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From: Ian Miles.
COPPINS & TOWNLEY TO BELGIUM
New Zealand motocross stars Josh Coppins and Ben Townley go back into grand prix mode this week as the world championship resumes after the summer break.
Round nine of 12 takes the riders to Genk for the Grand Prix of Belgium. This small town 90km east of Brussels is right near the Netherlands border, close to Maastricht.
For Coppins it’s a welcome opportunity to demonstrate again his superiority in 250, the glamour class of motocross.
The very next day the 25-year-old Kiwi expat will be in Switzerland for a formal court case on a doping charge, the result of a hay fever tablet he took before the GP of Austria last month.
“I’ve been trying hard to put the doping thing out of my mind and just concentrate on my riding,” said the embattled ace who is currently second in the world title chase.
“The irony is that I’m riding better than ever in my life right now, I feel totally at one with the bike and the results have reflected it.”
Indeed, Coppins is the only rider to stand on the podium at all of the past six grands prix. Not even runaway points leader and defending champion Michael Pichon (France) can claim that.
Backed by Honda of Europe, Coppins is again expected to emphasise his dominance over his nearest challenger, Pit Beirer on another Honda.
Going to Genk, Coppins on 158 points is 17 clear of the German’s 141.
Meanwhile Townley is bouncing back from a small knee injury problem to put the heat back on the leaders in the 125 class, on his Big Five Vangani KTM.
The sensation of the season, the 17-year-old stunned them all with his maiden grand prix victory last time out.
Now the five veteran riders tightly grouped at the top of the ladder are watching Townley’s fast progress as anxiously as they eye each other.
“There’s been a bit of expectation after I won in Sweden before the break,” commented the cool-headed young Townley as he prepared for Genk.
“But I like just to concentrate on one race at a time and make sure I do my best.
“There are four rounds left in the championship and my aim is simply to keep myself up there in the points.”
The pair of Kiwi expatriates have not been idle over the break.
Townley won a Dutch championship event the week after his Sweden success, then both showed they can foot it with the best in America with top rides at a USA national last week.
And yesterday Coppins cleaned up a French international event, winning all three races.
Heading back to the world champs, both riders are familiar with Belgium and the Genk circuit. Townley’s team is based nearby while Coppins formerly rode with Pichon for the Suzuki factory team which is also run out of Belgium.
“It’s not the best track on the GP calendar,” commented Coppins, veteran of eight years in the world champs. “It’s tight and technical, but it rewards strong riding and it tends to sort out the best riders quite quickly.”
Qualifying in Genk is on Saturday. Coppins rides the 250 grand prix at 11am Sunday local time and Townley’s 125 grand prix is four hours later.
