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Motocross ace Josh Coppins has revealed he held back on his way to a remarkable second overall in the German 250 Grand Prix today, trying to help his teammate to the world title.
But it was in vain as the number one Suzuki rider Mickael Pichon, carrying a shoulder injury, slipped back through the field and his French compatriot Fred Bolley raced his Honda to the championship win.
Coming up through the field after an early slip in the first moto leg, the young Coppins slotted in behind his seasoned teammate.
\"I could see that Mickael was struggling as others went by him, his heart wasn\'t in it,\" said the 23-year-old Kiwi expat after the race.
\"I was getting pressure myself from a couple of riders so I couldn\'t hold them both off, I had to pass Pichon and move ahead.\"
Coppins worked through to fourth in the moto, and again encountered Pichon moving down the pack in the second leg as the Kiwi expat came up to third.
\"I passed him on lap 10,\" said Coppins. \"He was struggling again and I tried just to concentrate on the guys in front of me.\"
\"I was a little angry with myself, if I had pushed earlier I could have had second in the moto and taken more points, but I still got second overall and I couldn\'t have improved on that today with Bolley taking two wins.\"
The points handed Bolley his second straight championship with one round remaining in Switzerland next weekend - a blow for Coppins\' Corona Suzuki crew who had Pichon in the title lead most of the season.
But there was compensation for team manager Sylvain Geboers in Coppins\' performance as the youngster was given the goal of a top five placing in his first year as a factory team rider.
\"Josh confirmed his third position in the championship today,\" said Geboers, himself a former top racer. \"He rode well here.\"
\"I am sure we will have second and third overall in the championship, another good time for us. But it would have still been nice to win the world title and take that number one plate.\"
Championship points:
1 Frédéric Bolley (France) Honda 410;
Mickael Pichon (France) Corona Suzuki 367;
3 Josh Coppins (NZ) Corona Suzuki 325;
4 Pit Beirer (Germany) Kawasaki 306;
5 Gordon Crockard (GB) Honda 277;
6 Claudio Federici (Italy) Yamaha 273.
