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Josh Coppins’ world motocross campaign is back on track after he bagged a fighting fourth spot in Belgium today.
The expat Kiwi was a heartbeat away from a podium spot, pipped by a fanatical last-lap dash from Australian newcomer Chad Reed.
The placing at the Grand Prix of Europe puts Coppins and his factory Suzuki into a tied fourth spot overall with reigning two-time world champion Fred Bolley (France).
“We’re getting back into the game now, after the bike problems I had earlier in the season,” said the Motueka-born 24-year-old who is looking to improve on last year’s fourth in the title.
“I’m still a bit tense during the race because I’m trying so hard to get the points back, and that’s not good on the big bumps around here.
“But that was a better ride overall ... I can improve more yet and I’m starting to pick up the placings,” he said.
Coppins says the Corona Suzuki is now running flawlessly after ignition and gear selection problems at earlier grands prix.
“My mechanic Blair Selfe has put a lot of work into the bike and we now have it virtually perfect, even here at Spa which is such a hard track to set up for.”
The event, round six of a scheduled 14 in the championship, was a runaway victory for Coppins’ Suzuki teammate Mickael Pichon (France).
Title runner-up to Bolley last season, 26-year-old Pichon resisted a brief early challenge from his Honda-riding compatriot today before clearing off and already he seems assured of this year’s championship.
“But there’s a long way to go yet,” said the Suzuki Corona team owner Sylvain Geboers of Belgium.
“We’re delighted with Mickael’s form of course, and it was good to see Josh back on the pace today.
“We will continue to work for higher placings and see how things look late in the season.”
The placing at the famous Spa Francorchamps F1 car circuit deep in the Ardennes in eastern Belgium is an important psychological boost for Coppins.
He came into the event tied on points with the German who pipped him for third in the title last year, Pit Beirer. But Coppins out-muscled him into fifth in today’s race and is now a couple of points clear of both Beirer and Frenchman Yves Demaria who is out after breaking a shoulder yesterday.
Just four points in front of the Kiwi is Italian Claudio Federici who managed seventh today, while early season sensation Gordon Cockard (Ireland) was sixth and is slipping back towards the clutches of the late starters.
World 250 Championship points after six events: Pichon 145, Crockard (Honda) 86, Claudio Federici (Yamaha) 60, Coppins and Bolley (Honda) 56, Beirer (Yamaha) and Demaria (Yamaha) 54.
