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COPPINS QUALIFIES AT GP:
Motocross hero Josh Coppins has come through his first major test back in the world championship, qualifying for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix.
And he did it in style.
With only the top 30 riders in the world able to claim a spot on the grid for the Sunday afternoon marathon in the scorching Tuscan sun, the Kiwi-born star of the CAS Honda team leapt straight into the top half with a comfortable 13th fastest time.
It was an impressive return to Motocross GP for the 26-year-old who was runner-up last year when it was called the 250 class.
Leaving a number of big names in his dust, the New Zealander blasted his CAS Honda CR250R around the gruelling Montevarchi circuit in 1min 52.456sec, less than two seconds off the pace of runaway world champion Mickael Pichon.
Even Coppins’ most ardent fans, here in Italy where he won the national title last year, were impressed with his grand prix comeback ride just four months after he wrecked his feet and back in a crash, and three months after he underwent spine surgery.
“I could have gone a little quicker out there,” commented Coppins as he sat dripping sweat after the 30-minute qualifying session. “A couple of times I was on a hot lap but another rider got in the way.
“But overall I’m happy with that, I’m on the grid for tomorrow and we’ll see how the race turns out.”
The man they call Lizzard now faces another dimension of challenge: surviving 40 minutes of grand prix pace at this fourth of 12 rounds in the world champs.
I know I’m lacking race fitness, so I’ll just have to give it everything and hang in there.”
A similar poser faces the expat Kiwi’s top-rated teammate Gordon Crockard. The Irishman rode painfully to 22nd qualifying spot today on his four-stroke CRF450R, carrying a broken finger after last weekend’s British championship event.
The third member of the UK-based CAS Honda squad, Japanese Yoshi Atsuta, came in one spot behind Crockard on a similar bike.
Thousands who flock to the track a half-hour south of Florence are assured of action tomorrow: even the master Pichon, the man who was challenged only by Coppins at the end of last year, had to bow to local hero Claudio Federici today.
Coppins will contest round five of the championship in the eastern European nation of Bulgaria next weekend.
Ian Miles
Josh’s Manager
