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COPPINS QUALIFIES IN GERMANY:
Motocross ace Josh Coppins has easily qualified for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Deutschland at Gaildorf in south-western Germany.
The expat Kiwi slotted his CAS Honda comfortably into 12th fastest time during the Saturday qualifier, which turned into a tense game of stalk and counter-stalk as the championship enters its final quarter with no clear leader in this glamour class.
Controversial French champion Mickael Pichon, already written off by many when he lost the title lead after winning the first three rounds, threw down the gauntlet to his Belgian challengers today with a time fully two seconds faster than anyone else could manage. That’s a huge gap at bthe top of this competitive contest.
Best of the rest was six-time world champ Stefan Everts, the Belgian star who has won the last six grands prix on the trot.
With countrymen Marnicq Bervoets and Joel Smets right behind, Everts led a freight train of riders on similar lap times; Coppins in 12th was less than two seconds back.
Further intrigue is added to the battle as Pichon places a 250 two-stroke on pole: the Belgians all ride 450 four-strokes and their string of recent successes has led many to believe the larger bike is superior in this first year of mixed capacity. Coppins’ factory Honda CR250R is a two-stroke.
Enthusiastic German fans pouring into this picturesque hillside circuit 80km from Stutgart for round 10 of the Motocross GP title chase were treated to a calm, clear day with bright sunshine pushing the temperature to 30 deg.
Similar conditions are expected Sunday when Coppins looks to repeat his podium placing of the last GP, his first top showing of the year.
Fighting back from crippling injuries at the start of this year, the New Zealand-born 26-year-old missed four of the first six races and is not in world championship contention this time around. However he aims to be back in contention for grand prix victory by season end, ready for a strong title bid in 2004.
The German event commences a hectic end to the season for laidback professional.
Straight after the GP he dashes to England where he races a non-championship international event on Bank Holiday Monday. Then it’s a trip east again to the Czech Republic for a Grand Prix next weekend.
Back in England a week later Coppins contests the final round of the British Champs at Pontrilas, then he crosses to France for the final GP of the year.
Sunday’s 40-minute Grand Prix of Deutschland is held early afternoon local time.
Championship points after nine of 12 rounds:
1 Stefan Everts (Belgium) Yamaha 200; 2 Joel Smets (Belgium) KTM 190; 3 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 188 points; 4 Brian Jorgensen (Denmark) Honda 112, 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 111; 6 Andrew McFarlane (Australia) Kawasaki 105; 7 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 95; 8 Yoshitaka Atsuta (Japan) CAS Honda 93; 9 Kevin Strijbos (Belgium) Suzuki 80;10 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) CAS Honda 78. 13 Josh Coppins (New Zealand) CAS Honda 53.
Ian RJ Miles
