Coppins Signs Off With Two Podium Results
The 38-year-old from Motueka signed off on his brief
fill-in racing role with the high-profile Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing
Team at the weekend with podium finishes in two separate classes at
the 44th annual Whakatane Summercross.
Coppins finished third overall in the premier MX1 (open)
class and, not surprisingly, comfortably won overall in the
veterans' 35-44 years' class as well.
"I rode the vets' class as well as the MX1 class because I
thought the extra time on the bike would be useful. I feel now like
I'm really starting to get my conditioning and form
back.
"But this was my last fill-in race for the team and now
I'll be concentrating on helping riders Dean Ferris, Kayne Lamont
and Courtney Duncan ahead of their respective campaigns," said
Coppins, who reverts to his usual role as Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing
Team manager.
"I crashed in my third MX1 class race and that cost me in
the overall points count-up, but I am still pleased that I could
still put the bike on the podium.
"I knew Cody Cooper and Rhys Carter would be fast here
today and I would have liked to have finished a step or two closer
to the top, but so be it.
"The last time I raced here was back in 2011, so I did
okay to still be a contender today."
Coppins compiled a 2-2-4-3-3 score-card over his five
races in the MX1 class and was unbeaten in all three of his
veterans' 35-44 years' class outings.
Hamilton's multi-time former national champion Darryll
King took a similar Yamaha YZ450F to win all three races in the
veterans' over-45 years class.
Other class winners at Summercross were Mount Maunganui's
Cody Cooper (MX1 class); Hamilton's Josiah Natzke (MX2 class);
Cambridge's Trent Collins (junior 12-17 years 250cc class and Youth
MX class); Tauranga's Jessie Waterhouse (women's class); Hamilton's
Darryll King (veterans over-45 years); Taupo's Wyatt Chase (junior
16-17 years 125cc); Mangakino's Maximus Purvis (junior 12-15 years
125cc); Okato's Zak Hetherington (junior 14-16 years 85cc);
Matamata's Brodie Connolly (junior 12-13 years 85cc); Tauranga's
Madoc Dixon (junior 8-11 years 85cc); Hamilton's Nick Westgate (pro
65cc class).
Coppins' 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 and Fulton Hogan.
Credits:
Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com