Motorsport: Coppins on top of podium in Bulgaria

Josh Coppins has bounced back to second place in the MX1 championship with a round win in Bulgaria.

New Zealand rider Josh Coppins returned to the top of the world MX1 motocross podium this morning (NZ time) courtesy of two second placings in Sevleivo, Bulgaria.

Coppins, who made a quiet sixth-placed start to the championship in the mud of Italy last weekend, hit form in the second round with strong back-to-back rides in hot, hard conditions.

It was the first Grand Prix win for Belgian-based Coppins since Teutschenthal in Germany nine months ago.

"This weekend it came together for me," Coppins said.

"I have been training really hard and my fitness is good. This has given me the confidence to ride hard.

"I was not the fastest rider out there today, but my starts were great and I rode very smooth, kept out of trouble, and got the results."

Coppins was pipped by Belgian Ken de Dycker in the first race and Spaniard Jonathan Barragan in the second, having enjoyed spells at the front of the field in both races.

He powered past Germany Max Nagl to lead late in the second race but relinquished his lead to the hard-charging Barragan.

Coppins now sits on 59 points in the standings, in second place just one point behind de Dycker and four in front of Estonian Tanel Leok, who was victorious in the truncated Italian round.

Round three is in Turkey this weekend.

- NZPA