Josh Coppins takes podium in Bulgaria
By TMX Archives on 6th Apr 09
Kiwi motocross star, Josh Coppins, has traveled to sunny Bulgaria this past weekend for round 2 of the FIM Motocross World Championship. After the rain and deep mud in Italy a week ago, the Monster Energy Yamaha racer, was especially happy to be greeted by a perfectly prepared race circuit and weather conditions in Sevlievo.
Saturday's qualifying race saw a super energized ‘Lizzard' back onform. Having to fight back from a mediocre start, exiting corner 1 in9th, Josh was on the gas as he battled bar to bar with team mate DavidPhilippaerts. At the end of the intense 20 minute and 2 lap raceCoppins had pushed his way through to 6th
Coppins was ready for heat 1 on Sunday and when the gate dropped hisdistinctive black and white race gear could be seen at the front of thecharging pack as he launched towards the first corner. Completing lap 1in 3rd position the New Zealander was in a great position, and in notime he pushed himself passed Max Nagl and into 2nd position. In hisgroove, the Coppins rode a smooth race until the end of the heat,crossing the finish line in 2nd position and claiming 22 valuablechampionship points.
Heat 2 was yet another great show up front, with Coppins positioninghimself in the heat of the battle. He hounded German, Max Nagl withboth riders setting a blistering pace. With 10 minutes to go, it wasCoppins who took over the lead as he made his way past Nagl, however afast charging Barragan in turn took moved to the front a lap later.This left a charging pack behind Coppins as he was trying his best tomaintain his second position. At the end of a nail biting race Coppinscrossed the finish line with another 2nd position, giving him theoverall win for the day and putting him just one point off the lead inthe MX1 World Motocross Championship.
"This weekend it came together for me,” explained the delightedKiwi. "I have been training really hard and my fitness is good – Thishas given me the confidence to ride hard. I was not the fastest riderout there today, but my starts were great and I rode very smooth, keptout of trouble, and got the results.”
Coppins will return to his home base in Belgium where he will havevery little time to rest before heading to Turkey for round 3 nextweekend.
Race results:
Heat 1 Results
1 de Dycker, Ken BEL
2 Coppins, Joshua NZL
3 Nagl, Maximilian GER
4 Barragan, Jonathan ESP
5 Philippaerts, David ITA
6 Leok, Tanel EST
7 Cairoli, Antonio ITA
8 Ramon, Steve BEL
9 Strijbos, Kevin BEL
10 Desalle, Clement BEL
Heat 2 Results
1 Barragan, Jonathan ESP
2 Coppins, Joshua NZL
3 Philippaerts, David ITA
4 Cairoli, Antonio ITA
5 Nagl, Maximilian GER
6 Leok, Tanel EST
7 Ramon, Steve BEL
8 de Dycker, Ken BEL
9 Mackenzie, Billy GBR
10 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA
Overall Results - Bulgaria
1 Coppins, Joshua NZL
2 Barragan, Jonathan ESP
3 de Dycker, Ken BEL
4 Philippaerts, David ITA
5 Nagl, Maximilian GER
6 Cairoli, Antonio ITA
7 Leok, Tanel EST
8 Ramon, Steve BEL
9 Vuillemin, David FRA
10 Desalle, Clement BEL
MX1 World Championship Standings after Rd 2
1 de Dycker, Ken BEL 60
2 Coppins, J. NZL 59
3 Leok, Tanel EST 55
4 Barragan, J. ESP 54
5 Nagl, M. GER 50
6 Philippaerts, D. ITA 48
7 Cairoli, A. ITA 48
8 Desalle, C. BEL 37
9 Ramon, Steve BEL 36
10 Leok, Aigar EST 23