That song was written in 1986 when a young Josh Coppins was just starting his racing career, a career that would see him come oh so close to being crowned World Motocross Champion in 2007.

A year after Coppins decided to follow his dream in Europe and challenge for a World Motocross Championship another New Zealander Shayne King was winning the 1996 FIM World 500cc Championship. Coppins riding in the tough 250cc class was just glad to be making the Sunday races, and after a few years he was a top ten guy, then top five, before he would eventually start battling French legend Mickael Pichon for GP wins in 2002.

Injuries, bike problems and legends like Joel Smets, Stefan Everts and Pichon made it nearly impossible for a rider from the Southern hemisphere to catch time in a bottle and win that elusive World title.

 Coppins good mate Ben Townley would join King as a New Zealand World Champion with his victory in the 2004 MX2 title race. For Coppins though the chance to hold the number one plate in the air just didn’t happen.

Josh Coppins is no longer a Grand Prix racer. He is still a racer, but that GP career that started back in Australia in 1993 is now a thing of the past. Eleven Grand Prix victories, a couple of runner-up spots in World Championships and a house full of respect from his peers and friends. Josh Coppins heads home to New Zealand. His head held high and not an ounce of regret the dream of being a Grand Prix race is now over.

Thanks for the memories mate; it was a pleasure knowing you.

Here is a quick interview with Josh. We will follow this with a career look back after the MXoN.

MXlarge: So it’s all over mate?

Coppins: Obviously I have decided to retire from Grand Prix’s. A lot of people said I should have retired a year earlier, but I’ve really enjoyed my time at Aprilia. It’s been a great experience with different goals, the last four races we have been 8-10-7-7 I mean that is pretty good from where they came from. I have enjoyed this season really.

MXlarge: It’s been full circle really hasn’t it?

Coppins: Yes, that’s right; I have come a full circle. I am finishing up and I leave Europe on October 25 and head back to New Zealand. Next year I have a contact with Yamaha New Zealand and Yamaha Australia with Rockstar CDA Yamaha. I will race eight races in Australia and six races in New Zealand. Anyone who knows me knows that that is what I wanted to do when my Grand Prix career was over.

MXlarge: Spending a big amount of time back home must be something that is really going to give you some pleasure?

Coppins: In all the time I have been here I haven’t been home on the farm for longer than six weeks, so I am looking forward to settling down. I will have some bikes in Australia and some in New Zealand.

MXlarge: I mean going home must be as exciting as going to race in Australia. Which is more exciting for you?

Coppins: Both, I said to somebody, I feel like this is my first factory ride, I am that excited.  I will have good bikes and racing in a good team in Australia, it’s like a dream come true, and I’ve done Grand Prix’s for so long and it’s time to do something else. I am looking at helping some young riders in New Zealand and also the federation. I am really excited and motivated.

MXlarge: Obviously being here for so long you can’t think about what you are missing back home because that would make it more difficult being here. Can you now start to think about what you have missed?

Coppins: I little bit, it’s like you said it’s the full circle thing. I’ve missed out on a lot of weddings, mates have had kids and missed out on 21^st birthdays and being best man at weddings. On the flip side I have met so many cool people in Europe, I have really had a good time, if I had to stay it wouldn’t be an issue for me, but Australia is something I want to do, and New Zealand is home, I could stay here, but home is home as you know. I am looking forward to getting back and getting settled.

MXLarge: What about your chances in the Australian Motocross Championship. What do you expect? How are the riders over there?

Coppins: I don’t know either, I think they are going pretty good, but then you are only as good as your competition. I need to prepare hard like I do in Europe. If I go down and start racing at their level then it’s hard to maintain the speed.

MXlarge: Like when Stefan stopped you still had his speed in 2007?

Coppins: Yep exactly. I think I will do okay, it’s a good championship, good riders down there, I get good support, and it’s a good team. It’s a little like in Europe.

MXlarge: Obviously question, highlights and lowlights in your time in Europe?

Coppins: The highlights were 2006 and 2007, both years were not that good, I mean I was injured early in 06, but I came back and was on the podium at every race and I beat Stefan, only guy to beat him that year, not even Bubba could beat him and he was on top form then. In the process of beating him I lapped everyone but Barragan in the race. That was a highlight. Also 2007 I was very dominant that year, Antonio has had a great year this year, but that year (2007) with five races to go I had a 100 something lead and that is what Toni had with two races to go, I was really the best and really strong. I mean what happen is racing, but still it was one of my best years ever. Those two years stand out. Also 2002 I went from being an average ride to a good rider I was on the podium like 11 out of the 12 races, so that was also good. 2007 and 2006 were also not good for me. I mean in 2006 I got injured just before the first Grand Prix, so that was not good. Also 2003 when I had big injuries in America, it took my 12 months to get good again, broken back and legs.

MXlarge: The drugs thing in Bulgaria, is that water off a ducks back for you now?

Coppins: Yep, I think it was just one of those things, I think everyone knows I am not that type of person.

MXlarge: Changing the subject. What about the AMA versus FIM thing, I mean it’s still the best topic of conversation, what is your opinion? What is going to happen at the MXoN?

Coppins: I think France will give the American team some trouble, but you know America racing in America, they were much better in Budds Creek than they were at Matterly Basin in 2006 or in Italy last year, and in America they are clear favorites.  The problem with America is that they have a really good riders in every class, while each country in Europe might have three riders, but the third rider isn’t on that level. If you look at how Desalle did in Unadilla I think that Cairoli has something for Dungey.

MXlarge: America has had a lot of luck in the last couple of years, but that luck has to run out eventually or not?

Coppins: True, they have, but as some riders say you make your own luck, they were there battling it out and fighting for every point. Last year they were lucky, but you can say France were unlucky. I wouldn’t say they didn’t deserve to win, that isn’t true.

MXlarge: You know we always have it at the MXoN, when the race starts the American riders are at the front of the pack.

Coppins: Yep, because that is their style, they really attack; out of the gate they are so quick. I mean those kids over there that come out of the amateurs, they do four lap races, so it’s just quick from start to finish. In the FIM World Motocross Championship races I don’t get going until about 15 minutes into the race, it’s such a different environment.

MXlarge: Also the tracks in America are not that rough, but very, very fast.

Coppins: Talking to Jimmy Albertson he is surprised how much rougher the tracks are here, you have to be more technical, in America if you don’t get a start in the first bunch it’s really hard to catch up. Toni can start in 20^th and come up to the leaders, because here it’s about technique and endurance and the tracks are so different.