Yamaha Motocross Team Josh Coppins missed the podium for the first time in the 2007 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship as the New Zealander finished fifth overall at a cloudy and cool Uddevalla, 100kms north of Gothenburg, for the Grand Prix of Sweden. The ninth round of fifteen in the GP series was however noticeable for Antonio Cairoli's eighth success in the MX2 class and a quite remarkable performance from the De Carli Yamaha rider in the opening moto.
 
The circuit several kilometres outside the town of Uddevalla has been a World Championship regular since the start of the century - in fact one of only two venues to remain ever-present on the FIM calendar from the turn of the millennium. The layout had been reversed from the 2006 edition and a new start and first corner, along with a repositioned pit-lane, was in place for the '07 event. The track offered its usual winding and tight test and the terrain was softer thanks to large amounts of sand being mixed with the mud and incessant rainfall in the build-up to the Grand Prix. The giant rocky hill overlooking the facility gave ample viewing opportunities to the 28,900 crowd who scaled the inclines.

Coppins had taken sixth position in Timed Practice on Saturday and did not push for a fast lap and risk a crash on a surface that was far wetter and slipperier than the races on Sunday. The New Zealander made a safe first moto by obtaining a slot inside the top five and setting a reel of consistent laps to plant himself in the front group. He was strong at the end to pass title rival Steve Ramon for fourth place. The 30 year old, who had been suffering with flu during the week, again struggled to hit the same lap-times as the leaders in the second outing and dropped to eighth at one stage before rallying back to sixth position. The day was an exercise of caution for the championship pace-setter on the YZ450FM and his fifth place overall was a steady result on a track that was hard for overtaking.

Coppins still holds an impressive 89 point lead over Ramon who was runner-up to debut winner Ken de Dycker. Josh's advantage constitutes more than three motos and almost two Grand Prix with just six rounds remaining. He had five wins, one second position and two third places prior to Sweden.
 
Marc de Reuver's weekend was curtailed on Saturday when the Dutchman crashed in the free practice and injured his left arm, received a blow to the head and was also winded. The luckless 24 year old needed to be taken to the medical centre but bravely tried to qualify later in the afternoon. However he was forced to park the YZ450-FM after attempting one lap in Timed Practice and was in no condition to continue. De Reuver is fourteenth in the standings

The Yamaha Motocross Team will now look ahead to their second home Grand Prix of the season as round ten of the series heads to the Faenza circuit near Riminy, Italy in two weeks time. July's schedule also sees a trip to the Czech Republic at the end of the month.

Josh Coppins, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"It wasn't a good day; in fact it was a bad day at the office. I just did not 'feel it' out there, and in the end just had to do the best that I could. I knew from Saturday that I did not have the speed. No excuses today, I was not able to go with the leaders and I know I have some work to do. I wanted to keep on the podium all year and I knew that would be tough but we will come back strong for Faenza."

Marc de Reuver, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"There is not much to say. I had a crash in practice and caught my arm and it is pretty badly bruised. I wanted to have a go at qualifying for the GP but I did one lap and could not handle the bike like I wanted and making any fast laps would have been impossible. It is another disappointment and I can only hope my luck changes very soon."

Carlo Rinaldi, Team Manager, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"It was a disappointing weekend. Marc had a very bad crash in the first few laps of practice. Luckily it was nothing serious but the effects meant that he could not ride. He tried in the qualifying but the pain was too much. Tomorrow (Monday) we will make a check-up with him but things seem to be OK. Josh just had a bad day. Physically he was not perfect because of some flu a few days ago and this race was quite tough. He couldn't do any better. However I think losing sometimes can have a positive effect."