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Visit Josh @ his JoshCoppins.Com: Website.
It features the Kiwi`s latest news, pictures, profile etc.
COPPINS QUALIFIES IN FRANCE:
Motocross ace Josh Coppins has rocketed back to the top of grand prix
reckoning with a stunning second fastest qualifying spot for Sunday\'s
French Grand Prix at Ernee.
The 26-year-old expat Kiwi was bettered only by five-times world champ Joel
Smets on his Saturday afternoon ride in the Bretagne for this final round
of the world Motocross GP champs.
It\'s a huge return to form for Honda ace Coppins who was told at the
beginning of this year he may never race again and who missed the first
half-season after surgery to his spine, an ankle and both feet.
\"I\'m feeling much better about my riding now,\" commented the laidback New
Zealander after his outing on the steep hillside circuit near Rennes west
of Paris.
\"I\'m coming back close to my top form, too late for this season but it\'s
important as preparation for next year when I\'m aiming for the title.
\"It\'s just a matter of race time on the bike, and now I\'ve had about three
months this season.
\"I just need a reasonable start tomorrow and I\'ll be looking to have the
Honda at the front,\" added New Zealand\'s top motorcycle racer.
In hot and sunny conditions, a good crowd is expected at the at the Circuit
de Vahais which is expected to see Coppins and Smets battling with Stefan
Everts, the Belgian who has already secured this title to take his tally to
seven.
Everts will celebrate by riding all three classes tomorrow, including the
125 in which he has pole position; Smets will ride also the 650 in which
has won the 2003 title and where he has pole for this race.
Smets was riding in borrowed gear after his race clothing was stolen from
his KTM team truck on Friday night.
Everts and Smets are both on 450 four-strokes which joined the world\'s
glamour class this year.
Coppins, only half a second behind Smets, was the fastest two-stroke on his
CAS Honda CR250R. Another two-stroke took third spot with the Kawasaki of
Norwegian Kenneth Gundersen, in an indication the title-holders may not be
able to run away across the French gullies tomorrow.
\"They are both great world champions, huge names in the sport,\" said
Coppins of the Belgian pairEverts and Smets. \"I\'ve raced against them for
much of my career and I\'ve always aimed to be able to foot it with them at
the highest level.\"
Coppins indicated his return to form by dominating the year\'s final British
championship event last Sunday. In three weeks he leads the New Zealand at
the Motocross des Nations, the Olympics of motorcycling.
Tomorrow\'s 40-minute race starts at 12.35pm local time.
Championship points after 11 of 12 rounds:
1 Stefan Everts (Belgium) Yamaha 250; 2 Joel Smets (Belgium) KTM 221; 3
Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 188 points; 4 Brian Jorgensen (Denmark)
Honda 154, 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 137; 6 Andrew McFarlane
(Australia) Kawasaki 134; 7 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 127; 8 Marnicq
Bervoets (Belgium) Yamaha 116; 9 Yoshitaka Atsuta (Japan) CAS Honda 106; 10
Kevin Strijbos (Belgium) Suzuki 104. 12 Josh Coppins (New Zealand) CAS
Honda 80.
Ian RJ Miles
Read - More: and you will note Ben Townley qualified 6th.
Stop Press: Smets is going to Suzuki!! Move over Mickael ?? Smets & Pichon, team buddies ??
