Veteran New Zealand motocrosser Josh Coppins has all the tools to win the 2009 world MX1 championship as he is now the complete package, an old dog who has learned new tricks.
When the 15-round world championship begins in Faenza, Italy, this weekend Coppins, 32, will be well prepared to run with the young guns in the blue riband class, 2004 world MX2 champion Ben Townley said.
"He is adapting to counter the new breed," said Townley, originally from Taupo but now based in the United States.
"The biggest thing Josh has on these guys is that a lot of them are simply lazy.
"For lack of a better word, that's what it is and that's where Josh's attitude to training and experience will hopefully take over.
"There's not a lot of riders from Josh's era left.
"Obviously there are young guys coming through, guys that I raced against (in MX2) such as Kevin Strijbos, Steve Ramon and Ken de Dycker."
Coppins emerged from an era dominated by Belgians Stefan Everts and Joel Smets, and Frenchman Mickael Pichon.
"The sport is evolving and if he wants to win, and I know he does want to win, and beat these guys, you have to work on it and constantly keep evolving yourself," Townley said.
" Josh came from an era where everything was built on fitness and going the distance of the race.
"It's very different now; it is about speed, technique and going as hard as you can from the drop of the gate .
"I think to be able to race these new guys, you have to retain your old habits because that's who you are as a rider.
"But the old dog has to learn some new tricks because if you allow this new breed to get away at the beginning of the race, it's very unlikely you'll see them at the end of the race."
Townley said it was very frustrating to watch the Coppins of old.
He would invariably lead into the first corner but by the end of the first lap he could be back in fifth place.
"Now, he seems to be able to translate a bad start to a good position at the end of the first lap and that's a bonus.
"I take my hat off to Josh, he's gone the right way about it. He's got a new trainer and is working on his riding a lot and adopted training methods used by the younger riders."
Second in the world 250cc championship in 2002 and MX1 runner-up in 2005 to the incomparable Everts, Coppins, now with 10 grand prix wins under his belt, has also learned to win races.
However, a world title continued to elude him after more than a decade in Europe.
Everts retired at the end of the 2006 with his 10th world crown and Coppins led the world title chase in 2007 by more than 100 points until injury slowed him down, gifting the title to Ramon.
Last year, Coppins was at less than his best again due to injury and the title went to Yamaha teammate David Philipaerts, 25, of Italy.
"(Despite this) Josh was still a contender up to round 13 last season, if he can improve about 10 per cent from last year, he's a chance for winning," Townley said.
Townley, 24, was in Europe recently for medical examinations to his injured right shoulder and caught up with close friend Coppins in Italy, where he watched him train and race.
"I can't see any reason why he can't beat these guys with the experience, stamina and strength he has. He's got the whole package. "His Yamaha bike looks really good and he looks very comfortable on it.
"He's hitting that sort of form where everything will gel for him. He'll make it sing this year. The Kiwi is going to fly."
- NZPA
Motorsport: Townley tips Coppins to fly in MX1
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