Josh Coppins has won the international MX in Pernes les Fontaine aboard his factory CAS Honda. The Kiwi dominated the entire weekend as well as out-qualifying his Honda compatriot Michael Pichon on French soil.

Coppins found it difficult to find a rythym in the first race but was content to settle for third behind Joël Smets and Pichon. Two convincingly strong victories in race two and three confirmed the overall victory for Coppins and the CAS Honda team.

“It’s been a good weekend” smiled Coppins “I was a bit nervous in the first race and was riding a bit stiff. With it being my first race of the season I tightened up and had to let Joël and Michael go – I knew I had the speed just by looking at Saturday’s qualifying times and I’ve been quickest in all practice sessions. The second and third races were really good so that was cool. I managed to work my way up pretty easy and did well. The bike is really working great and having more staff and mechanics on the team focussing on me is much better now.”

Coppins now flies to the UK for the Hawkstone MX international on the 06 March.

For images of the race click here.

Results:

Race one:
1.Pichon (FRA, Honda)
2.Smets (BEL, Suzuki)
3.Coppins (NZL, Honda)
4.Meo (FRA, HVA)
5.Alessi (USA, KTM)
6.Demaria (FRA, KTM)
7.Bill (SWI, KTM)
8.Sword (GBR, Kawasaki)
9.Delepierre (FRA, Yamaha)
10.Leok (EST, Kawasaki)

Race two:
1.Josh Coppins
2.Smets
3.Alessi
4.Bill
5.Leuret
6.Leok
7.Townley
8.Boissière
9.Martin
10.Atsuta

Race three:
1.Coppins
2.Méo
3.Bill
4.Smets
5.Alessi
6.Townley
7.Leuret
8.Nemeth
9.Pourcel S
10.Boissière

Overall:
1.Coppins, 70 pts
2.Smets, 62
3.Bill, 52
4.Alessi, 52
5.Méo, 40
6.Leok, 34
7.Leuret, 30
8.Townley, 29
9.Boissière, 28
10.Delepierre, 27
11.Pichon, 25