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| On autograph duty |
CDR Rockstar Yamaha has pulled a major coup landing the signature of former world number two Josh Coppins for the 2011 Australian motocross season.
After 15 years on the World Motocross GP circuit in Europe, Coppins will return to his native New Zealand and race in a combined ANZAC arrangement that will see him contest both the New Zealand Motocross Championships as well as the Rockstar MX Nationals in Australia in 2011.
"I have been looking at retiring from the GP circuit for some time now and returning back home to New Zealand, but the right opportunity hadn't eventuated until now. The arrangement with Yamaha in both countries and CDR Rockstar Yamaha is the perfect fit for me at this stage of my career and I still have plenty of racing left in me," Coppins states.
"The Australian motocross scene is now world class and a team like CDR Rockstar Yamaha is every bit as professional as what you would see in the pit paddocks of Europe or in the USA. I look forward to racing Yamaha's again, as my best results have come on board Yamaha's and great season with the CDR Rockstar Yamaha team," Coppins explained down the phone from his base in Europe.
Coppins will be on board the 2011 Yamaha YZ450F, the most advanced motocross bike on the market and after seeing what the CDR Rockstar Yamaha team, with Jay Marmont at the controls, has accomplished with the bike he can't wait to hit the track.
"From a riders' point of view, racing and developing a bike like the Yamaha YZ450F is extremely exciting. The CDR team has shown they have the skills and ability to build a championship winning bike and I look forward to getting started on it as soon as possible."
Team owner Craig Dack is also proud to have the signature of the world ranked Coppins for 2011 and thinks he will bring more than results to his team.
"Josh is a world class rider who has won GP's around the world and been at the pointy end of world motocross championships for over a decade. With over 200 GP starts, the knowledge he will bring to the team as well as the experience he has can't be bought and he will be a great addition to CDR Rockstar Yamaha," Dack says excitedly.
"I also see it as huge reward for the crew of CDR that a rider of Josh's caliber would choose to continue his racing career with us. We pride ourselves on our work ethic and ability to win championships and that is something Josh must see with CDR Rockstar Yamaha," Dack finishes.
Coppins announced his retirement from the World Motocross GP circuit over the weekend, effective from the final round this year in Fermo, Italy. Coppins will then return to New Zealand for a quick refresh before taking possession of his new Yamaha YZ450F and competing in the New Zealand Motocross Championships throughout the summer.
His Australian season starts in late March at the opening round of the MX Nationals.
Rider Profile
JOSH COPPINS
Birth Date: 11 March 1977
Born in: Motueka, New Zealand
Hometown: Motueka, when I'm in N.Z - Balen Hulsen when I'm in Belgium
Weight: 73 kg
Size: 1.77 m
Occupation: Pro racer
Hobbies: Training, trials riding, BMX, Wake-boarding, Jet Skiing
Career Highlights:
2009 - 6th MX1 World championship (1 x GP victory 3 GP Podiums)
2008 - 5th MX1 World championship (1 x GP victory 3 GP Podiums)
2007 - 3rd MX1 World Championship (5 x GP victory 9 GP Podiums)
2006- 7th MX1 World Championship (1 x GP victory)
2005 - 2nd MX1 World Championship (3 x GP victories) + British Champion
2004 - 3rd MX1 World Championship 2004 (1 x GP victory) + British Champion
2003 - 2nd 250cc World Championship
Member NZ MX des Nations team since 1993
Favorite Drink: Raro (NZ)
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Film: World's fastest Indian
Favorite Book: Lance Armstrong Autobiography
Favorite Obstacle: Tabletops
Person Admired: Lance Armstrong
First Race: Mapua, Nelson, age 11. Won 80cc age group
Favorite Track: (First big win) 1988 Nelson round of Equestrian Series (my second race, first trophy)
Best advice you´ve been given: No matter how bad things get, there's always someone worse off
Worst advice you´ve been given: Get yellow fever injections for the Brazil GP: I was ill for 10 days, right thru the GP
Credits: Andy McGechan / www.joshcoppins.com
Source: Bikedeadline