Coppins 4th for New Zealand at 2008 Motocross of Nations

Yamaha Monster Motocross Team’s Josh Coppins took 4th position overall in the MX1 class at a cloudy and sometimes wet Donington Park for the 62nd Motocross of Nations, assisting his country, New Zealand to a final finish of 8th place. MX1 World Champion David Philippaerts steered his YZ450FM for Italy and fought with American number one James Stewart in the first moto taking 3rd spot but a brace of crashes in his second race left him the outside the top twenty.

The circuit that hosted the 2007 British Grand Prix and regularly entertains MotoGP and World Superbike events had been altered and changed for the biggest and most historical meeting on the off-road motorcycle racing calendar. 60000 spectators flocked to England’s East Midlands and the cosmopolitan crowd remained in good spirits despite a period of rainfall in the morning.

The hard terrain from a warm and sunny Saturday became soft and very rough after Sunday’s climate change and the surface provided a technical test for a gathering of the best rider’s in the world.

Coppins was a protagonist in the top ten during both of his races. The 31 year old had taken a break after an arduous Grand Prix season and lacked a little race sharpness. He was as high as 3rd in the second sprint for the MX1 riders but ended the day 7th and 6th to be the Kiwi’s best performer.

Philippaerts, just two weeks after winning the MX1-GP World championship, put in a good first moto for Italy and was one of just two riders to keep pace with Stewart in the two outings for the MX1 category. His 3rd place involved a small crash when the front end of the bike slipped away on the greasy mud and this was a prelude to a problematic second outing in which he felt the exertions of a long 2008 season and hit the floor twice, crossing the line in 22nd. He was 10th in the MX1 overall ranking.


Italy would end the day with 5th position in the final classification of countries and their efforts were assisted enormously by 3C Racing’s Manuel Monni. The MX2 Italian champion took his YZ250F to 3rd place in the division.

Yamaha were present on the Nations podium as Nico Aubin rode a YZ450F in the Open class for France. He joined his two team-mates in celebrating the runner-up step of the rostrum behind winners USA and ahead of Belgium. Aubin rode admirably across the rutted red mud and although the physical demands of the bigger machine took their toll he was able to finish 3rd in the category.

Utag Yamaha.com’s Zach Osborne also swapped his YZ250F for a YZ450F and was 7th in the MX Open classification for Puerto Rico and his Nations debut. His flight from almost last on the first lap of his first race to 6th was a highlight for the teenager. His team-mate Martin Barr won the B-Final for Ireland.

In other news Utag Yamaha.com’s Kenneth Gundersen has been forced to retire from the sport as a result of the weakened condition of his cartilage. The Norwegian was present at Donington Park to see his team enter the B-Final and commented that the repercussions of two knee injuries and a damaged cartilage were behind his decision, after his knee swelled while training two weeks ago. “It is a tough situation but after I had some inflammation I saw the doctor and he said the cartilage was not in good shape. I am only sorry for Steve (Dixon, team manager) because he believed in me and we were hoping for a decent 2009. I have had ten years in the world championship and many good times and met many good people. I really don’t know what I will do now but I hope I can stay in the sport.”

“I am very sorry for Kenneth that he has to stop his career because of injury,” commented Yamaha Motor Europe’s Racing Division Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. “When he came to Yamaha it was clear that he had a lot of talent and we were hoping he could come back from some difficult times. We wish him all the best, there is more to life than motocross and I will always see him as a Yamaha man.”

With the international schedule now over Philippaerts has a host of media and personal appearances lined up into the month of November while Coppins has committed to several beach race events and a race in his native New Zealand in October.

Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team (New Zealand) 4th in MX1:

“The day was OK, nothing more. My starts were good and the motos were pretty consistent. I crashed in the first race and felt a bit tired in the second half of the next one. I did not really have the year I wanted so after the last GP I felt a bit down and took some time off and it showed today. However I think I gave the Kiwi team quite a solid ride, it was just a shame I could not maintain that good speed of the second moto until the end. I am happy a long season is over!”

David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team (Italy) 10th in MX1:

“I started well in the first moto and was riding fast but Stewart and Pourcel were just a bit better. I was pleased with third position, it was good for the team. The second moto was a disaster. After three laps I crashed and afterwards pushed hard to get as many positions as possible but made another mistake. It was not my day today and it is disappointing. I wanted a lot more from this race.
The last two weeks have been pretty crazy and I am really tired now. I did not train so much after Faenza, and so I am quite content with the speed. It was a long season and after 15 races of always pushing to be near the top I did not have any more to give.”

Nico Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, (France) 3rd in MX Open:

“We were really determined to try and beat the US and we tried as hard as we could. Anthony and Sebastien rode really well and I was pretty satisfied with my motos. I rode a bit too tense and not as relaxed as I would like but we took a good result and I liked racing the 450F today.”

Zach Osborne, Utag Yamaha.com, 7th in MX Open:

“I came together with Brett Metcalfe in the second turn of my first race and went down. I fought my way back to 6th but it meant that I was spent for the second moto. I did my best and finished the race and I think people are happy with what I did. I feel really drained and with the small amount of time between the races I was not able to recover properly. The track was really rough for the second race; I could not believe it, but I really enjoyed riding here.”

Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Racing Division Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe:

“We have reached the end of a long season and looking back we are delighted to have won the MX1-GP title and with Valentino Rossi claiming the MotoGP championship we are extremely happy that Yamaha have enjoyed so much success both off and on the road. 2008 has been a special year for us but now we will focus on the preparation for the coming season and both David and Josh will be pushing for more acclaim in 2009.”

MX1 Overall Result

1. Sebastien Pourcel, FRA, Kawasaki

2. Ken de Dycker, BEL, Suzuki

3. Julien Bill, SUI, Honda

4. Josh Coppins, NZL, Yamaha

5. Jonathan Barragan, ESP, KTM

10. David Philippaerts, ITA, Yamaha

MX2 Overall Result

1. Ryan Villopoto, USA, Kawasaki

2. Tommy Searle, GBR, KTM

3. Manuel Monni, ITA, Yamaha

4. Brett Metcalfe, AUS, Suzuki

5. Jeremy Van Horebeek, BEL, KTM

6. Carlos Campano, ESP, Yamaha

MX Open Overall Result

1. Tim Ferry, USA, Kawasaki

2. Steve Ramon, BEL, Suzuki

3. Nicolas Aubin, FRA, Yamaha

4. Alex Salvini, ITA, Suzuki

5. Cody Cooper, NZL, Suzuki

7. Zach Osborne, PUR, Yamaha

Final Motocross of Nations classification

1. USA

2. France

3. Belgium

4. Great Britain

5. Italy