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After climbing to the podium at his last grand prix, motocross ace Josh Coppins is big-game hunting in Belgium this weekend.
The Kiwi-born star of the world Suzuki team is chasing maximum points as the GP circus shifts to the Citadel of Namur, south-east of Brussels.
The Grand Prix of Namur is staged near Coppins’ Corona Suzuki team headquarters in this motocross-mad nation where the fans will be hanging over the fences waving banners and shouting for their heroes.
“It’s always important to do well where the team is based and the crowd is on your side,” said the 24-year-old grand prix identity.
“But even more important I need those points to keep climbing the ladder.
“We set out this season to finish in the top three and right now I’m just a few points off third.
“Things didn’t go well in the first half of the season, I had a couple of bike problems and lost touch with the leaders.
“Now we’re into the second half and I’m on the comeback.”
With a total of 83 championship points the Motueka-born Coppins is just three short of current third placeholder, Italian star Claudio Federici, whom he shut down comprehensively in France last GP.
Pundits are tipping a purple patch for the expat New Zealand 24-year-old whose legendary fitness and stamina will serve him well in the coming month.
“We have three grands prix in three weekends, which doesn’t give the body much time to recover,” Coppins explained.
“You really have to come into the period fully fit and totally focussed … and really the preparation for that starts months ago in your buildup, you can’t just rev up a couple of weeks before.
“I’ve been working very hard on my fitness this year, with that top-three goal right there. Now it’s time to go for it.”
This 9th of 14 rounds in the title chase has double significance. It’s on the same track where Coppins will represent New Zealand in the international teams event, the Motocross des Nations, at the end of the season.
The Namur Grand Prix is raced Sunday afternoon local time.
World 250 Championship points after eight events: Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 190, Gordon Crockard (Ireland) Honda 122, Federici 86 Coppins 83, Fred Bolley (France) Honda and Pit Beirer (Germany) Yamaha 76, Chad Reed (Australia) Kawasaki 73, Yves Demaria (France) Yamaha 54.
