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Motocross ace Josh Coppins is looking for a double change of luck in Switzerland this weekend.
Round ten of the world 250 championship at Roggenburg gives the expat Kiwi the chance to rebuild a season dogged by misfortune, and to expunge some painful memories from last year.
At this picturesque circuit outside Basle in the northern, French-border sector of Switzerland, Coppins tasted one of the biggest disappointments of his career in the final race of 2000.
“I was in a tight third place coming to Switzerland and I just needed a few points to secure it,” explained the 24-year-old this week.
“I was also a warm favourite to win the grand prix outright … but all that went down the tube when I had a big crash in Saturday practice.
“I unloaded at the top of a steep downhill, tumbled all the way down, and knocked myself out.
“I wasn’t right on race day and then it poured with rain; I was just out of it.”
In the ensuing melee Coppins’ old rival Pit Beirer of Germany nosed past for third in the championship.
This year Coppins finds himself in a lowly fourth spot just two points ahead of Beirer going to Switzerland. He has five rounds remaining to make a charge on his target of a top-three place.
“Pit will be strong here again, so will the others we are close to in the points,” Coppins commented. “It’ll be a tough weekend but I’m busting to get into the action.”
The Motueka-born star of the works Suzuki Corona team is bowed but undaunted by ill luck which has shadowed his 2001 season, robbing him of points all the way - most recently last weekend in Belgium where his Geboers team is based.
At the same time his French teammate Mickael Pichon has had a charmed run to build a virtually unassailable lead in the title chase.
“The kind of season I’ve had puts a strain on me and everyone in the team,” said Coppins.
“But we’re in Switzerland now, let’s hope everything runs like clockwork.”
Practice for the Swiss Grand Prix is on Saturday with racing on Sunday. The event is followed by the German Grand Prix the next weekend, before a break in the programme.
World 250 Championship points after nine events: Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 215, Gordon Crockard (Ireland) Honda 132, Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 99, Coppins 94, Chad Reed (Australia) Kawasaki 93, Pit Beirer (Germany) Yamaha 92, Fred Bolley (France) Honda 85.
