Pitstop: Coppins closes gap

New Zealand MX1 motocross rider Josh Coppins found some consistency and put together two good rounds last weekend in Latvia, finishing second and fourth. Heading to the Grand Prix of Sweden this weekend, he's closed the gap to third place to just 13 points. Coppins' new-found fitness will help as the tracks get tougher.

Terrain tracks

The 10th annual New Zealand Miniature TT Championship for motocross, cross-country, enduro, ATV, super motard and even road-racing riders takes off this weekend in Turangi. The circuit may have no jumps, but the terrain will test the leading riders of each discipline. The course is just off State Highway 41, signposted from the Kuratau Junction of SH41 and 32.

Tapper sidelined

New Zealand rally driver Mark Tapper has broken an arm but is expected to be fit for the next WRC round in Finland from July 30. He will miss Rally Wairarapa, the fourth round of the New Zealand series.

Kimi finds new formula

Tapper could be racing alongside the 2007 Formula One world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, who will leave the Ferrari F1 car in the garage and make his WRC debut in Finland. He will compete in an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 co-driven by Kaj Lindstrom, who formerly partnered multiple WRC champion Tommi Makinen. Raikkonen has said he'd like to take up rallying after his F1 career is over.

Blind dates

The FIA has approved the calendar for A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Ten dates were submitted by A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira, with the first race of the 2009-10 season at Surfers Paradise from October 22-25. It seems a bit odd that no further details were released, so we have a calendar but no dates. That's A1GP, I suppose.

Indy chief resigns

Tony George, president and CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar series, has resigned but will remain on the board and concentrate on his IndyCar Vision Racing Team and the IRL. It has been rumoured George's family had become concerned over his spending. George took over the Indianapolis companies in 1990 and funded the breakaway IRL in 1996, but was key in reuniting the IRL and Champ Car in 2008.