Josh Coppins says he's put a pair of disappointing finishes in Turkey behind him and is aiming to claw back some ground in the Netherlands. Photo / Supplied
Josh Coppins says he's put a pair of disappointing finishes in Turkey behind him and is aiming to claw back some ground in the Netherlands. Photo / Supplied
After toying with the idea of quitting the world of motocross, Kiwi Josh Coppins decided to have one more tilt at winning the MX1 world title.
After spending years in the shadow of multiple world champion Stefan Everts, Coppins thought he had it made when the Belgian rider retired in2006. However, after two seasons plagued by injury - finishing third in 2007 and fifth in 2008 - Coppins decided he had unfinished business.
During the off-season he has changed his fitness trainer and has been working hard to get his recovered body back into shape. He has also become a father for the first time, moved back to Britain from Belgium and spent many weeks testing and setting up his new 2009 Yamaha.
He started this season quietly, finishing sixth after the first round in Italy only to let the MX1 world know he was still a force to be reckoned with at Sevlievo, Bulgaria, where he was on the podium twice. A small setback at the last round in Turkey, finishing eighth twice, saw him slip back down the championship table to fourth.
"It's been one of those days where you just have to concede, do the best you can and look forward to the next few races and get back into the title hunt," Coppins told bikesportnz.com. "I'm looking forward to Valkenswaard as it will be a change of surface."
Coppins heads to round four of the MX1 championships in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, this weekend and he'll be racing on sand this time. He will have his work cut out, as Ken de Dyker will be on a mission to regain his lead on the track where he won both races last year.
Only 15 points separate the top five riders and as there have been three different winners so far this year, this could be Coppins' weekend. He is just three points behind the defending world champion, his Yamaha teammate David Philippaerts, and only 13 points behind the championship leader, Italian Antonio Cairoli.
