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By: Ian Miles.
KIWIS TOPS IN MOTOCROSS
New Zealand is assured of two top placings when the World Motocross Championships conclude this weekend.
The country's leading rider Josh Coppins is poised to clinch runner-up spot in the glamour 250 class while his young protégé Ben Townley is virtually assured of sixth in the 125, as the final grand prix of the year takes place in Russia.
After 12 tough events since March, from Italy to Sweden and France to Bulgaria, the travelling circus finds itself at the Sorochany Sport Complex on the outskirts of Moscow where an expensive new circuit has been built specifically for this meeting.
For Coppins the equation is simple: have his Honda in the top half-dozen when the 40-minutes is up in the quarter-litre class event on Sunday morning local time.
If his former teammate and fellow Honda rider Pit Beirer is to knock the expat Kiwi out of second spot overall, he must win the race and Coppins finish below sixth.
That's a huge ask when the consistent Coppins has not been below fifth all year while Germany's Beirer has been up and down the points ladder, and while huge favouritism for victory rests with Frenchman Mickael Pichon who has dominated proceedings all season on his march to a second straight title.
"I've managed to keep Mickael in sight most of the year," commented Motueka-born Coppins. "But I've beaten him only once, that's a good enough incentive on its own. "I have no intention of riding for safety and worrying about Beirer. For me this weekend is about celebrating second place and giving notice that I intend to do better next year."
Even if the unthinkable happens and Coppins slips he can finish no lower than third in the title chase, so 2002 is his best finish since he came to the world champs eight years ago as a 17-year-old.
Beirer, 29, has been as high as second.
At the other end of the age and experience scale is 17-year-old Townley who comes away from 2002, while not matching Coppins' probable runner-up spot, with a bevy of accolades.
In just his second year on the world stage the Taupo tearaway has won a grand prix (Sweden), regularly beaten the young and old among the world's best 125 riders, and tucked away a longterm contract with the powerful KTM factory of Austria.
Townley has also tasted the lows of international competition: crashes at the last three races have robbed him of the points which would have taken him into the top five in the world.
Ironically the only rider who can steal his sixth spot is his teammate at Big Five Vangani KTM, South African Tyla Rattray. But for that to happen Rattray must win in Moscow and Townley finish outside the top-20 points scorers.
"I can afford to forget about the championship this weekend and just concentrate on the race itself," commented the young Kiwi expatriate this week as he and Coppins trained near the Vangani base in Belgium. "It's been a tough year and I'm carrying an injury or two going into Russia, but I find I forget about those things when the gate drops on Sunday afternoon. "After this I can start thinking about a holiday."
Coppins rides the 250 race at 11am Russian time, Townley's 125 GP is four hours later.
A fortnight later the pair are joined by former world 500 champion Shayne King in the New Zealand team taking on the world at the Motocross of Nations event in California, USA.
World 250 championship points after 11 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 263 points; 2 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 200; 3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 189; 4 Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 159; 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 147; 6 Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 146; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 140.
World 125 championship after 11 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki 207 points; 2 Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM 197; 3 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 196; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM 172; 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 169; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 125; Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM 104; 8 Jeff Dement (USA) Honda 103.
