BUSY WEEK FOR JOSH | Bikesportnz

It has been a whirlwind week for the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team.

In fact, it has been eight days of high-intensity action for team manager Josh Coppins and his riders, Queenstown’s Scott Columb and Australian import Jay Wilson.

Former Grand Prix motocross star Coppins, who officially retired from fulltime international racing after winning the Australian open class motocross title in 2012, briefly came out of retirement to race at the annual New Zealand Veterans’ and Women’s Motocross Championships near Christchurch a week ago, with Coppins winning the 35-39 years’ class and Columb winning the 30-35 years’ class.

Then, last Thursday, the Altherm Yamaha men backed that up by winning another national title, this time at the annual New Zealand Supercross Championships at Winton, Wilson dominating the Lites (250cc) class and taking that title.

Columb was also in action at the supercross nationals, but this time forced to settle for runner-up spot in the Open class, behind another Australian visitor, Sam Martin (Honda).

Then yesterday, Coppins was back on a bike once again, this time racing a slightly-modified Yamaha YZ450F in the Supermotard class at the annual Wyndham Streets races, the final event of the internationally-renowned week-long Burt Munro Challenge.

Coppins scored a hat-trick of wins at Wyndham, between Gore and Invercargill, Winton’s Bent Scammell and Timaru’s Jared Pyke to the top of the podium.

“It was quite a big field, about 25 riders I think and I was a little lucky because a couple of the really good guys had bad races,” said a modest Coppins afterwards.

“I had never raced the supermotard bike at the Wyndham races before, although I have raced at the Nelson street races … just not here. I had always wanted to do the Burt Munro event. Now I can tick that off my bucket list.

“I think I’d like to enter the beach races next year too.

“I just thought it was important for Yamaha to have a presence here and for the Altherm JCR Yamaha Race Team to wave the flag.

“It has certainly been a busy week. I also did a day’s coaching in Dunedin during the week and was part of the Night of Champions function, joined by Ben Townley, Hugh Anderson, Cam Donald, Aaron Slight and Robbie Phillis. So you could say it has been a bit of a whirlwind week for me.

“I’m happy I made the effort and will definitely be back next year.”

The Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team is supported by Altherm Window Systems, Yamaha, JCR, CRC, Ados, GYTR, Yamalube, Fox Racing, Hollands Collision Centre, Star Moving, Ward Demolition, Fulton Hogan, Pirelli, FMF, DID, NGK, Matrix, Renthal, Motomuck, Workshop Graphics, Motoseat, Hammerhead, SKF, Vertex Pistons, Rtech Plastics, Etnies, Biketranz.

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