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/128386
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER ew Zealand's Josh Coppins captured only his second Grand Prix victory of his career at the Swedish GP and, in doing so, moved a big step closer to series leader and defending Champion Stefan Everts in the series points. With seven rounds remaining, Coppins is still some 4S points behind Everts, but he made up 14 points on Everts in Sweden. N Under warm conditions and in front of approximately 27,000 spectators, Coppins won with I-I results and showed that he is serious about chasing down Everts in the World MXI Championship. The opening-moto victory was the first for Coppins. The Kiwi has taken GP race wins and a single GP overall in England last year, but he has never achieved a double victory in his GP career. Coppins was a little lucky, as he 30 JULY 13, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS slipped over in the second moto while a long way ahead of Joel Smets and Ben Townley, but he quickly remounted to take he win. "I had won the second moto of GP races before, but never the first moto, so this was a nice thing for me," Coppins said. "I came in confident, and to be honest, I didn't even get any more confident after winning the first moto. I didn't do well at this circuit in 2004, but I just felt good all weekend here. I knew a good start was important, and I also knew it was important not to crack under pressure in that first moto when Ben [fownley1 was behind me. I also thought about the fact Ben had taken a couple of I-I results in the two previous GPs, and I thought if he can do it, then so can I; it can't be that difficult." In the second moto, Coppins proved to be quick from the moment the gate dropped. "I got a good start, and I didn't even know that those others guys [fownley and Everts1were a long way behind me," Coppins said. "I just watched my pit boards and kept me head down. Winning in England was better - to pass Pichon on the last lap was good - but getting two moto wins is good for sure. I know Stefan is in a slump, and he is vulnerable, so I have to keep pushing on and keep the pressure on him." Second place in Sweden was Coppins' roommate and fellow New Zealander Townley. The KTM factory rider, who had scored four wins from four starts in the previous two GPs, went 2-3 in Sweden and challenged his countryman and eventual double-moto winner Coppins in the first race, though he was unable to overtake the Honda rider despite a close final that saw the pair separated by 0.4 seconds at the finish line. The second heat was slightly more complicated for Townley, as a less-than-ideal start meant that the MX2 World Champion had to pick his way through from a first-lap position of 12th to eventually reach third,