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Young Kiwi Josh Coppins has rocked the motocross world with a stunning second outright at the latest Grand Prix in Belgium, leaping to third in the glamour 250 championship.
In just his first year as a factory rider, the 23-year-old expat threw his Corona Suzuki around his team\'s home track to outpoint his seasoned teammate who is leading the title chase.
With a flying second place in each of the two moto legs, the modest Coppins was just one point behind the GP winner, way ahead of the rest of a talented-packed field.
Coppins\' 34 points rocket him to a podium position in the championship with just three rounds remaining, much higher than anyone expected.
\"It wasn\'t an easy ride with another GP of heavy rain,\" commented the Motueka-born professional racer.
\"It poured down overnight and the sandy circuit was very tricky. But the Suzuki is very good on the starts and I just kept the pressure up throughout both races.\"
Coppins\' superb fitness translated to consistent speed as he slogged it out with the best in the world around the 1.778km Kanaaldijk (Canal Dyke) circuit at Grobbendonk 25km from Antwerp.
His third place in the championship is superb news for his top-ranked Suzuki team which was stunned by a crash for number one rider Mickael Pichon in moto two.
Out with a suspected broken collarbone, the Frenchman could see the title lead he has held all year snatched by the Honda of countryman Fred Bolley at the very next event.
Coppins was the only one of the championship top five who emerged from Grobbendonk with glory, the grand prix winner Gordon Crockard of England being down the points after an inconsistent season.
\"It\'s a buzz right now,\" commented Coppins after the victors\' ceremony. \"This is what I\'ve worked so hard for and now I have three more events to make this third place secure.\"
His main rival, experienced German Pit Beirer, had a tough weekend on his Kawasaki and slipped three points behind the young Kiwi for the first time, while Italian Claudio Federici who was pressing Coppins before the weekend was left in the dust on his Yamaha.
Championship points:
1 Mickael Pichon (France) Corona- Suzuki 337,
2 Frédéric Bolley (France) Honda 318,
3 Joshua Coppins (NZ) Corona- Suzuki 249,
4 Pit Beirer (Germany) Kawasaki 246,
5 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 212,
6 Gordon Crockard (Germany) Honda 193.
Grand Prix result:
1 Crockard 35 points,
2 Coppins 34,
3 Paul Cooper (GB) Husqvarna 22,
4 Bolley 22,
5 Yves Demaria (France) Yamaha 11.
Race placings:
Race one - Pichon, Coppins, Crockard, Van Rees, De Maria.
Race two - Crockard, Coppins, Cooper, Bolley, Beirer.
Manufacturers points: Suzuki 381, Honda 365, Kawasaki 306.
