New Zealander, Josh Coppins, has experienced rotten luck at the 11th round of the 2007 MX World championships in Loket. The Yamaha Rinaldi rider and leader in the MX1 championship lost valuable championship points in both MX1 motos due to freak technical problems.

Coppins started well in both MX1 moto’s however disaster struck on lap 8 of the first race when he stopped just past the signaling area with a blocked rear brake. A rock had jammed the rear brake pedal and before Coppins could remove the obstruction and continue he had lost too much ground to get back into the points.

A similar fate awaited the Kiwi in the second moto when lost use of the rear brake and crashed after the fast downhill step down obstacle. Coppins retired with a cut above his left eye and a painful shoulder.

“I had two uncontrollable race incidents that have cost me a lot of points in the championship. In the first moto I was third and moving forward when a rock got jammed in the rear brake pedal. The second moto I was well positioned and I was just trying keep calm and be smart. I jumped down the step down but could not stop in time with no rear brake and hit the bank quite hard. My concern at the moment is to nurse my injuries and to be ready for Namur. I’ll know more when I see my doctor tomorrow,” explained a disappointed Coppins.

Coppins still holds a 77 point advantage over Steve Ramon and will go into the GP of Namur, next week, wanting to limit his points loss

MX1 Race 1
1 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Suzuki
2 Philippaerts, David ITA KTM
3 de Dycker, Ken BEL Honda
4 Bill, Julien SUI Honda
5 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki
6 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki
7 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Kawasaki
8 Renet, Pierre A. FRA Honda
9 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
10 de Reuver, Marc NED Yamaha
11 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki
12 van Daele, Marvin BEL Honda
13 Leok, Aigar EST Yamaha
14 Noble, James GBR Honda
15 Brown, Mike USA Honda
22 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha

MX1 Race 2
1 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Suzuki
2 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki
3 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
4 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
5 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki
6 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Kawasaki
7 Bill, Julien SUI Honda
8 Renet, Pierre A. FRA Honda
9 Philippaerts, David ITA KTM
10 Brown, Mike USA Honda
11 Noble, James GBR Honda
12 Priem, Manuel BEL TM
13 Salvini, Alex ITA Yamaha
14 van Daele, Marvin BEL Honda
15 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki
DNF Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha

MX1 World championship standings:
1 Coppins, J. NZL 445
2 Ramon, Steve BEL 368
3 Pourcel, S. FRA 322
4 Philippaerts, D. ITA 312
5 Strijbos, K. BEL 300
6 Barragan, J. ESP 292
7 de Dycker, Ken BEL 276
8 Brown, Mike USA 272
9 Leok, Tanel EST 272
10 Mackenzie, B. GBR 247
11 Noble, James GBR 212
12 Priem, Manuel BEL 164
13 Nemeth, Kornel HUN 153
14 de Reuver, M. NED 147
15 Bill, J. SUI 115