New Zealand’s Josh Coppins has gained his second consecutive podium finish of the season to confirm a successful comeback to GP racing. The Swedish circuit of Uddevalla, where the CAS Honda rider won both motos last year, was reversed and altered to add more technical sections, which would make for some great racing.

Coppins was impressed by his second qualifying time which came quite easily on Saturday. In the start of the first race, he was boxed in going into the first turn but managed to salvage some positions to emerge in third. Once he found his race rhythm, Coppins started to reel in Stefan Everts and Jonathan Barragan at one stage but then settled to finish a strong third.

A great start in the second moto saw Coppins at the front of the pack with Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon hot on his heels. ‘Lizzard’ found it difficult to keep up the intense race pace and had to let the Belgians past with Stefan Everts also managing to slip by.

A sketchy pass by Gordon Crockard relegated Coppins to fifth, which was enough to place Coppins on the podium in third overall.

“ It’s been a pretty good weekend. If you would have said to me three weeks ago I could have two podiums in the first two races I would have taken it, however today was a little tougher than England. The track was physically much more demanding and it was really hot. I am having trouble going to the next level to try to be at the front. I am very disappointed that I don’t have the race speed yet,” admitted Coppins. “I can start Ok and ride OK. I just need some more race fitness to be up with front guys but it should get better and better. I want to improve and I want to improve fast but I have to let it come, so I just need to keep thinking positive.”

Race results:

MX 1 Race 1

1 Everts, Stefan BEL Yamaha

2 Barragan, Jonathan SPA KTM

3 Coppins, Joshua NZL Honda

4 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki

5 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki

6 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Suzuki

7 Crockard, Gordon IRL Honda

8 de Dycker, Ken BEL Honda

9 Garcia Vico, Francisco SPA Honda

10 Noble, James GBR Honda

11 Melotte, Cedric BEL Yamaha

12 Jorgensen, Brian DEN Honda

13 Bill, Julien SUI Yamaha

14 van Daele, Marvin BEL Honda

15 Theybers, Danny BEL Suzuki

MX 1 Race 2

1 Everts, Stefan BEL Yamaha

2 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki

3 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Suzuki

4 Crockard, Gordon IRL Honda

5 Coppins, Joshua NZL Honda

6 Nemeth, Kornel HUN Suzuki

7 Garcia Vico, Francisco SPA Honda

8 Noble, James GBR Honda

9 de Dycker, Ken BEL Honda

10 Bill, Julien SUI Yamaha

11 Priem, Manuel BEL Yamaha

12 Freibergs, Lauris LAT Suzuki

13 Kovalainen, Marko FIN Honda

14 Pyrhonen, Antti FIN TM

15 Bradshaw, Neville RSA Suzuki

MX 1 World championship standings:

1 Everts, Stefan BEL 442

2 Strijbos, K. BEL 328

3 Leok, Tanel EST 294

4 Ramon, Steve BEL 294

5 de Dycker, Ken BEL 292

6 Barragan, J. SPA 212

7 Garcia Vico, F. SPA 165

8 Leuret, Pascal FRA 159

9 Melotte, C. BEL 157

10 Priem, Manuel BEL 146

11 Bill, J. SUI 145

12 Noble, James GBR 132

13 Jorgensen, B. DEN 131

14 van Daele, M. BEL 127

15 Pyrhonen, A. FIN 106

16 Tortelli, S. FRA 99

17 Crockard, G. IRL 86

18 Theybers, D. BEL 84

19 Coppins, J. NZL 72