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Motocross ace Josh Coppins has flown to a superb second fastest qualifying time for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Austria. In a frantic 35-minute session which ended with yellow caution flags waving, the 25-year-old expat Kiwi was the only rider to join runaway world champion Mickael Pichon under 2min 2sec for a lap of the dusty track at Karntenring.
Meanwhile fellow Kiwi expat Ben Townley cruised to a top position in the 125 class.
With a time of 2min 1.589sec, Coppins’ Vismara Honda was a clear second faster than a chasing group of riders.
“It’s been a tough day’s riding, the track has been changing a lot and visibility is hard at times in the dust,” said the Motueka-born star of the Italian-based team.
“But it felt really good out there and I wasn’t pushing to absurd lengths. “Tomorrow’s race is the important one … I’m happy with that qualifying time.”
Coppins goes into the sixth of 12 rounds in the world 250 championship 17 points adrift of Pichon, the Suzuki-riding Frenchman who walked away with the title last year.
On 96 points, Coppins is six ahead of his Vismara Honda teammate Pit Beirer who qualified in eighth spot today one of several riders prevented from pulling a last, fast lap after Jussi Vehvainen crashed his Honda heavily near the end of the clocked session.
Quickest of the bunch chasing Coppins was two-time world champion Fred Bolley of France, ahead of current 125 class champ Jamie Dobb (England), Frenchman Johnny Aubert and Kenneth Gundersen (Norway).
Tomorrow’s grand prix at St Viet south of Salzburg, as mid-point in the championship, is expected to provide a viewing platform for the shape of the title.
Coppins is now a favourite to repeat the podium placing his Honda CR250R factory racebike has claimed at the past three events.
In the 125 class Townley, as one of the top ten rankings, did not need to qualify. But the 17-year-old recorded sixth quickest lap in an earlier timed session to confirm his standing for tomorrow.
The Big Five Vangani team rider celebrated his signing this weekend of a big new KTM contract with a cool ride on the rapidly-drying circuit.
But there was also distress for his team as fellow 125 rider Tanul Leok of Estonia crashed heavily and was rushed to hospital with suspected serious knee injuries.
Fresh from runner-up spot at the last GP, in Italy, Townley is tipped as the dark horse for tomorrow’s race which sees a one-off return to the 125 by champion Dobb.
Townley is just fifth, three points away from third place in the championship with half the season to go.
Great news also is that Darryl Atkins has qualified in 24th place for the 250 class on his MJ Church Kawasaki.
The 30th and last qualifying position was taken by Philips Mason who is listed as being from NZL?
Can any one enlighten me?
Coppins races at 11am tomorrow local time, Townley four hours later.
The next round is in Bulgaria in a fortnight.
