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By; Ian Miles:
COPPINS BLASTS BELGIUM
Motocross star Josh Coppins has maintained his stunning form with second place in today’s 250 Grand Prix of Belgium. The talented expat Kiwi has now taken seven podium places in a row on his factory Honda, a feat unrivalled in this year’s hard-fought world championship.
Coppins, 25, is a clear second overall in the title chase with 180 points, 33 behind today’s victor and defending world champion Mickael Pichon of France.
However Coppins now faces a court hearing tomorrow on a heavyweight doping charge, the result of taking a lightweight hay fever tablet before the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
He has vowed to deny the charge.
“I’m delighted with another second place, but I want to ride on and show the world I’m not a drug cheat,” commented the veteran of eight years in the championship. “I can perform without any help from drugs, and I always have throughout my career. “I’m innocent of this charge … if I’m found guilty I will appeal and ride the rest of the races this year.”
Straight after the podium ceremony, Coppins hopped into his lawyer’s car for a long drive south to Switzerland for the hearing
Racing for Honda Europe, Coppins held second place behind Pichon's Suzuki from start to finish of today’s testing 40-minute moto at the Genk circuit in eastern Belgium near the Dutch border.
After nine of 12 rounds, he is now 21 points ahead of his teammate Pit Beirer (Germany) who managed no better than fourth today but holds a secure third overall.
Grabbing a distant third place in today’s race was Irishman Gordon Crockard, on the rebound from a miserable season on his KTM to enter a close, four-man tussle for fourth place overall.
Two-time world champion Fred Bolley of France saw his championship hopes dive when he retired his Yamaha after running third early on. He is now struggling to stay ahead of Crockard, his KTM teammate Jamie Dobb (England) and Kawasaki’s Norwegian Kenneth Gundersen.
Despite a sunny 18deg with high humidity, the Belgian circuit was heavy with mud and every rider below seventh was lapped, those from 20th place twice.
The next event is in Germany in a fortnight, then it’s the Czech Republic before the final round in Russia in September.
[Darryl Atkins from Tokoroa riding the MJ Church Kawasaki finished in 22nd place]
Points after nine of 12 rounds:
World 250 Championship:
1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki, 213 points; 2 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 180; 3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda, 159; 4 Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 125; 5 Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 124: 6 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 121; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 119.
