Coppins Concedes in Sweden

Factory Yamaha Rinaldi rider, Josh Coppins has experienced his toughest GP of the 2007 World Motocross championship at a re-designed Uddevalla circuit in Sweden. 

Suffering from a bout of flu coming into the event, Coppins knew his goal would be to limit any loss of points in the MX1 title chase.  He battled to get a quick jump in the first moto with a newly laid gravel start and lost his rhythm in the opening laps as riders were jostling for positions.  Coppins settled in 6^th place and focused on catching championship rival Steve Ramon.   He pushed past the Belgian with four laps to go and secured 4^th spot at the checkered flag.  

Coppins missed out on a much needed good start in moto 2 and had his work cut out from the time the gate dropped.  He traded positions with Tanel Leok and Billy McKenzie losing time to leaders Ken de Dycker and Steve Ramon.  With Ramon moving to the front in the later stages of the race,  Coppins posted a 6^th place finish, losing championship points to the Belgian.

“It’s been a bad weekend for me,” admitted Coppins. “I had no physical power and never felt good all weekend -  I just struggled.  The other guys were all really fast and were attacking and I couldn’t retaliate.  I didn’t get good starts in any of the moto’s which didn’t help out all.  I have managed to limit the amount of points lost and still have a comfortable lead but am disappointed with today.”

The New Zealander still holds the championship red plate with an 89 point advantage over Belgium’s Steve Ramon, going into the 10^th round which will be held in Faenza, Italy in two weeks time.

www.joshcoppins.com

 
Race results:

 
MX1 Race 1

1        de Dycker, Ken         BEL     Honda

2        Leok, Tanel    EST    Kawasaki

3        Strijbos, Kevin          BEL     Suzuki

4          Coppins, Joshua       NZL     Yamaha

5        Ramon, Steve BEL     Suzuki

6        Philippaerts, David     ITA     KTM

7        Mackenzie, Billy        GBR     Kawasaki

8        Pourcel, Sebastien    FRA     Kawasaki

9        Barragan, Jonathan   ESP     KTM

10      Noble, James  GBR     Honda

11      Brown, Mike   USA    Honda

12      Nemeth, Kornel         HUN    Suzuki

13      Bill, Julien       SUI     Honda

14      Desalle, Clement       BEL     Suzuki

15      Renet, Pierre A.        FRA     Honda

MX1 Race 2

1        Ramon, Steve BEL     Suzuki

2        de Dycker, Ken         BEL     Honda

3        Philippaerts, David     ITA     KTM

4        Mackenzie, Billy        GBR     Kawasaki

5        Leok, Tanel    EST    Kawasaki

6          Coppins, Joshua       NZL     Yamaha

7        Barragan, Jonathan   ESP     KTM

8        Brown, Mike   USA    Honda

9        Nemeth, Kornel         HUN    Suzuki

10      Noble, James  GBR     Honda

11      Priem, Manuel BEL     TM

12      Crockard, Gordon      IRL      Honda

13      Renet, Pierre A.        FRA     Honda

14      Desalle, Clement       BEL     Suzuki

15      Salvini, Alex   ITA     Yamaha

MX1 World championship standings:

1          Coppins, J.    NZL     401

2        Ramon, Steve BEL     312

3        Philippaerts, D.         ITA     257

4        Barragan, J.   ESP     240

5        Strijbos, K.     BEL     235

6        Pourcel, S.     FRA     235

7        de Dycker, Ken         BEL     225

8        Brown, Mike   USA    219

9        Leok, Tanel    EST    217

10      Mackenzie, B. GBR     186

11      Noble, James  GBR     175

12      Nemeth, Kornel         HUN    141

13      Priem, Manuel BEL     139

14      de Reuver, M. NED    136

15      Nagl, M.        GER     107