Kiwi MX sensation, Josh Coppins, along with the Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team travelled to Portugal this weekend eager to get his 2009 World Championship campaign back on track.

In front of the friendly Agueda crowds ‘Lizzard’ soon showed he was there for business as he rocketed out the gate in the Saturday qualifying race to grab an early lead. Coppins rode a great race with an aggressive style bringing him home in 2nd position, giving a great gate pick for Sunday and the confidence to go with it.

As the gate dropped for the first MX1 moto, Coppins, lost his gate advantage in the first turn by running wide and pushed hard to make up positions on the first lap. A small crash set the New Zealander back a few positions as he had to regroup and come through the pack. Putting his head down, Coppins plugged away at the riders in front and managed to pull through to 7th spot by the end of the moto.

Coppins was sure to make the best of his start in moto 2 and looked like he would grab the hole-shot however team-mate David Philippaerts managed to sneak around the outside with Belgian Clement Desalle making a move a few turns later. Coppins settled into fourth spot where he stayed throughout the race with a last lap charge putting him right in Desalle’s wheel at the checkered flag.

“I felt like I had the speed this weekend to put in a good result however the first moto sort of caught me out when I crashed on the second lap. It was tough to come back with the pace being so hot. I was happier with the second moto and with my speed but I still see some improvements to come in the next few races. I have chosen to stay down South before Spain next week and hope to get some good riding in” commented Coppins.

Climbing a spot in the championship tables, Coppins will travel to Bellpuig in Spain next weekend for Round 6 of the FIM Motocross World championship.

Race results:

MX1 Race 1
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
3 Desalle, Clement BEL Honda
4 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM
5 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
6 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha
7 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
8 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
9 Aranda, Gregory FRA Kawasaki
10 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
11 Vuillemin, David FRA Kawasaki
12 Leok, Aigar EST TM
13 Priem, Manuel BEL Aprilia
14 Izoird, Fabien FRA Suzuki
15 Church, Tom GBR CCM

MX1 Race 2
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki
3 Desalle, Clement BEL Honda
4 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha
5 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha
6 Vuillemin, David FRA Kawasaki
7 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM
8 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
9 Aranda, Gregory FRA Kawasaki
10 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM
11 Leok, Aigar EST TM
12 Campano, Carlos ESP Yamaha
13 Priem, Manuel BEL Aprilia
14 Correira, Luis POR Yamaha
15 Izoird, Fabien FRA Suzuki

MX1 GP Overall

1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha 50
2 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki 44
3 Desalle, Clement BEL Honda 40
4 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha 32
5 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM 32
6 Leok, Tanel EST Yamaha 31
7 Vuillemin, David FRA Kawasaki 25
8 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki 24
9 Aranda, Gregory FRA Kawasaki 24
10 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM 24

MX1 Championship standings:
1 Cairoli, A. ITA 193
2 de Dycker, Ken BEL 168
3 Barragan, J. ESP 152
4 Coppins, J. NZL 144
5 Leok, Tanel EST 142
6 Philippaerts, D. ITA 134
7 Desalle, C. BEL 126
8 Nagl, M. GER 119
9 Ramon, Steve BEL 100
10 Strijbos, K. BEL 82
11 Vuillemin, D. FRA 73
12 Leok, Aigar EST 67
13 Swanepoel, G. RSA 67
14 de Reuver, M. NED 45
15 Mackenzie, B. GBR 42