Josh Coppins in content with his Italian return, and will aim to improve his result in Germany. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha, Josh Coppins made a solid return to the FIM Motocross World Championship tour over the weekend at the Faenza circuit in Italy, meeting his own expectations for the event.

Coppins scored himself a 9-13 moto score, good enough for 12th overall in the ultra competitive MX1 division.

The current Australia Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 champion says things turned out as expected for his first race back in Europe.

“Things turned out pretty much how I expected,” said Coppins. “I had a good start in the first race and my rhythm wasn’t great but I rode OK and I was happy with the top ten.

“I made a mistake at the start of the second moto and that made it tough to come back. I ran out of steam. At about half way I just hit a wall.The heat got to me and I kinda expected it coming from winter back in the southern hemisphere.”

The New Zealand native explains that he was expending all of his energy, and believes he will put in a better performance at Germany’s season finale.

“Overall it was pretty good today but there were small disappointments,” Coppins added. “In the second race my mind knew what to do but my body wouldn’t follow.

“I was sitting down too early, standing up too late and was too far back on the bike and didn’t have the power. However I did my best and I think I was respectable. I believe Germany will be better.”

Coppins will complete the FIM World Motocross Championship, before heading to Lommel in Belgium for the Motocross of Nations which will be his final professional race of his career.