Yamaha Motocross Team's Josh Coppins made a brave comeback to the FIM Motocross World Championship despite sustaining a two inch break to his left shoulder only four weeks ago but could not prevent his lead in the standings being lost to rival Steve Ramon. Meanwhile MX1 debutant Antonio Cairoli marked a new highlight in a truly wonderful season of success as the MX2 world champ won his first ever outing in the premier class with a 2008 production YZ450F in front of 28,000 spectators.
Coppins was back in action for the first time in two Grand Prix but completed few fast laps and took things easy on Saturday. The New Zealander commented that he was fighting pain in the joint but had medical attention and took to the line on Sunday to attempt to defend the 12 points he held in defiance of Ramon. The many jumps and rough ruts of the track were not ideal for the Kiwi.
The first moto at the new track inside the Donington Park MotoGP complex started perfectly as the 30 year old holeshotted on the YZ450FM. However he was unable to keep pace with the leaders and tried his best to remain as high in the classification as possible but was swamped by a group in the final laps and took fourteenth.
With the gap down from 12 to 4 points for the second race, Coppins tried again to fight his corner but had to pull into the pits after one lap as the former championship runner-up had no strength in his upper limb and could not control the bike properly.
His eighteenth position overall means that he lost the red plate for the first time this year to Ramon and now faces a tough job at Lierop to regain his status. The deserving champion and winner of five Grand Prix this year will need to obtain 14 points or more over Ramon (who is racing with a small fracture in his scaphoid) to claim his first world title.
Marc de Reuver was unable to make an impact on proceedings. The Dutchman retired from the first race and did not feel comfortable on the bike or the track. He did not take to the gate for the second moto.
2007 MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli could not have done a better job in the MX1 class to give Coppins support and also assist Yamaha's effort to retain the manufacturer's title. The Italian admitted that riding the production 2008 YZ450F after steering his YZ250F to nine Grand Prix victories this year was 'different' and placed more demands on his muscle groups. but still managed an incredible debut triumph by taking second and first positions in the two motos in his usual flamboyant style. He walked the top step with hardly any preparation to riding the 450 and leaving the factory bikes of Kevin Strijbos and Ken de Dycker behind on his production machine.
The World Championship will now face a tense and exciting conclusion. The final round of fifteen will take place next week in the deep and rough sand of Lierop for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands.
Antonio Cairoli, De Carli Yamaha"Well this is another good day for me. I did not have the speed to make a good qualifying time yesterday but I knew that in the race it would be different. In the first moto I started well and just waited for a little bit behind Mackenzie but I had some arm-pump because I'm not so used to the power of the 450. When I was in the lead Kevin went through and he was faster. I had a small problem with my goggles because the sweat kept dropping onto the lens and I just wanted to make sure of second. I know that my physical condition is good and in the second moto I was again at the front and just did what I normally do in MX2. I did not waste any energy in the first part of the race and pushed when I needed to in order to take the win. I had two different kinds of races today. I found the power the biggest difference with the 450; for one race it is fine but for the whole season it would be hard. With little to no preparation to ride the 450, I prefer my 250 for the moment because I really enjoy that bike and have so much fun."
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Motocross Team"I just could not deal with the pain this weekend. I kept telling the doctor to give me more but I had reached a limit. I was struggling for concentration and at one point I could not even lift my arm to put it on the handlebars or put on my goggles. I knew after the sighting lap in the second moto that it was pretty much over but I tried the start and to see if the race could change something. I was happy with the first moto even if I did ride bad lines. I found myself focussing more on the pain than my riding. I can take some pride out of the fact that I finished and got some points but at the same time I was disappointed. I just want to go to Lierop and try to race like I know I can."
Marc de Reuver, Yamaha Motocross Team"I don't know what is going on. Something in my head is not right and I don't feel comfortable or fast on the bike. I have problems with the handling when I am not in the sand. The track was good but I did not do the second moto because I did not see the point in riding around in last place."
Carlo Rinaldi, Team Manager, Yamaha Motocross Team"It is a disappointing day but it is still not over. It depends on how Josh will recover this week. If those extra days give us a benefit like we hope then the championship is not over. We just hope that this weekend has not added any extra damage or slowed the recovery. Marc's situation is just another disappointment and I do not know what more I can say about it."
Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe"Again Tony has proved that he is an unbelievable talent. We were hoping for a good result and for him to be in front of Steve to help Josh and take some points away but we never expected him to win the GP; a podium would have already been a great result. I can't really find more words to explain it. Today though is a classic case of mixed feelings because it is incredible what Tony did but I feel so upset for Josh. What he managed in the first heat was very brave but he was in so much pain. We have been through a spectrum of emotions today. We won't give up and hopefully in the coming week the bone in his shoulder will continue to heal."
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