This weekend's MX1 Czech Republic Grand Prix in Loket will be the last before the season-ending flurry of three consecutive GPs.
And Kiwi rider Josh Coppins will be desperate to close the gap even further on the leaders before throwing himself headlong into having a decent crack atfinally being able to win a world title.
However, the two-time world championship runner-up doesn't have fond memories of the Loket track as it's where he had the accident that curtailed his 2007 title bid. Coppins' crash sidelined him for the remaining three races and he had to watch his 107-point lead being whittled away to eventually finish the season in third behind Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon.
Ready to atone for last year's missed opportunity, Coppins is fighting fit and rearing to go. Sitting comfortably in third place on the championship table, he's within striking distance of teammate David Philippaerts and defending champion Ramon.
For the first time this year Ramon leads the chase for the title, a mere two points ahead of Philippaerts, and only another 15 in front of Coppins.
"I had the flu coming into the previous weekend and it was a bit frustrating knowing I was approaching the hardest race of the year not in the best shape," said Coppins.
"We go to Loket next and I am looking forward to a hard-pack start. Right now I just want to ride better."
The top three riders will have to keep a wary eye on Ken De Dycker and Jonathan Barragan who are not far behind and with 200 points on offer over the remaining GPs, it's still game on. Barragan appears to be the form rider recently having won the last three rounds.
After a good run mid-season, Sebastian Pourcel seems to have gone off the boil lately but will take moral solace in the fact his teammate Kevin Strijbos is back in the game.
The 31-year-old Coppins has been on the podium 12 times and won 11 motos in the space of a year and a half and 21 Grand Prix with the factory Yamaha team. He topped the charts of moto wins, Grand Prix wins, podiums accumulated and rounds led (13) in 2007.
This year has been a bit of an up and down struggle but the run-in to the 2008 season-end might just pan out for Coppins and his hopes of getting his hands on that elusive number one plate and the world title.
This weekend's event is followed by a two-week break before the final three rounds in Dublin, Ireland, Lierop in The Netherlands and in Faenza, Italy.
STANDINGS
1. Steve Ramon362 points
2. David Philippaerts360
3. Josh Coppins345
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