Factory Yamaha Monster racer, Josh Coppins, was dissatisfied with his performance at the fourth round of the FIM Motocross World champs held in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. With scattered showers mixing up the track conditions, Coppins battled with starts in both motos which consequently lost the New Zealander valuable points in the MX1 title chase.

Coppins was the fastest rider in the Sunday warm up session and felt confident for a good race result however a bad start in moto 1 ruined the Kiwi’s chances of challenging for the moto win. Coppins progressed up the rankings during the 35 minute moto and shut down the leading pack of fellow team-mate Philippaerts, Barragan, and De Reuver with minutes left on the clock. A last lap charge had Coppins breathing all over De Reuver but to no avail has he crossed the line in fourth, only eight seconds adrift of winner, Philippaerts.

A rain shower between moto’s would make for a wet second race. Coppins had a mammoth task ahead as he hit a rider going down the start straight and was pushed back in the pack. Fallen riders on the first lap held Coppins up again as he was left outside the top ten with tons of work to do. 7th spot was the best the Kiwi could produce as the checkered flag was waved for the end to a tough GP.

“I’m quite frustrated at the moment,” admitted Coppins. “I was pleased with my qualifying yesterday and this morning I was fastest in warm up which put me in a good mindset. I didn’t get the starts I needed today and in the first moto I took too long to get going. After the 10th lap I stepped it up and closed down the front pack but too late to gain some vital positions. The second moto start was a disaster and I was way back in the pack which, with the track being really fast and one-lined after the rain, meant that it would be difficult to make up lost ground. I have to say my starts and not being fast enough in the opening laps let me down this weekend and this is something I have to work on for the next GP.”

Coppins still occupies third in the MX1 championship standings and is 34 points adrift of fellow Yamaha Monster team-mate, David Philippaerts who leads.
With no time to rest, the Factory Yamaha Monster rider will head to Mantova in Italy for round 5, next weekend. (17-18 May)

Race results:
MX1 Race 1
1 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
2 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
3 de Reuver, Marc NED Honda
4 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
5 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
6 Bill, Julien SUI Honda
7 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki
8 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki
9 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki
10 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
11 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM
12 Brown, Mike USA Honda
13 Nemeth, Kornel HUN KTM
14 Priem, Manuel BEL Kawasaki
15 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda

MX1 Race 2
1 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki
2 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
3 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
4 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
5 de Reuver, Marc NED Honda
6 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda
7 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
8 Bill, Julien SUI Honda
9 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM
10 Brown, Mike USA Honda
11 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
12 Priem, Manuel BEL Kawasaki
13 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
14 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki
15 Nemeth, Kornel HUN KTM

MX1 World championship standings:
1 Philippaerts, D. ITA 149
2 Ramon, Steve BEL 132
3 Coppins, J. NZL 115
4 Mackenzie, B. GBR 100
5 de Dycker, Ken BEL 98
6 Barragan, J. ESP 94
7 Pourcel, S. FRA 90
8 Nagl, M. GER 80
9 de Reuver, M. NED 76
10 Leok, Tanel EST 71
11 Brown, Mike USA 62
12 Nemeth, Kornel HUN 62
13 Priem, Manuel BEL 56
14 Desalle, C. BEL 55
15 Schiffer, M. GER 40