South African Grand Prix

[Andy]

CAS Honda rider Josh Coppins has finished on the podium at the last two

South African rounds at Sun City and won the event twelve months ago. For

the 2006 edition the New Zealander picked up his third trophy and third set

of silverware this season since making his comeback to the 2006 Motocross

World Championship.

With two second positions from the two motos today the 29 year old

finalised the runner-up spot overall behind Stefan Everts and in front of

Steve Ramon at the tenth round of fifteen in the FIM series.

The Sun City circuit was again immaculate in its organisation. The resort,

some 180km from Johannesburg and 1500meters above sea level, played host to

the Grand Prix for the third and final time before the South African round

switches to Durban in 2007. The tacky clay-based terrain proved to be much

softer through better mixing and watering than previous years and this

produced a surface that yielded several lines in places.

A 25,300 crowd enjoyed some winter sunshine and also a set of four 35

minute and 2 lap motos, two for each MX1 and MX2 class. The surface was

slippery in places and the MX1 contestants also had to battle the glare of

a dipping sun later in the afternoon.

Coppins dashed into the first corner of moto1 with the holeshot on his

CRF450R and led nemesis Stefan Everts for one lap before the World Champion

(in such a ruthless vein of form) moved through and set about establishing

a gap of six to seven seconds over the New Zealander. Coppins in turn

worked hard to keep a distance over Steve Ramon in third. The second race

witnessed a re-run as Everts was too fast for Coppins but Josh was the best

of the rest and withheld a late flurry from Ramon to confirm second place.

Coppins

[mostar]

Heres a photo of Josh when he is at home in NZ at our trials park,

GO JOSH ,