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Frpm - Ian Miles:
COPPINS IN USA:
World motocross star Josh Coppins arrived in the USA this week to prepare for the January rounds of national supercross.
The expat New Zealander sees the fast-paced stadium racing as an ideal buildup for the outdoor World Motocross Championship in which he was runner-up in the premier 250 class this year.
\"I went through the same preparation at the start of 2002 and although my results were nothing to speak of, the riding was perfect to get me ready for the world champs starting in March,\" said the 25-year-old from Motueka.
\"Last time I rode a 125 class bike in the States but this season I\'m on a 250 Honda, the same as I\'ll be riding at the grands prix.\"
Coppins says stadium racing requires a totally different riding style from the outdoor motocross in which he has made his name.
\"The tracks are tighter with much more time in the air and the racing itself is pretty frantic,\" he said. \"That\'s ideal as part of my buildup. \"Since the end of the world championship season I\'ve had a holiday and visited family and friends in New Zealand, plus over the past month I\'ve been back into training and doing a bit of riding. \"Through December I\'ll build my speed on the bike and by the start of January I should be in form for the American races. \"I\'m not aiming to peak then though, I\'ll still be at 90 percent until March when I max towards the first grand prix at the end of that month,\" Coppins explained.
The world championship covers 14 events throughout Europe, with one round in Russia, concluding in September.
Coppins is the number one rider for the huge Honda factory, racing for the CAS Honda team from England in the newly-formatted Motocross GP class which pits his 250 two-stroke against 450 four-strokes.
He will ride four January events in the American championship, which then continues through the year. The US series doubles as part of a world supercross championship which kicks off this weekend in Switzerland.
Based in California, Coppins will have his world championship mechanic Fabio Santoni of Italy to work on the Honda CR250R.
The American racing is considered the closest in the world as more than 20 bikes scrap over small sections of track in baseball and similar stadiums before screaming crowds of up to 80,000 fans.
\"It\'s big-time with a huge following,\" Coppins said. \"There\'s a lot of hype and trackside entertainment but underneath it all the racing is very serious and very tough.
\"One day I\'d like to come to the States to race fulltime . but first I aim to win the world championship.\"
While in America Coppins will be reunited with his protégé Ben Townley, the young Kiwi expat who leapt to prominence in the world 125 class this year. Townley rides a 125 KTM in the US series and the world championships.
