Josh Coppins has made a superb debut on a four-stroke racebike, finishing second at the final round of the
Belgian Motocross Championships yesterday (Sep-28).
Riding the 2004 model Honda CRF450R, on which he had just a few days' practice, the Kiwi expat was bettered on the
day only by five-times world champion Joel Smets. Coppins, 26, took second, third and fourth placings in the day's three races.
"I was really pleased because there's a lot of very good riders here," commented the star of England's CAS Honda team.
"I've adapted to the four-stroke really quickly and I'm happy with my riding, after a very tough season."
Coppins rode the CRF for just the first time last week, training in the UK. A fortnight ago he took third at the year's
final world championship grand prix in his swansong ride on the two-stroke CR250R.
New Zealand's top motorcycle racer, Coppins next week leads the national team at the Motocross des Nations event in Belgium.
