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From - Ian Miles:
KIWI COPPINS ON POLE IN MOTOCROSS
Motocross ace Josh Coppins is red hot in Russia, grabbing pole position for tomorrow's vital grand prix in Moscow.
The 25-year-old New Zealander today shut down the Frenchman who has already won this year's 250 World Championship title, Mickael Pichon.
Fastest also in the morning practice session on his Alpinestars Honda at this final of 12 rounds, Coppins threw down the gauntlet to the only rider who can overtake him for second place in the standings, his former teammate Pit Beirer.
But the 29-year-old German, who pipped the Kiwi at the final round each of the past two years, was having a miserable Saturday and finally qualified a long three seconds off Coppins' lap time in fifth spot.
Coppins is reputed as a consistently fast qualifier but seldom pushes over the top to grab pole for first picking of the starting gate.
But today even the controversial Pichon, winner of all but one of this year's races in his march to a second straight title for Suzuki, had to bow to the red bike.
However Motueka-born Coppins vowed to put all thought of the sought-after runner-up spot out of his mind in Sunday's 40-minute race at the Park Extreme Circuit at Yakhroma.
"I've felt better and quicker as the last couple of GPs have passed," commented the modest professional racer who this year proved his innocence of a doping charge after taking the wrong hay fever tablet, and who also survived the financial collapse of the race team which wooed him from Suzuki to Honda.
"Today everything went right and I was on the gas . tomorrow it's just a matter of staying hot to the finish."
The Kiwi is not counting the numbers, but even if Beirer can somehow win the grand prix Coppins needs to finish only sixth to carry the number two plate for next year. All year Coppins has finished no lower than fifth, scoring points in every grand prix.
Second place, or even third, would be his highest career placing in this glamour class, a fitting climax at the end of an era: 2002 is the last time the championships will be decided by capacity, with the battle of two-strokes vs four-strokes starting next year.
Meanwhile Coppins' protégé Ben Townley shrugged off a training injury and the memory of three consecutive crash-marred races to grab fifth fastest spot in the 125 class.
A notoriously slow qualifier, the 17-year-old Kiwi expat showed his determination to end the season on a high for his Big Five Vangani team.
"My hand has been bugging me after a I fell on it a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't really notice it out there today," said the cool youngster after the special timed session for the top ten points holders.
Townley is all but assured of sixth spot in the hard-fought small capacity class, the only category going down to the wire to decide its world champion.
That accolade won't go to the New Zealander but he has picked up a sackful of trophies on the orange, factory-backed KTM.
Already the winner of one grand prix this year (Sweden), the Taupo tearaway has only one thought for tomorrow: "Top of the podium is what I need," he quipped.
"I lost so many points at the last three GPs, I need to finish the season on a high."
The return of the motocross circus to Russia has not been without its problems, with fans worldwide awaiting results after internet news was cut by telecom link problems within the country.
For the finale to a three-class series running since March from Italy to Sweden and France to Bulgaria, the Federation Moto Sport Russia has built an expensive new circuit on the outskirts of the Russian capital.
Coppins rides the 250 race at 11am Russian time Sunday, Townley's 125 GP is four hours later.
World 250 championship points after 11 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 263 points; 2 Josh Coppins (NZ) Honda 200; 3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 189; 4 Jamie Dobb (England) KTM 159; 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 147; 6 Fred Bolley (France) Yamaha 146; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 140.
Constructors: Suzuki 263, Honda 228, Yamaha 189, KTM 177, Kawasaki 172, TM 86, Husqvarna 80.
World 125 championship after 11 of 12 rounds: 1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki 207 points; 2 Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM 197; 3 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 196; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM 172; 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 169; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 125; Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM 104; 8 Jeff Dement (USA) Honda 103.
Constructors: KTM 260, Kawasaki 204, Husqvarna 182, Yamaha 151, Honda 103, Suzuki 68,
