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By - Ian Miles:
COPPINS & TOWNLEY RIDE AGAIN:
New Zealand's motocross heroes Josh Coppins and Ben Townley are back in action this weekend in their first big outing since the world championship finished last month.
World runner-up in the 250 class Coppins takes his Honda to England for his only appearance in this year's British champs.
"It's a way of saying hello to the CAS Honda team I'll be riding for next year," said the 25-year-old Kiwi expat this week from Italy where he has been training on his CR250R. "I've had a ride on the new 2003 bike . it's really trick and I'm planning to ride it this weekend for its first serious outing. "I still have to decide whether I use this 250 two-stroke or go to the 450 four-stroke under the new rules for our class at the world champs next year. "We are really fortunate that Honda has brilliant bikes in both categories; I may use the 250 now and switch to the 450 for the final round of the Italian champs the following weekend."
Coppins goes to Polesworth near Birmingham this weekend as the top-ranked entrant, which throws up an interesting proposition: he may be able to help the CAS team's current number one rider Paul Cooper to clinch the British title.
"If it pans out that I'm in a position to assist, of course I will," said seasoned professional Coppins. "Harry Ainsworth and CAS Honda have been a big help to me as I tidy up a pretty messy season in Italy and I'm looking forward to working with them and Honda UK next year."
Meanwhile youngster Townley concludes his duties for the Big Five Vangani KTM team with a round of the Dutch championship this weekend.
The 17-year-old will ride the 125 KTM he took to a storming sixth place in this year's world champs, including his maiden grand prix victory in Sweden in July.
"Sadly this will be my last ride in Vangani colours," said the talented pro racer who has drawn wide acclaim for his meteoric step onto the world stage. "Vangani has been a great home for the past year and a half and I'd really like to repay the team and its sponsors with a big result." In recognition of his bright future, Townley will become a factory rider for KTM next year, again contesting the 125 class which will also be opened to 250 four-strokes.
Next weekend Townley will join other international stars representing KTM, the world largest manufacturer of dirt bikes, at a glittering show in Las Vegas, USA.
Coppins and Townley, close friends off-track, were to form the mainstay of the New Zealand team at the Motocross of Nations last weekend, but missed out when the event at Competition Park, California, was suspended.
Their exploits at the world championship this year were closely followed at home where television coverage became known as the Josh and Ben Show.
