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COPPINS & TOWNLEY QUALIFY IN CZECH:
Motocross stars Josh Coppins and Ben Townley have cruised through qualifying for tomorrow's Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Loket.
With just two rounds remaining in the world championship, Coppins declared his intention to climb to second in the 250 class with a barnstorming Saturday ride.
The New Zealand-born Honda racer turned in the fourth fastest lap time around the demanding Loketske Serpentiny circuit near the Czech-German border, to grab a top spot on Sunday's start gate.
"I felt really good out there," commented the 25-year-old expat Kiwi. "The Honda is running perfectly and we have it well set up for this track. "I was running quicker towards the end of the session . there's more to give tomorrow."
On a sunny afternoon with temperatures nudging 30 degrees and 50 percent humidity, Motueka-born Coppins left behind the worries of a tough season to qualify near the pace of polesitter Mickael Pichon, last season's champion who sealed victory for this year at the last grand prix.
Marginally ahead of Coppins' Alpinestars Honda were Englishman Jamie Dobb and Kenneth Gundersen (Norway), neither of whom has been able to match the consistency of the Kiwi this year.
Coppins' closest eye is reserved for his former Honda teammate, German Pit Beirer who holds second in the title chase just five points ahead.
Despite desperate efforts right to the close of the 30-minute session, the outspoken Beirer could manage no better than 11th fastest today. And the next closest to Coppins in championship points, Frenchman Fred Bolley was just eighth in qualifying.
After tomorrow's 11th round, only a trip to Russia in a fortnight offers a final chance to build points.
While Coppins eyes second or at worst third spot to record his highest championship place since he came to Europe eight years ago, 17-year-old Townley hopes to take his KTM into the top five of the 125 category.
Currently sixth, he gained a top-ten automatic qualifying spot for tomorrow afternoon's 40-minute GP . and confirmed it today with seventh fastest lap time, a second and a half off the pace set by the three front-runners vying for the world crown.
After a stellar year on the factory-supplied KTM 125 at Big Five Vangani Racing, Taupo tearaway Townley remains a crowd favourite for his second grand prix win of the year tomorrow.
"The KTM is really strong, awesome," enthused the teenager, "and I'm very happy with my riding right now." "I haven't raced here before but the track is good, as long as it doesn't cut up too much in the races before ours tomorrow. "I still want a top-five place in the championship." The title in his class is coming down to the wire with two Belgian KTM riders, Patrick Caps and Steve Ramon, battling it out with the Kawasaki of Frenchman Mickael Maschio.
Mindful of his support from the mighty KTM factory, the largest maker of dirt bikes in the world, Townley has offered to help Caps or Ramon to the title if he finds himself positioned to do so in the race.
He has already played his part in KTM's unassailable lead in the constructors' championship.
Recent floods did not affect the circuit at Loket, 140km west of the capital Prague and a similar distance south of eastern German city Dresden, and fans can expect breathtaking racing as the season approaches its climax.
Coppins contests the 250 grand prix at 11am local time Sunday and Townley lines up in the 125 race four hours later. Belgian legend Stefan Everts (Yamaha) is tipped to wrap up his sixth world title in the 500 class event between the two.
World 250 championship after 10 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 238 points; 2 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 183, 3 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 178; 4 Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 146; 5 Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 139; 6 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 134; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 124.
Constructors: Suzuki 238, Honda 206, Yamaha 181, Kawasaki 158, KTM 157, TM 83, Husqvarna 65.
World 125 championship after 10 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki 182 points; 2 Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM 181; 3 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 174; 4 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 156; 5 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM 154; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 125; Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM 99.
Constructors: KTM 238, Kawasaki 179, Husqvarna 169, Yamaha 137, Honda 95, Suzuki 68, TM 5.
