Home win for Coppins
By TMX Archives on 6th Nov 08
JOSH Coppins was the dominant rider of the weekend in the annual international race at Taupo back home in his native New Zealand, scoring clear-cut wins in both MX1 motos over Scot Billy MacKenzie, before the CAS Honda rider pushed him to the limits in the Feature race at the end of the programme. To tell the truth, I feel very tired. I'm a bit out of shape at the moment, claimed Coppins at the end of the day. Billy is a tough competitor. He rides on the edge. But, with a lap to go in the feature race, I just put the hammer down and was able to break him.
Darryl Hurley won the MX2 class for Suzuki from Honda-mounted Michael Phillips, and Phillips just missed the podium in the main race, beaten into fourth by another guest, Gareth Swanepoel from South Africa. GP contestant Scott Columb was fifth.
An amazing performance came from Darryl King. The two times world number two back in the 1990s will turn 40 in January, but is still fast enough to add third place to Coppins and MacKenzie in MX1 to his win in the Veteran class.
Taupo, Ben Townley's home-town, will host the 2009 World Junior Championship on August 15/16, 2009.