Coppins and Cairoli back in the winning act
By TMX Archives on 11th Jun 07
Yamaha Motocross Team's Josh Coppins and Yamaha De Carli's Antonio Cairoli both returned to the winner's circle today at a busy and warm St Jean d'Angely for the Grand Prix of France and the seventh round of fifteen in the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship. The duo placed their YZ450FM and YZ250F machines on the top step of the podium in MX1 and MX2 respectively and to complete a perfect weekend also extended their leads in the world championship standings.
The track at St Jean had seen better days, even if the surrounding circuitinfrastructure still remains one of the best on the calendar. The course itselfconsisted mainly of long uphill drags and downhill plunges and the dirt washard-packed with precious few ruts or really technical zones. The high speedmeant that many of the MX1 riders ran at a similar pace and rattled off the lapsin the 35 minutes and 2 lap distances. The premier class provided moreexcitement for the 28,000 fans that enjoyed high temperatures and pleasantweather conditions.
Coppins was strong and authoritative on the first lapof the opening moto and the small gap he established in the formative minutes ofthe race helped him escape free from David Philippaerts to notch his seventh winfrom thirteen. It was the first '25' points for the championship leader sincemoto1 at Teutschenthal in Germany.
The 30 year old faced a harder testin the second sprint. He had to catch leader Billy Mackenzie and then tried tofend off the closing Steve Ramon but was soon grappling with the Belgian.Ramon's slightly quicker lines proved to be the difference at the end of aphysically draining race and Coppins wisely eased his speed to confirm secondspot and his fourth overall triumph from seven Grands Prix.
The NewZealander was able to take maximum profit of the fact that main title rivalKevin Strijbos was struggling with a knee injury and far from full fitness.Strijbos finished out of the points and did not start the second moto meaningthat Coppins left St Jean with a 90 point lead over Steve Ramon.
Marcde Reuver was struggling for some confidence after entering the gate inseventeenth position after Timed Practice on Saturday. He started poorly in thefirst moto but began to move up the leader-board and was fighting for seventhplace when he missed his rut on a downhill curve and crashed off the track.Shaken but unharmed the 24 year old was able to start the second race but couldnot feel comfortable and finished two laps adrift of the leaders intwenty-first. The Dutchman lies thirteenth in the standings.
The YamahaMotocross Team will now make preparations to drive east across Europe toSevlievo for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria next week. The eighth race of the yearwill bring the championship into its second phase.
Josh Coppins, YamahaMotocross Team:
"In Japan I tried for the victory but I know it is notpossible to win every time so I will accept second or third. The main thing forme is to continue to work on my points lead and try to win some more GPs on theYamaha. I knew Steve would be good. He has done a lot of races this season andis coming strong; he was too hard to catch in the second moto. I used too muchenergy on bad lines and once I changed my lines I did not really have anythingleft to give in order to catch him. Of course it is nice to win both heats, butin any case it is great to bag another GP!
I feel sorry for Kevin and I knowwhat he is going through as I had ten surgeries on my knees when I was youngerwith the same problem. I know it is not easy for him but he is a strong guy anda very good rider. It is a bit of a shame for the championship because I'm surepeople would like to see it closer, however I am really happy with my situationin the standings."
Marc de Reuver, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"The firstheat did not start that badly, but I shut off too early and everyone passed meon the first turn. After four laps I was into a rhythm and was fast. I came upto eighth place but then I made a mistake. I got into the corner before the pitstoo hard and could not brake anymore. I went over the berm and off the track andcrashed pretty hard. In the second heat I don't know what happened; I just didnot have the confidence."
Carlo Rinaldi, Team Manager, Yamaha MotocrossTeam:
"Like I have said a few times in the past I am very happy and sad atthe same time. Happy because Josh was riding at a level that we all know he iscapable of and easily won the first moto. In the second moto his lines perhapsweren't that great but he was able to finish as the runner-up. It was a greatjump for the championship, especially because - and unfortunately - Kevin had aproblem. It is a sad day for Marc. We are really trying to work with him but itlooks like he is missing something. We are trying to lift him up and willcontinue to do our best."
2007 GP of St Jean d'Angly, France10/06/2007
Race 1 - 23 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL 39'7.170
2 David Philippaerts KTM ITA 0'9.603
3 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 0'15.878
4 Sbastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA0'22.818
5 Billy MacKenzie Kawasaki GBR 0'24.787
6 Jonathan Barragan KTMESP 0'27.354
7 Mike Brown Honda USA 0'28.635
8 Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST0'30.757
9 Maximilian Nagl KTM GER 0'43.369
10 James Noble Honda GBR0'49.896
11 Kornel Nemeth Suzuki HUN 0'52.658
12 Manuel Priem TM BEL0'58.629
13 Gordon Crockard Honda IRL 1'5.047
14 Aigar Leok Yamaha EST1'10.863
15 Julien Bill Honda CHE 1'15.292
16 Marvin Van Daele Honda BEL1'35.402
17 Ken De Dycker Honda BEL -1 Laps
18 Bradley Anderson YamahaGBR -1 Laps
19 Alessio Chiodi Aprilia ITA -1 Laps
20 Cyrille CoulonHonda FRA -1 Laps
Race 2 - 23 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat.Total Time
1 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 39'35.456
2 Joshua Coppins YamahaNZL 0'4.252
3 Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 0'11.142
4 Billy MacKenzieKawasaki GBR 0'13.298
5 David Philippaerts KTM ITA 0'13.914
6 JonathanBarragan KTM ESP 0'22.373
7 Mike Brown Honda USA 0'25.936
8 Manuel PriemTM BEL 0'38.659
9 Sbastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 0'41.125
10 Marvin VanDaele Honda BEL 0'41.899
11 Julien Bill Honda CHE 0'42.218
12 KornelNemeth Suzuki HUN 1'16.340
13 Pierre A. Renet Honda FRA 1'20.339
14Aigar Leok Yamaha EST 1'29.918
15 Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL 1'42.357
16Julien Vanni Honda FRA 1'48.091
17 Christian Stevanini Yamaha ITA -1 Laps
18 Neville Bradshaw Honda RSA -1 Laps
19 Marko Kovalainen Honda FIN -1Laps
20 Cyrille Coulon Honda FRA -1 Laps
Rider Standings10/06/2007
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL321
2. Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 231
3. Kevin Strijbos Suzuki BEL 211
4. David Philippaerts KTM ITA 186
5. Sbastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 184
6. Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 173
7. Mike Brown Honda USA 169
8.Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 159
9. Billy MacKenzie Kawasaki GBR 154
10. KenDe Dycker Honda BEL 150
11. James Noble Honda GBR 139
12. Manuel PriemTM BEL 125
13. Marc De Reuver Yamaha NED 115
14. Maximilian Nagl KTM GER107
15. Kornel Nemeth Suzuki HUN 99
16. Gordon Crockard Honda IRL 78
17. Aigar Leok Yamaha EST 71
18. Marvin Van Daele Honda BEL 65
19.Pierre A. Renet Honda FRA 46
20. Thomas Allier Kawasaki FRA 45
Manufacturer Standings 10/06/2007
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Yamaha 321
2. Suzuki 274
3. KTM 239
4. Kawasaki 225
5.Honda 216
6. TM 125
7. Aprilia 4