Kiwi Josh Coppins will partner Jay Marmont at CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha in 2011.

CDR Rockstar Yamaha has pulled a major coup landing the signature of former world number two Josh Coppins for the 2011 Australian Motocross Championship season.

After 15 years on the World Motocross Grand Prix circuit in Europe, Coppins will return to his native New Zealand and race in a combined ANZAC arrangement that will see him contest both the New Zealand Motocross Championship as well as the Rockstar Energy MX Nationals in Australia in 2011.

“I have been looking at retiring from the GP circuit for some time now and returning back home to New Zealand, but the right opportunity hadn’t eventuated until now,” Coppins explained. “The arrangement with Yamaha in both countries and CDR Rockstar Yamaha is the perfect fit for me at this stage of my career and I still have plenty of racing left in me.

“The Australian motocross scene is now world class and a team like CDR Rockstar Yamaha is every bit as professional as what you would see in the pit paddocks of Europe or in the USA. I look forward to racing Yamahas again as my best results have come on board them and also look forward to a great season with the CDR Rockstar Yamaha team.”

Coppins will be onboard the 2011 Yamaha YZ450F, joining CDR Rockstar Yamaha’s triple defending champion Jay Marmont for the new season.

“From a rider’s point of view, racing and developing a bike like the Yamaha YZ450F is extremely exciting,” Coppins added. “The CDR team has shown they have the skills and ability to build a championship-winning bike and I look forward to getting started on it as soon as possible.”

Team owner Craig Dack is also proud to have the signature of the world ranked Coppins for 2011 and thinks he will bring more than results to his team.

“Josh is a world class rider who has won GPs around the world and been at the pointy end of world motocross championships for over a decade,” Dack commented. “With over 200 GP starts, the knowledge he will bring to the team as well as the experience he has can’t be bought and he will be a great addition to CDR Rockstar Yamaha.

“I also see it as huge reward for the crew of CDR that a rider of Josh’s caliber would choose to continue his racing career with us. We pride ourselves on our work ethic and ability to win championships and that is something Josh must see with CDR Rockstar Yamaha.”

Coppins announced his retirement from the World Motocross GP circuit over the weekend, effective from the final round this year in Fermo, Italy.

Coppins will then return to New Zealand for a quick refresh before taking possession of his new Yamaha YZ450F and competing in the New Zealand Motocross Championships throughout the summer.

His Australian season starts in late March at the opening round of the MX Nationals.