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