was pleased to join Honda from Suzuki at the start of this year and it's proved to be the correct move," Coppins stated.
A fortnight after Moscow Coppins leads the New Zealand squad at the Motocross of Nations event in California, USA. His teammates will be former world champion Shayne King and young GP sensation Ben Townley.
Last year Coppins was the major points scorer as the Bike Blacks pulled off an upset with third overall.
Meanwhile it's been announced that 8,200 euros was raised for flood relief in the Czech Republic, at the grand prix at Loket last weekend.
More than 2,000 spectators bought access to the race paddock, in a collaboration between world championship promoter Dorna Off-Road and the Automoto Klub Loket.
The proceeds will be presented to the Czech government.
World 250 championship points after 11 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 263 points; 2 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 200; 3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 189; 4 Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 159; 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 147; 6 Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 146; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 140.
Constructors: Suzuki 263, Honda 228, Yamaha 189, KTM 177, Kawasaki 172, TM 86, Husqvarna 80.
