Coppins and Beirer side by side on Podium.

Honda team mates Joshua Coppins and Pit Beirer climbed to the podium on Sunday at the Grand Prix of Europe staged at the Teutschenthal circuit near to the former East Germany city of Leipzig. The Honda pairing finished 2nd and 3rd after a dramatic final lap saw James Dobb (KTM) fall and hand the win to Norwegian Kenneth Gundersen (Kawasaki) within sight of the chequered flag.

Championship leader Mickael Pichon (Suzuki) crashed in the first turn with Frederick Bolley, Pit Beirer grabbed the hole shot as Coppins turned to the inside, the Honda duo were inside the top five but it was to be Dobb, the reigning 125cc World Champion had dominated almost the entire race after snatching the lead from Beirer on the opening lap. Dobb made a simple error, which dropped him back to 4th place. As the top three places moved up one position Beirer couldn't believe his luck but Coppins was still disappointed at taking the runners up berth.

Josh Coppins on the 250cc two stroke, missed a gear on the start straight and counted himself lucky that he wasn't involved in the first turn clash. "I turned back and was 3rd or 4th into the turn, I rode terrible for a couple of laps but then caught up to Pit and made a move which got me into 3rd place," said Coppins who put some of the fastest laps in mid race to give him the momentum to go forward. He added "This week I didn't need and pain killing injection in my foot so that was already a positive step. I had pushed very hard during the middle of the moto so when I eventually caught Gundersen I was tired, with two laps to go he pulled a little out on me. " added Coppins. As Dobb fell Gundersen went onto win. Coppins was bitterly disappointed. " I saw Dobb on the ground but it was too late for me to make any further progress, I should have attacked earlier than then with Dobb's misfortune I maybe could have been handed the win. I move to third in the championship ahead of Pit, it's going to be a very interesting season ahead that's for sure."

Pit Beirer has always struggled at this circuit, one of two Grand Prix's held in his home country. The German ace said. " I don't know why it is but I have been coming here to this track for ten years and my arms always pump up, I was riding very tight in the first half of the race, I was the early leader, I was riding relaxed but Dobb got by me. For twenty minutes I could easily hold onto 3rd position but I lost two or three seconds on Gundersen when my kick start came out and caught on the foot rest."

Beirer made up the time and was back with the Norwegian. " My team mate Coppins was putting me under pressure, I jumped out of the track and he moved to 3rd, I couldn't do anything. I wanted a good finish and fourth would have been OK I knew I couldn't afford any mistake like the Pit Beirer of old. Ton take fourth here in Teutschenthal is for me like winning on any other track, it was a personal achievement then I could believe my luck when I saw the yellow flag waving and Dobb was down, I knew I was on the podium, I was so happy it was like a birthday present my first podium at the track in ten years !" said Beirer.