Josh Coppins walks off the track following a heartbreaking first corner crash in moto three at Coolum. Image: Alex Gobert.

Kiwi Josh Coppins has compared his loss in the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, to his disastrous world title loss in 2007.

Coppins moved into the works Yamaha team to replace the legendary Stefan Everts, who had retired in 2006. Coppins was the clear favourite for the title and once the season started he took an impressive series of eight podiums in a row, including five wins.

Unfortunately, the Czech GP marked Coppins’ hardest moment with a crash damaging his left shoulder at the moment Coppins was leading the championship by a substantial 107 points.

From then on Coppins was never able to recover and take back the leadership of the series. He ended a very bitter third with Steve Ramon taking the title.

Last Sunday at Coolum saw Coppins enter the finale with an 18-point lead over CDR Rockstar Energy Drink Yamaha teammate Jay Marmont, maintaining that position after trading wins in motos one and two.

Coppins crashed in the opening turn of the penultimate moto however, suffering a dislocated shoulder and forcing him out of the round despite attempts to line up for moto four. The title was Marmont’s for a fourth time, leaving the 34-year-old to settle for second.

“It’s obviously disappointing, but as we all know being around this sport, the highs are high and the lows are low. I reckon I’m going to win the lotto one day. This is the third championship that something has happened while I’ve been leading.

“In the New Zealand Championship this year I blew my ankle out while I was leading, did my shoulder today in Australia and obviously the world championship when I had the big lead was what really frustrated me.

Speaking of the first corner incident with Dean Ferris, Coppins explained how it played out to MotoOnline on Sunday afternoon.

“I was up there, about third or fourth and Dean just lost the front going in,” he explained. “I just hit his bike, sort of cartwheeled and landed pretty hard on my head and shoulder.

“I’ve torn the labrum, which I did in my GP career, so it’s surgery now I guess and a holiday.”

Coppins will likely head back to Europe for surgery on the shoulder, and hopes to return in 2012 with another shot at the title.

“Like I said, that’s life – I have an amazing family, so things aren’t all bad. I think I’ll come back next year hopefully and go one better,” he concluded.