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Josh Coppins has climbed onto the podium at today\'s Dutch Motocross Grand Prix, claiming third spot in round two of the world 250 championship.
It was a fine comeback for the 24-year-old expat Kiwi who was disappointed with sixth spot at round one in Spain. Coppins is now up to fourth overall, the position in which he finished last year\'s title chase.
\"I was a little slow starting again today and had to fight back into the top half dozen, but once I got going I was able to pick off the riders,\" said the Suzuki factory rider.
\"The track was pretty hard going here, sandy and quite cut up where it had been wet,\" Coppins said of the demanding circuit at Valkenswaard in the southern Netherlands.
\"It was a matter of staying fast and smooth because quite a few guys were dropping back.
\"Once I got up to third I was able to build up quite a gap, but by then the leaders had gone,\" said the Motueka-born ace.
Coppins\' Corona Suzuki teammate Mickael Pichon of France, last year\'s championship runner-up, won his second straight GP after passing the Honda of early leader Gordon Crockard (Britain).
Coppins led home another Briton, Paul Cooper, who had put his Yamaha one place ahead of the Kiwi last round.
Reigning world champion Fred Bolley of France (Honda) crashed heavily while leading Coppins early on today while Coppins\' arch-rival, Pit Beirer of Germany who just pipped the Kiwi in last year\'s title and was runner-up a fortnight ago, could manage no better than eighth on his Yamaha this round.
Coppins\' protege Ben Townley, the 16-year-old who left school in Taupo to contest this year\'s 125 championship, was classified 27th on his Phase Suzuki.
The quiet youngster was knocked down by another rider at the start but recovered well to come through the pack before falling in the heavy sand.
\"I hit the ground quite hard and tweaked my neck, but I\'m OK,\" said Townley who had earned plaudits by qualifying for his second straight GP.
\"It\'s all part of the learning curve and I\'m improving every ride.\"
The next event is in Australia in a fortnight; the 15-round season continues across Europe before the finale in September.
Unconfirmed standings, World 250 Championship after two of 15 rounds:
Pichon 50 points, Crockard 29, Beirer 28, Coppins 26, Cooper 24.
