A SWITCH IN TACTICS | Bikesportnz

Comparing motocross to supercross is comparing test cricket to the one-day variety … very similar in many ways but also very different indeed.

And Motueka’s Josh Coppins is considering the quick adaptation he’ll need to make as he prepares now to race the 50th annual Woodville motocross at the end of this month.

The MXDK Rockstar Yamaha ace has just wrapped up three supercross titles, winning the national title in the open class at the fourth and final round near Timaru on Saturday, as well as clinching the respective North Island and South Island crowns.

Thankfully, motocross is the motorcycling code that is Coppins’ speciality and racing at the iconic Woodville motocross on January 30 should suit him right down to the ground, so to speak.

After a 15-year career contesting the motocross world championships in Europe, Coppins is now switching his focus to winning domestic titles in New Zealand and Australia and the Woodville crown is definitely one he’s got in his sights.

“I have gotten used to the new tyres I’m using now and my aim now is to repay Crag Dack Yamaha in Australia and Yamaha New Zealand’s Peter Payne by giving them the results they want.

“To win at Woodville will be simply huge for me,” said Coppins, a four-time previous main race winner at the event.

“Everyone will be using this as a gauge ahead of the nationals so it’s important to do well.”

MXDK Rockstar Yamaha team boss Darryll King is anticipating good results at Woodville and the weeks that follow.

“Josh is really looking good right now,” said King. “We have a busy time ahead of us, starting with Woodville. Josh stepped things up when he needed to and won the national supercross title. He’s ready to go in motocross mode now.”

Coppins will, of course, have to be very sharp indeed if he is to repel the expected attacks from defending Woodville champion Justin McDonald (Honda), of Christchurch, former New Zealand and Australian motocross champion Cody Cooper (Suzuki), of Mount Maunganui, Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki (Honda) and his own MXDK Rockstar Yamaha team-mate Hayden Clark, of Hamilton, just to name a few.

Comments are closed.