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From - Ian Miles:
COPPINS FASTEST IN ITALY:
Motocross ace Josh Coppins has qualified fastest for Sunday's final round of the Italian Championships at Asti, out-gunning a couple of former world champions in the process.
Riding for the UK-based CAS Honda team for whom he will defend his world 250 runner-up spot next year, Coppins has surprised the Italians by turning up on a 450 four-stroke machine rather than his accustomed 250 two-stroke.
"I've been practising all week on the four-stroke down in Tuscany," explained the 25-year-old expat Kiwi from the circuit in the north of Italy. "We have to make a decision which of the two bikes I ride when new rules come into the world champs next year, so now is a good time to try the 450."
If it was a brave experiment on the weekend he is bidding to become Italian champion, it paid off for the likeable pro racer. With his fastest qualifying lap Coppins shut down the identical machine of 1999 world 500 champion Andrea Bartolini who was a teammate of the Kiwi this weekend.
Third fastest was the man Coppins has to beat, triple 125 world champion Alessio Chiodi. Riding a Yamaha, Chiodi is just one point ahead of Coppins going into this sixth round of the title hunt.
"I want that title and I'll be giving it everything on Sunday," Coppins commented as he closed on his first European national crown. "The only problem is that I've developed the flu. I'll just have to ride through it."
Last weekend Coppins dominated the final round of the British Champs for CAS Honda.
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Don`t take the medicine Josh!
