Coppins Back in the Hunt at French MX GP

As the FIM MX GP series nears the halfway mark, Josh Coppins, of the Yamaha Monster team has clawed his way back into the MX1 championship hunt after an impressive performance in St Jean d’Angely, France.

The New Zealander looked to have a shot at the first moto victory when he was leading in front of crowd favorite, Sebastien Pourcel.  Coppins ran a little wide before the whoop section, only ten minutes into the moto, and collected track side bunting which effected his rear brake.  Pourcel took advantage and gained the lead with five laps to go while Coppins chased him to the flag to save second spot.

The second and deciding moto, saw Pourcel take control of the moto from the first lap.  With Ramon and Coppins in tow, the French spectators were in for a great race. The trio matched each other lap after lap but with two laps to go Coppins made his move on Ramon as the Belgian started to tire.   Pourcel held on for a clean sweep with Coppins finishing closely behind in second.

“I think I rode better this weekend than I have at all the other GP’s.  I need to keep working with the team and the bike and focus on being even better at the next races.  My time will come.  I know that every single point counts so I have to fight and as you see today the championship is now wide open.   To be sitting in this position after a bad start to the season is quite good and it can only get better from here.  I think I picked a good time of the year to start to improve.   I don’t need to think of the points but just want to focus race per race and try to be on the podium all the time.” Explained an elated Coppins.

With Coppins now down to 19 points from team-mate Philippaerts, who still leads, the Kiwi is confident that with the sand circuits that are still to come the championship is still up for grabs.

Round 8 will take place at the Talkessel circuit in Teutschenthal Germany in two weeks time.

www.joshcoppins.com

Image: CDS

Race results:

 

MX1 Race 1

1        Pourcel, Sebastien    FRA     Kawasaki

2          Coppins, Joshua       NZL     Yamaha

3        Barragan, Jonathan   ESP     KTM

4        Leok, Tanel    EST    Kawasaki

5        Nagl, Maximilian        GER     KTM

6        de Dycker, Ken         BEL     Suzuki

7        Desalle, Clement       BEL     Suzuki

8        Nemeth, Kornel         HUN    KTM

9        Priem, Manuel BEL     Kawasaki

10      Bill, Julien       SUI     Honda

11      Ramon, Steve BEL     Suzuki

12      Brown, Mike   USA    Honda

13      Philippaerts, David     ITA     Yamaha

14      Vanni, Julien   FRA     KTM

15      Boniface, Steve        FRA     Yamaha

 

MX1 Race 2

1        Pourcel, Sebastien    FRA     Kawasaki

2          Coppins, Joshua       NZL     Yamaha

3        Ramon, Steve BEL     Suzuki

4        de Reuver, Marc       NED    Honda

5        Boniface, Steve        FRA     Yamaha

6        Barragan, Jonathan   ESP     KTM

7        Bill, Julien       SUI     Honda

8        Nagl, Maximilian        GER     KTM

9        Noble, James  GBR     KTM

10      Brown, Mike   USA    Honda

11      de Dycker, Ken         BEL     Suzuki

12      Priem, Manuel BEL     Kawasaki

13      Coulon, Cyrille FRA     Yamaha

14      Anderson, Bradley     GBR     Suzuki

15      Desalle, Clement       BEL     Suzuki

 

 

MX1 World championship standings:

1        Philippaerts, D.         ITA     231

2        Ramon, Steve BEL     225

3          Coppins, J.    NZL     212

4        Pourcel, S.     FRA     201

5        de Dycker, Ken         BEL     200

6        Barragan, J.   ESP     185

7        Nagl, M.        GER     161

8        Mackenzie, B. GBR     159

9        de Reuver, M. NED    156

10      Leok, Tanel    EST    151

11      Desalle, C.     BEL     115

12      Brown, Mike   USA    107

13      Priem, Manuel BEL     104

14      Nemeth, Kornel         HUN    95

15      Bill, J.  SUI     76