Josh Coppins 4th overall in Italian Championship
By TMX Archives on 16th Mar 09
Yamaha Monster Energy racer, Josh Coppins, rounded off the Italian championship with yet another consistent ride this past weekend at the technical circuit of Gazazane. Sunday morning dawned with sunshine on the well prepared hillside circuit nestled in the Italian mountains, as Josh prepared for his final race before the Grand Prix season gets underway for 2009.
The first heat took off and Josh got a greatstart amongst an almost complete GP rider line-up. Up in the top 5 Coppins putthe hammer down and wasted no time in getting his YZ450FM into second positionand pushing for the lead. Fighting with the continuous small choppy pumps‘Lizzard' got arm pump and battled to hold onto the powerful Yamaha as the lapsticked bye. Unable to hold his usual super fast pace, Josh slipped back into4th position as the leading riders crossed the finish line for theend of the first moto.
As MX1 Heat 2 launched out the starting gateCoppins did not get the jump he was hoping for. Down in 10th positionin this elite field was not what he wanted as Josh rounded up the opening lap.Throughout the race, one by one, Josh picked off the competition gainingpositions gradually as the clock counted down. At the end of yet another hardrace Coppins crossed the finish line in 5thposition.
With the days result, the consistent Kiwicame away from the Italian Championship with a 4th overall, which isincredible considering he did not take part in all rounds.
With the final preparation race over, wecaught up with Josh ahead of the first Grand Prix. "This season has started wellfor me, I am strong, the bike is strong and we have shown great consistency inall these season opening races. This week I am going to do further suspensiontesting Belgium to try iron out some little niggles I am having, but otherwise Iam ready for the first GP in Faenza.”
GazazaneOverall results
1CAIROLI ANTONIO ITA YAMAHA 25 25 50
2STRIJBOS KEVIN BEL HONDA 15 22 37
3RAMON STEVE BEL SUZUKI 22 14 36
4COPPINS JOSHUA NZL YAMAHA 20 16 36
5 LEOKTANEL EST YAMAHA 18 18 36
6BARRAGAN JONATHAN ESP KTM 5 20 25
7COMPAGNONE FELICE ITA HONDA 13 12 25
8VANNI JULIEN PAUL FRA HONDA 6 15 21
9 BILLJULIEN SUI APRILIA 11 10 21
10CEPELAK JIRI CZE YAMAHA 7 11 18
11 DEDYKER KEN BEL SUZUKI 16 16
12SALVINI ALEX ITA HUSQVARNA 14 14
13LEOK AIGAR EST TM 8 6 14
14PRIEM MANUEL BEL APRILIA 13 13
15TRAVERSINI THOMAS ITA KTM 10 3 13