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Young Kiwi-born sensation Josh Coppins has again grabbed the attention of the motocross world with a brilliant second placing at the world 250 championship event in Slovakia.
It was another step up the podium after Coppins\' fine third placing a fortnight ago. He blasted his Corona Suzuki through rain, cold and mud in the first leg of this ninth round of the title hunt.
Coppins backed up with a fighting fifth in moto two, putting him equal on points for the grand prix with his high-flying teammate Mickael Pichon (France) who leads the championship chase.
Pichon took the nominal third in the event with a higher placing ratio but Coppins was delighted with another top showing in the world\'s glamour championship.
\"The start of that first race was tough, it was really confused in the first corner,\" said the Motueka-born expat.
\"I was third after the first lap and I had to stay very concentrated because it\'s so easy to make a mistake in these conditions.\"
A slower start in moto two saw Coppins dicing with his experienced teammate plus the Honda of reigning world champion Fred Bolley (France), eventually settling for a safe finish to protect his overall fourth place in the championship.
The race legs were won by Claudio Federici of Italy (Yamaha) who is trailing Coppins in fifth overall, and Germany\'s Pit Beirer (Kawasaki) who is just ahead of the young Kiwi.
Pichon, who labelled Coppins the most difficult rider to pass in the event, extended his points lead over Bolley as they look to the Belgian round next weekend.
The championship continues until September, with Coppins under instructions from his team to ensure at least a fifth placing overall.
Championship standings:
1 Mickael Pichon (France) Corona- Suzuki 277 points,
2 Eric Bolley (France) Honda 230,
3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Kawasaki 189,
4 Joshua Coppins (NZ) Corona- Suzuki 171,
5 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 157.
