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Kiwi motocross whiz kid Josh Coppins has pulled off a stunning runner-up spot to the world champion in the German Grand Prix and virtually assured himself of third spot in the glamour world 250 championship.
With gritty riding in his typical consistent style, the 23-year-old from Motueka took fourth and third places in the two moto legs at this penultimate round Talkessel near Halle south of Berlin.
Only world champion Fred Bolley bested the talented youngster in the GP, with back-to-back moto victories handing the Frenchman his second straight world title.
Bolley has 410 points on his Honda going to next weekend\'s final Swiss GP, while Coppins is closing on his Corona Suzuki teammate Mickael Pichon who Bolley passed in the latest rounds.
Now on 325 championship points Coppins has pulled a comfortable buffer of 19 points over his German rival Pit Beirer who recorded third and fifth placings today on his Kawasaki.
Meanwhile Pichon, suffering arm trouble after a recent crash, has advanced to just 367 points.
Coppins cannot overtake Pichon\'s second place at the remaining grand prix, but by finishing close to his experienced teammate the youngster in just his first year as a factory rider can make further impact on the professional Suzuki outfit with whom he has just signed for another season.
Suzuki now trails arch-rival Honda by just 13 points in the hard-fought manufacturers championship.
Coppins passed the fading Pichon in both legs today, as well as fending off Beirer and other experienced stars. In both rides he slipped down the leaderboard and had to claw his way back onto the podium.
On GP points today Coppins scored 28 to Bolley\'s perfect 40, with Beirer\'s 26 equal third with Irish Honda rider Gordon Crockard who managed seventh and second spots to stand fifth in the championship.
Championship points:
1 Frédéric Bolley (France) Honda 410;
Mickael Pichon (France) Corona Suzuki 367;
3 Josh Coppins (NZ) Corona Suzuki 325;
4 Pit Beirer (Germany) Kawasaki 306;
5 Gordon Crockard (GB) Honda 277;
6 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 273.
Manufacturers:
1 Honda 474,
2 Suzuki 461,
3 Yamaha 380,
4 Kawasaki 379,
5 Husqvarna 249,
6 KTM 181.
