Coppins moves to 2nd in 250cc Championship.

Twenty five year old Josh Coppins of the Vismara Honda Team, has leapt to second in the World 250 Motocross Championship with a strong ride finishing third on the podium at the French Grand Prix. It was a fast race on the steep hills of St Jean d' Angely, some 150 km's north of Bordeaux in the east of France, Coppins from New Zealand fought his way through the mud, conditions were treacherous in parts after a earlier rain storm. He was narrowly beaten for second by two times world champion Fred Bolley but the race was dominated by Frenchman Mickael Pichon. Coppins said later, "It wasn't a perfect race by any means, I made a couple of quite big mistakes and one of them nearly cost me the podium when my team mate Pit came back at me and passed me."

Coppins was on the wheel of his fellow CR250R rider, Pit Beirer through the early stages the German ace having grabbed the hole shot, Coppins started in 6th position but moved to pass Beirer on lap 6 of 17 to take third spot when the German made an error in the sand pit. Holding onto 3rd until the penultimate lap he made a mistake, which allowed his team mate through. "I just made a little slip with one lap to go and Pit came past, but I hung in there and got a good run on one of the big down hills so I could slip by quite easily at the bottom, it was a clean pass, I know that he wouldn't try to stuff me anywhere so I have to ride with the same respect. " Coppins said.

His placing at this Round 4 of 12, the Kiwi to 74 points, four clear of Beirer and just a further point ahead of Bolley. Pichon's 3rd victory of the series in front of 26,300 fans puts him14 points clear of Coppins. "It's still quite early in the season, but the points we're picking up now are vital," said Coppins, veteran of eight years on the world circuit. "My aim is to keep pushing, taking podium places and gathering the points, Pichon made a mistake in Germany so we know he is not infallible, I just to be up there if he makes any more. "

Coppins is getting frustrated at being on the podium but yet denied a win. " It's about time to win a Grand Prix. " he said " It was very muddy and slippery, my arms were aching from holding on down those hills, this has been tougher than most GPs but well worth it, 2nd in the world standing and back on the podium again, I am still happy with third overall. "

Pit Beirer was the second fastest ride in Saturday's Qualifying session, over night rain left the hillside circuit treacherous, but it didn't deter the German, " I like these slippery conditions, I knew I had the speed and should have easily finished second, but made a few mistakes one big one and a couple of smaller ones. " admitted Pit who powered to the front of the 30 strong field as the start gate dropped. " I turned off the throttle too soon in the sand it trying to pass Bolley on lap four, the front end just dug in and I was thrown over the handlebars and trapped under the bike."

The track had basically one good line, this was getting rough and difficult to ride on, " I got back into the race and passed Coppins, I had a good line and it was near the end of the moto, I thought he would come back at me but he did, he just got his front wheel inside of me as we dropped down a steep hill, it was too late then I had to settle for fourth. " said Beirer.

He added " Fourth position is not so bad in these conditions and after three mistakes, Josh has moved ahead of me in the standing by four points, I still have a points on Bolley so I am not too concerned, my riding is looking stronger each week, I am riding more confidently on the Honda machine, it's going to be a long season so I have to finish in the top five if I ever hope to be in with a chance at the title. " said Beirer.