Josh Coppins made a short trip up the road from his Belgian base to Round 4 of the World Motocross Championship which took place in Valkenswaard in the Netherlands this past weekend.

Racing started well for Josh on Saturday as a good start in the qualifying heat put him in the leading pack rounding up lap 1. Riding a smooth race ‘Lizzard’ brought home his YZ450FM in 3rd position, giving a great gate pick for Sunday’s main races.

As heat 1 got underway on Sunday it was hard to tell who would come out the first corner in front as a group of riders went down in the first turn mayhem. Luckily Coppins came through un-scathed and in 7th position. He battled back and forth jockeying for position with a number of different world class MX1 riders as they all battled it out for vital points in this championship that stands wide open. At the end of a tough race 1 ‘Lizzard’ crossed the finish line jump in 10th position, somewhat disappointed with his result.

Heat 2 was an even better start for the flying Kiwi as his distinctive black Yamaha rounded up the opening lap in 4th place as Steve Ramon hounded his back wheel. An epic battle ensued with a hand full of riders fighting for every last second around the rough sandy circuit. Doing his best to maintain position Coppins was able to hold on for a 5th position at the end of the grueling 35 minute and 2 lap race.

“Today was disappointing for me.” admitted a frustrated Coppins. “I was not able to push hard because I am not physically at 100% and still need to reach my full potential. I had to just ride for points rather than being able to race hard for a win. That disappoints me. In the coming weeks I hope to get myself back to 100% again and then I know I can do the whole team justice.”

Coppins will contend the opening round of the Belgian MX Championship next Friday before heading to Portugal a week later for round 5 of the FIM MX world championship.

RACE HIGHLIGHTS

Race results:

MX1 Race 1
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 de Reuver, Marc NED Honda
3 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
4 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
5 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha
6 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
7 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Honda
8 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda
9 Desalle, Clement BEL Honda
10 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
11 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM
12 Melotte, Cedric BEL Honda
13 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
14 Noble, James GBR Suzuki
15 Anderson, Bradley GBR Honda

MX1 Race 2
1 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
2 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha
3 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
4 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Honda
5 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
6 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
7 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki
8 Desalle, Clement BEL Honda
9 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
10 Leok, Aigar EST TM
11 Krestinov, Gert EST KTM
12 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
13 Vuillemin, David FRA Kawasaki
14 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda
15 van Vijfeijken, Rob NED Yamaha

MX1 GP overall:
1 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM 45
2 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha 45
3 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha 38
4 Strijbos, Kevin BEL Honda 32
5 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha 30
7 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha 27

MX1 World championship standings:
1 Cairoli, A. ITA 143
2 Barragan, J. ESP 128
3 de Dycker, Ken BEL 124
4 Philippaerts, D. ITA 118
5 Coppins, J. NZL 112
6 Leok, Tanel EST 111
7 Ramon, Steve BEL 100
8 Nagl, M. GER 87
9 Desalle, C. BEL 86
10 Strijbos, K. BEL 82
11 Leok, Aigar EST 48
12 Vuillemin, D. FRA 48
13 de Reuver, M. NED 45
14 Swanepoel, G. RSA 43
15 Mackenzie, B. GBR 42