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Contributed by: Ian Miles
Motocross stars Josh Coppins and Ben Townley have given New Zealand another double-whammy, both taking third position to stand on the podium for their classes at the Grand Prix of Bulgaria.
In blazing heat young sensation Townley fought off veteran racers to leap back into contention for the 125 world championship title.
Meanwhile experience 250 ace Coppins strengthened his second position in that category.
Townley, the 17-year-old from Taupo, remains sixth in his title chase but with 97 points he is just 28 off the lead.
He bounced back from a lowly 20th place at the previous GP to lead today’s race before fading a little as the heat came on at mid-point.
Two long-established European riders squeezed past but the impressive expat Kiwi held a big gap over other challengers to head his Big Five Vangani KTM for the podium his third from seven races this year.
“I know I’m still young and I’m learning,” said the exhausted Townley after the 40-minute charge around a winding hillside circuit at Sevlievo in the east of the Baltic nation.
“I pushed too hard at the start today and paid the price for it later on. “But I’m on the podium again and it’s great to get a result for my team who have worked so hard.”
The GP was won for Husqvarna by Italian veteran Alex Puzar from Swiss rider Philippe Dupasquier on a KTM.
Townley’s teammate Tyla Rattray (South Africa) crashed out today and slipped to eighth in the championship.
Also left disconsolately nursing wounds at trackside was title leader Mickael Maschio, closing up the top of the table to congestion point with less than half the season to go.
The race concludes a hectic fortnight for Townley, the so-called baby-face who left school at the beginning of last year to chase his world championship dream.
After the poor result in Austria he flew to the United States where he bagged high-flying sixth and eighth placings at a national race last weekend.
Did jetlag leave Townley weakened today?
“I don’t think so,” he commented. “I’m the fittest I have ever been and I didn’t feel any ill effects all week. “In this heat it’s impossible not to succumb to the conditions.”
Temperatures soared to 40 degrees again today with humidity around 50 percent as the Bulgarian summer welcomed the grand prix circus to its furthrest eastern point so far this year.
The heat also took its toll in the slightly cooler morning race for 250 class bikes, but Josh Coppins was able to consolidate his second place in the championship with his fifth podium placing in a row.
World 125 championship: 1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki, 125 points; 2 Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM, 122; 3 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna, 120; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM, 120; 5 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 112; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 97; 7 Jeff Dement (USA) Honda 70; 8 Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM, 68.
