    |
 |
|
|
|
New Zealand\'s top motorcycle racer Josh Coppins has stormed to second qualifying place for tomorrow\'s Dutch Motocross Grand Prix.
On a sandy surface made doubly tricky by heavy rain, the Motueka-born expat blasted his works Suzuki to runner-up spot behind his factory teammate Mickael Pichon and ahead of the reigning double world champion.
\"It\'s a much better start than the first grand prix a fortnight ago,\" said 24-year-old Coppins from Valkenswaard in the southern Netherlands where the championship event survived nagging concerns about animal foot and mouth disease problems and mud forced the cancellation of Friday\'s practice.
\"I was really disappointed to finish up sixth in Spain . this weekend it\'s time to make up a bit of ground.\"
Coppins was especially delighted with a lap time marginally ahead of Honda\'s top man Fred Bolley of France, undisputed king of world 250 racing for the past two years.
\"Fred looked to be riding well and it\'s good to be back up there with him and Mickael.\"
Coppins was just a second behind Frenchman Pichon, world runner-up last year, and the two Suzuki Corona bikes seem likely to be contesting the first corner of the GP tomorrow.
\"It\'s good for the team for us to be close, and a bit of rivalry makes both us ride better,\" said Coppins, world number four in 2000.
Meanwhile New Zealand\'s new young sensation Ben Townley reinforced his stunning start at the last GP by again qualifying well in the 125 class.
The 16-year-old again repaid the faith shown by the Phase Suzuki team from Germany with a commanding 10th spot in his qualifying race and will start his second straight grand prix . a performance few predicted when the schoolboy left Taupo at the end of last year.
\"It was a tricky track to come to grips with, so I\'m real happy to qualify again,\" said the promising racer.
The Dutch GP will be held overnight Sunday NZ time. The championship continues over 15 rounds till September - round three is in Australia in a fortnight, Easter.
