Josh Coppins ready for the World MX1 Championship

#6 JOSH COPPINS – NEW ZEALAND
YAMAHA YZ450F - Team Yamaha Rinaldi
Born Date: 11 March 1977 in Motueka, New Zealand

Aside from finishing in the top three for 3 of the last 5 premier class World Championships, Yamaha’s new signing Josh Coppins is rightly regarded as a favourite for the 2007 FIM MX1 series also thanks to his excellent work ethic and famed level of application to his profession.
The New Zealander has been an ever-present competitor on the Grand Prix stage since moving over from his native New Zealand in the mid-1990s and entering the 250cc World Championship as a privateer in 1996. Thanks to solid speed and early promise, backed up by a consistency that would become one of his main strengths, Josh reached the status of a factory-supported competitor in 2000 where he entered the top five of the final classification for the first time. He switched brands at the end of 2001 and his career really started to hit a peak. Living in Belgium and adopting a new training regime Coppins started to become a regular on the 250cc podium and pushed former team-mate Mickael Pichon hard for the title.
Moving onto a 450 four-stroke for the MX-GP class in 2003 Coppins had elevated himself into one of the championship contenders.
Sadly due to a serious pre-season injury he missed out the first Grand Prix. The resilient Kiwi recovered however to race again that season eventually placing 12th. The inauguration of MX1 category in 2004 saw the 29 year old still bearing the physical afflictions of the previous year’s crash but Coppins was once more a protagonist and celebrated an overdue and emotional maiden Grand Prix victory on the Isle of Wight in England on the way to third position overall.
The following term witnessed further progression as he was Stefan Everts’ closest pursuer for the MX1 crown and beat the legendary Belgian on two occasions (Sweden and South Africa) from sixteen rounds. The momentum gathered that season should have run into 2006 but five months of hard work over the winter was lost when a fall during practice led to a dislocated shoulder one week before the opening Grand Prix. Coppins missed the first seven GPs of the calendar but scored an impressive 3rdplace on his return at the British Grand Prix and then missed the podium only once in the next seven races. In that period he became the only rider to beat a ruthless Everts after a close duel in Northern Ireland.
Josh’s work rate is widely recognised in the paddock and his attention to machine set-up is also a major advantage. Articulate and friendly, Coppins is a worthy ambassador for the Yamaha Motocross Team and is aims at carrying on the dominant streak of success for the factory with the YZ450FM.
FIM 2007 MX1 World Grand-Prix Championship 15 Events
first 01/04/2007 NETHERLANDS Valkenswaard BENELUX GP
last 02/09/2007 NETHERLANDS Lierop NETHERLANDS GP
others GP 07 Great Britain, Japan, Ireland, South Africa, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Franze, Bulgaria.
Joshua Coppins 2007 results
Valence: 1st overall - 3rd/3rd/1st (MX International)
Montevechio: 1st overall - 1st/1st (Italian Championship)
Montova: 2nd overall – 3rd/7th/3th (MX International)
Joshua Coppins Career
2006: 7th, Motocross MX1 World Championship (injured)
2005: 2nd, Motocross MX1 World Championship + British Champion
2004: 3rd, Motocross MX1 World Championship + British Champion
2003: 12th, MXGP Motocross World Championship (injured)
2002: 2nd, 250cc Motocross World Championship
2001: 6th, 250cc Motocross World Championship
2000: 4th, 250cc Motocross World Championship
1999: 7th, 250cc Motocross World Championship
1998: 13th, 250cc Motocross World Championship
1997: 17th, 250cc Motocross World Championship
1996: 23rd 250cc Motocross World Championship

Taupo, New Zealand, November 2006 at the Oceania Championship, the last race in Honda for Joshua Coppins ... and the last international motocross race ever for Stefan Everts, the Kiwi take the first place & Everts the 2nd, the Neo Zealander MX racer veteran Darryll King (two times World 500cc GP vice-champion in 1997 & 1998) finish 3rd, her young brother Shayne King (world 500cc GP Champion in 1996) take the 6th place & the other MX GP racer veteran, 4 times World 500cc GP Champion, Joel Smets finish 5th