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Kiwi motocross whiz Josh Coppins changes gear this week.
Fresh from his fine fourth in the world 250 motocross championship, the Motueka-born 23-year-old starts his supercross season in Spain.
With its spectacular leaps and close racing, this stadium form of motocross is popular with fans the world over and the fast-rising expat Kiwi was an early recruit to the forthcoming world championship.
\"The organisers, the same promoters as the world outdoor champs, told me they particularly wanted me in the supercross series which was quite a boost for me,\" said the mature youngster.
\"This year there are three rounds to the world series, in France, Italy and Germany over the next couple of months, plus a big one-off event in Paris which is not part of the championship but is about the biggest supercross in the world.\"
\"I\'ve signed to race them all.\"
Coppins begins his buildup this weekend in Madrid, central Spain.
\"This won\'t be a big event but it\'s a good chance to get back into the groove of supercross after outdoor motocross which involves quite a different riding style,\" said Coppins.
The Kiwi is backed in the supercross series by his Corono beer-sponsored Suzuki factory team out of Belgium, for whom he has signed to contest next year\'s outdoor championships.
\"The Suzuki is an excellent bike for supercross and this year we\'ve learned a lot about the cuurent model which was all-new at start of the season\", said Coppins, who retains his New Zealand mechanic Blair Selfe for the supercross events.
\"I\'m looking forward to getting back in the groove - I\'ve been doing some low-key racing around Europe and just light training since the season ended a few weeks ago, but already I\'m starting to get bored.\"
Supercross season:
21 October World championship round one, Stade de France, Paris, France
27-29 October Paris Bercy one-off event, Paris, France
4 November World championship round two, Torino, Italy
25 November World championship round three, Leipzig, Germany
