New Zealander Josh Coppins was always that guy who was on Stefan Everts tale for most of the 2000s. A solid rider who won a bunch of Grand Prix’s (12 from memory) and finished second in the world on a couple of occasions.

He also rode for a handful of factory teams in his career, including Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and even Aprilia. One of the toughest riders of his era, the always friendly kiwi is still involved in the sport and we caught up with him recently.

MXlarge: Josh, you have been keeping an eye on the Grand Prix’s I guess. This whole thing with Herlings and Cairoli, how do you see it?

Coppins: Its great. Obviously, they are pushing each other and the guys behind are trying to keep up. I haven’t watched a whole lot live, I just wake up in New Zealand, check out the times and the highlight package. Jeffrey has more speed, but his starts were not there early, and Tony has experience. It is a battle of old versus new and I am enjoying it.

MXLarge: You are making trips to Europe and the Grand Prix’s and representing Yamaha and Courtney Duncan. How is that all going?

Coppins: Yes, I am looking after Courtney Duncan, but I don’t do so much, I just put the package together and do some work for Yamaha. I won’t make all the women’s events, maybe four of the six. We have a nice little set-up.

MXLarge: I saw you did that Mark Hucklebridge race a month or so ago. How did that go?

Coppins: It was horrible, it rains and was wet. I was on a 250 2-stroke and it was a battle. I flew in on Thursday, raced that race on Friday, went from 27 degrees in New Zealand to 7 in England, but it didn’t feel like 7, if felt more like minus 7.

MXLarge: I saw the entry list for the race and I wondered how you would do, but as you said you didn’t do that great.

Coppins: For me, you get out what you put in. You get out of it what you put in, and it doesn’t matter who you are. If you are fully committed, organized, over the jet lag, and you got the bike, and are there 100%. Gone are the days of just turning up and riding. There are specialists in all disciplines, even super moto, or anything else.

MXlarge: You haven’t changed though in 10 years, you still look fit and strong.

Coppins: I still do a lot of exercise, and I enjoy it. Tuesday night cycle racing for me, Wednesday night we rider motocross with my friends and some of the younger guys I help. Thursday night we go mountain biking and if I am home on the weekends it is one, or all those things combined.

MXlarge: How is your private life, you got a girlfriend?

Coppins: Yes, I am actually getting married on December 8 in New Zealand. We get married up the road at a church and the reception at my place.