Josh Coppins has experienced a tough weekend at the fifth round of the Italian MX GP in Mantova. The Factory Yamaha Monster racer battled with his speed all weekend on a track he has openly admitted he dislikes.

With bad weather conditions adding to the tricky stadium style track, Coppins went into the first moto with a wide gate pick. He jumped well but was pushed out by German, Maxi Nagl. After settling into 5th position, Coppins began to ride his own pace but came under pressure from Steve Ramon who he kept at bay for most of the 35 minute moto. Team-mate Philippaerts charged through the pack to slot in behind Coppins with two laps to go however the Kiwi finished strongly to secure 4th spot.

A perfectly timed jump to the start of the second moto saw Coppins take the hole-shot and early advantage. Maxi Nagl again through a spanner in the works when he snuck past by the end of the opening lap as Coppins essentially lost his rhythm and concentration. A further four valuable positions were lost in succession with Coppins settling down in fifth until he crossed the checkered flag.

"It is quite close at the front of the championship and we saw another new winner this weekend. I am the only guy from the first few in the standings who has not won yet, but it will come. I think everyone knows that I have had a hard couple of weeks and I am not riding as well as I would like, so I think we did a good job in the motos; I believe fourth and fifth was not too bad. I closed some points to Ramon and pulled away from Mackenzie. I was pleased with my starts today even if I did ride badly in the first ten minutes of both motos; I was just too slow. In the last ten minutes I am as fast as the leader but I am too stiff and not relaxed in the first moments of the races. My confidence is getting better though. I don't like this track and it is the only one of the fifteen that I struggle with, so that's another reason why I am pleased with the result. I am looking forward to England now; that is like a home GP for me. I like to think I have a chance to win there." stated Coppins.

Coppins will take a weekend off in order to prepare for the 6th round of the FIM MX series which visits a new venue in Malory Park in Great Britain on the 1st of June.

Check out pics of Mantova GP in gallery.

Race results:

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

MX1 Race 2
1 Nagl, Maximilian KTM
2 Philippaerts, David Yamaha
3 de Reuver, Marc Honda
4 Mackenzie, Billy Honda
5 Coppins, Joshua Yamaha
6 de Dycker, Ken Suzuki
7 Pourcel, Sebastien Kawasaki
8 Leok, Tanel Kawasaki
9 Ramon, Steve Suzuki
10 Priem, Manuel Kawasaki
11 Desalle, Clement Suzuki
12 Schiffer, Marcus KTM
13 Church, Tom Kawasaki
14 Anderson, Bradley Suzuki
15 Brown, Mike Honda

MX1 World championship standings:
1 Philippaerts, D. ITA 187
2 Ramon, Steve BEL 159
3 Coppins, J. NZL 149
4 de Dycker, Ken BEL 135
5 Mackenzie, B. GBR 130
6 Pourcel, S. FRA 129
7 de Reuver, M. NED 116
8 Nagl, M. GER 114
9 Barragan, J. ESP 105
10 Leok, Tanel EST 98
11 Nemeth, Kornel HUN 74
12 Desalle, C. BEL 73
13 Brown, Mike USA 70
14 Priem, Manuel BEL 67
15 Schiffer, M. GER 59