After a strong Saturday qualification, Coppins looked set on using the tricky and hilly circuit in his favour, however the first MX1 moto had only just started when Coppins was dealt a disasterous blow.

A rock destroyed the pivot holding his goggle strap which meant that Coppins lost his goggles and only protection against the dangerous debris and dirt from his competitors back wheels.

Coppins braved the pain and fought to keep his fifth position but with ten minutes to go he could no longer keep his pace with impaired vision and had to settle for 7th.

Going into the second moto, Coppins was at an immediate disadvantage with his eyes still weeping from the dirt and battering they had been exposed to.

He had a good start and with a mistake by Barragan he then passed Belgian youngster Clement De Salle to take over third spot. Coppins was setting a good pace and with 6 laps to go he had just posted his fastest lap of the race when he hit false neutral and was flung over the bars with his bike landing on top of him.

He managed to scramble from underneath and remount to join the race in 10th spot. Grazed and bruised Coppins never gave up and held on to 10th at the finish line.

“This place really doesn’t like me” admitted Coppins. “After the rock broke my goggles in the first moto I couldn’t see the lines properly with all the dirt and muck that my eyes were taking on. I couldn’t judge the braking points properly and I don’t know how I managed to hang on for forty minutes. I knew the second moto would be a battle but did not expect the bike to hit neutral and to be thrown over the bars. Of course I’m disappointed and but I’m happy to leave Loket behind - this place has not done me any favours.”

Before Coppins heads to Dublin, Ireland for round 13 on the 31st August he will take part in the Belgian champs at the former GP circuit at the ‘Keiheuvel’ this Friday.

www.joshcoppins.com