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Motocross ace Josh Coppins has ridden through the pain barrier to open his world championship season with a solid fifth placing in the Netherlands.
After aggravating a niggling lower back injury the Kiwi-born star was a doubtful starter for today’s grand prix at Valkenswaard but a pain-killing injection put him back on the factory Honda CR250R.
“The trouble was, it took away all the feeling in my bum,” commented Coppins after the rugged 40-minute race in deep black sand.
“I kept sliding off the seat in corners, I didn’t have much idea what was going on.
“I think the problem cost me a couple of placings, but it’s a solid start to the season … we can build from here,” Coppins said.
This first of 12 rounds in the 250 championship season saw the Berni Honda team of Italy represented on the podium when Coppins’ riding partner Pit Beirer claimed third spot behind reigning champion Mickael Pichon and former two-time champ Fred Bolley.
One spot ahead of Coppins was current 125 class world champ Jamie Dobb, who switched to the glamour 250 class this year.
“These are the guys I expect to battle it out with all year, along with two or three others who didn’t do so well today,” commented Coppins who turned 25 last week.
“I’ll get some intensive work done on my back straight away this week and I’ll be fully fit for the next GP in Spain in three weeks.”
Coppins first tweaked the old injury in yesterday’s qualifying, the problem worsening in a Sunday morning warmup ride.
The Berni teamster needed a double pain-killing injection just to make the start-line of the grand prix.
“Once they loosened up the muscles around my vertabrae I felt like I’d been born again,” commented the laid-back star.
“Before that, hell was it sore. I couldn’t even put on my boots.
“So overall it was a setback but in some ways I’m lucky to have any points at all.”
The Grand Prix of the Netherlands was held at the Eurocircuit near Valkenswaard in the south-east of the country just inside the Belgian border.
This is the year when expat Coppins seeks to restore his climb to the top, after a season dogged by bad luck in 2001.
Still finishing sixth outright in the 250 class, the plucky professional rider was disappointed after flying to fourth the previous year.
Coppins was recruited by the mighty Honda team to bolster its ranks for 2002, the 40th anniversary of the world 250 title, and he has shown impressive pre-season form.
New Zealand has another bright star in action today when youngster Ben Townley rides the 125 Grand Prix late in the afternoon.
Result, 250 Grand Prix of The Netherlands: Mickael Pichon (Suzuki) France 1, Fred Bolley (Yamaha) France 2, Pit Beirer (Berni Honda) Germany 3, Jamie Dobb (KTM) UK 4, Josh Coppins (Berni Honda) NZ 5.
