Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128165
my Own Race: 250cc ®@@ Josh Coppins The visiting Grand Prix contender put in a solid ride at Unadilla. Coppins. aboard a Plano/Shark Honda, ran as high as fourth in the first moto before being dropped a position by Tortelli near the halfway point. Coppins finished eighth in moto two for sixth overall. "The first moto was pretty good,' Coppins said. "I was happy with my speed and I was running pretty well. I think I showed that I'm a good rider and 1'lT! strong. In the second moto, I wa~ really tired - I struggled a little bit. It's quite humid here for me - I know today wasn't all that humid compared to what it could have been, but in Europe, we pretty much always ride in zero humidity. That made it pretty tough - my heart rate was much higher and I was breathing really deep. I'm happy, but also a little disappointed with my second-moto result. In saying that, I still think that I managed to show people that I can ride pretty good." ~® Kyle Lewis 'lJ 71 Robbie Reynard The Moto XXX/DGY-supported Honda rider was a little off of his usual pace but still rode well at Unadilla. Lewis ran seventh for a majority of the first moto before being dropped a spot by Reynard just after the halfway point. Lewis completed the first lap of moto two in fourth but faded to ninth by the end of the race for eighth overall. "I was having some problems," Lewis said. "I couldn't seem to get hooked up on the track. I'll take the points, though - Dowd had a bad day and Vuillemin wasn't here. For the last few weeks, I haven't been able to practice because I've been hurt [Lewis injured his back at Red Bud]. I just didn't feel comfortable on the track all weekend. We'll see what happens at Washougal.' The Planet Honda/Scott/M2R/Reynard Modifications-backed rider looked strong at Unadilla, putting in a consistent 7-7 for seventh overall. "I felt pretty good: Reynard said. "I'm getting a little bit better. I got sick at Budds Creek and I was sick at the following race at Red Bud. It seems like 1 lost a lot of my endurance.. I'm slowly getting it back, but I'm still getting tired at the end of the motos a little bit. I just need to get my endurance back and I'll be good. My dad has my bike running really good. It's just up to me. I've just got to get off the starting line. I've been struggling off the gate. Once I get that down and get up front, hopefully I'll be able to run wjth those guys and get a little more confidence." ~@ (Abovel Tim Ferry kept Cannlchael honest, going 2-2 for second overall. (Belowl Mike LaRocco was consistent, as well. He reeled off two third-place finishes. Guy Cooper The popular Xtreme Machine/Troy Lee Designs/FMF-backed KTM rider put in a strong ride at Unadilla, going 15-13, for 13th overall. "I moved up today: Cooper said. "The Xtreme Machine by KTM had a very good day, considering how rough it got out there. I had two good starts. For about three quarters of each moto, I've been top 10 - well, actually about the last five or six motos, I've been running up front at the beginning of the race. I just get tired the last 10 minutes. When John Dowd came by me, he went up one of the back hills and his bike started slowing down. I went to the outside of him, but he was actually just trying to pull off the track. He accidentally tumed into me and I hit him pretty hard. That allowed [Jean-Sebastien] Roy to pass me. I'm a little bummed about that - and about John's bike breaking. If I had been able to swoop around him without the collision, then I think 1 could've held off Roy. I know how much that roost hurts out there and my 540 was kicking it up today. I was right behind him at the finish. I'd really like to get a top 10 before the year's out." Cooper, who is now 40 years old, won the 125cc class at Unadilla back in 1990 and 1991. ~ 'lJ Stephane Roncada The Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider, who is not yet fully recovered from injuries suffered last week, struggled at Unadilla, eventually fmishing 11-26, for 17th overall. "It was pretty bad," Roncada said. "I always have a hard time at Unadilla. For some reason, I have a very hard time with this track. I pushed hard in the first moto, but 1really wasn't going anywhere. In the second moto, I got a very bad start. It was not a good day. I'm still hurting pretty bad from last week's crash. I really like Washougal and I should be healed up by then, so, hopefully, it will be a better day than today." cue I e n e 1'" S • JULY 31,2002 7