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Motocross sensation Josh Coppins - New Zealand\'s top performing motor sport star this year - is out to consolidate his premier place this weekend.
Riding the penultimate round of the world 250 champs, the 23-year-old expat seeks to maintain his clear third overall.
While his senior Corona Suzuki teammate Mickael Pichon struggles to regain the title lead he held most of the year, cool young Coppins has blasted clear of half a dozen more senior grand prix riders to grab a podium spot nobody thought possible at season start.
Now the man from Motueka needs just a couple more of his trademark consistent showings to hold a limelight podium spot in this, the top championship in world motocross.
The first hurdle is Sunday\'s German Grand Prix at the Talkessel circuit, a twisting 1.85km ribbon of track at Teutschenthal near Halle south of Berlin.
\"I\'m looking for solid points,\" said the multi New Zealand champion who last year finished seventh in the world championship.
\"I have a bit of a buffer over Pit Beirer who\'s in fourth place overall now, but he\'s a very fast rider with many years\' experience and I can\'t afford to let my guard slip this weekend or at the final round a week later.\"
\"Realistically the two leaders are out of my reach unless they have a major problem,\" Coppins stated. \"But I\'m relaxed about that - at the start of this year my goal was to be in the top five and getting right up to third is a big bonus.\"
While eyes will be on Pichon\'s all-French battle with reigning world champion Fred Bolley who snatched the title lead last round, Coppins can expect an enthusiastic response as the German crowd recognises a new star in the making.
It was a crash by Beirer last round which gave Coppins his 17-point margin and the youngster will be determined not to make the same mistake.
\"I like this track, I rode well here two years ago and I\'ll be looking to do that again,\" Coppins said.
The two moto legs are held overnight Sunday NZ time.
The final grand prix in the 16-round championship is in Switzerland the following Sunday.
Championship points:
Bolley 370,
Pichon 352,
Coppins 297,
Beirer 280,
Claudio Federici 254,
Gordon Crockard 251,
Paul Cooper 228,
Yves Demaria 223,
Mickael Maschio 144.
