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COPPINS & TOWNLEY QUALIFY - By: Ian Miles:
The Kiwi expat Motocross star Josh Coppins, has zipped to an easy third fastest qualifying spot for tomorrow's 250 Grand Prix of Deutschland, as he looks to sew up a top finishing position in this year's world championship.
Moving away from his trouble-plagued Italian team [Berni Honda] this weekend to ride directly for Honda Europe, the likeable Coppins again stamped his class in a talented field with intelligent riding in the half-hour qualifying session at Gaildorf near Stuttgart.
The 25-year-old spoiled a tricolour party as runaway points leader and defending world champion Mickael Pichon of France topped the leaderboard, followed by former two-time champ and countryman Fred Bolley.
Cleared last week of a doping charge, Coppins finds himself in third spot on the championship ladder with three races remaining.
He is just one point behind his latter-day Honda teammate Pit Beirer of Germany who has elected to stick with the controversial Berni team from northern Italy.
"There's been all sorts of off-track drama this weekend, and that really just continues what's been going on for a while," commented Motueka-born Coppins. "For me it's just about going quick on the track and that's what I intend doing tomorrow. "I'm delighted with third in qual because there was a fair bit of cat-and-mouse right through the session."
Coppins has taken seven podium places in a row on his factory Honda, a feat unrivalled even by Pichon in this year's hard-fought world championship.
Meanwhile youngster Ben Townley, sixth in the 125 championship, automatically qualifies as one of the top ten.
Today the 17-year-old recorded ninth fastest lap in a timed session, with his Big Five Vangani KTM teammate Tyla Rattray behind him.
The Taupo Tornado Townley, already the winner of one grand prix this year, is now fully recovered from a knee operation three weeks ago.
Quickest 125 today was the factory KTM of last year's championship runner-up Steve Ramon (Belgium).
While rain-fuelled floods rage further east, the riders fought 30-degree heat and 40 percent humidity on a partly cloudy, breezeless day here on the Auf der Wacht circuit in the south-western corner of Germany.
The German Grand Prix is always a midsummer favourite with fans. Now in its second year at this beautifully contoured circuit on a grassy green hillside, it is expected to draw a bumper crowd for tomorrow's three GP events.
Coppins races in the 250 grand prix at 11am local time, Townley's 125 is four hours later with the big-bore 500 class between.
After this, just two events remain on the championship calendar: Czech Republic in a fortnight and Russia a further two weeks later.
Revised world 250 championship points after nine of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 213 points; 2 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 161, 3 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 160; 4 equal Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 126 and Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 126; 6 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 122; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 119.
125 championship points: Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM 159 points; 2 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki 157; 3 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 154; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM 142; 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 140; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 125; Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM 99.
