Motorsport: Coppins coming home to race

New Zealand motocross rider Josh Coppins. Photo / Andy McGechan

After 15 years and 11 grand prix wins on the world championship trail in Europe, New Zealand motocross rider Josh Coppins is coming home to continue his racing career.

Coppins, currently 11th in the standings, announced his retirement from world championship grand prix racing at the end of the 2010 season at last weekend's Dutch grand prix at Lierop.

However, the Motueka rider, runner-up in the premiere category in 2002 and 2005 and third in 2004 and 2007, said he would race in Yamaha colours in New Zealand and Australia in 2011.

Coppins' first assignment in New Zealand will be at the Summercross event at Whakatane just after Christmas.

He will then compete in the New Zealand championship before crossing the Tasman to join the Craig Dack racing team in Australia.

``I have always wanted to come home and race down under and it seemed only natural to do it with Yamaha after having so much success on Yamaha in the world championships,'' Coppins, 33, said in a statement.

Coppins' international career began as a teenager at the Australian grand prix in 1993 and he headed to Europe two years later in the footsteps of Taranaki's Shayne King, who won the world 500cc title in 1996.

Coppins came agonisingly close to winning the MX1 crown in 2007.

He led the championship by over 100 points until a crash in the 12th round at the Czech grand prix sidelined him for three rounds, handing the title to Belgian Steve Ramaon while he eventually finished third.

His final world championship race in Europe will be this week's Italian grand prix at Fermo.

He will return home after representing New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations team event in Denver, Colorado on September 26 where his teammates will be 2004 world MX2 champion Ben Townley and Hawera's Brad Groombridge.

- NZPA