Coppola: "I tried to keep calm and think of the championship"
Italian WorldSSP300 rider keeps a cool head at home
In the ever competitive FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, Alfonso Coppola (SK Racing) took his third podium of the season in front of his home fans at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Locked in a race long battle with a group of six, the Yamaha rider fought through the hot conditions to take the final spot on the podium.
Following his disqualification from the last round at Donington Park – which he won- Coppola now has to work his way back up the championship standings. But following a strong weekend in the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round, the 19 year old now sits in fourth position in the standings and only 18 points behind leader Scott Deroue (MTM HS Kawasaki).
Unable to break away with any sort of lead, Coppola secured third position in the final corners of an intense run to the line. Taking his second podium finish in Italy, he certainly gave his home fans even more to shout about in the blistering summer heat.
"I am very happy for this race!” beams Coppola. “Qualifying was very tough, everyone was very fast and the hot conditions made it tricky this weekend. I want to thank my team who did some great work on the bike I felt very good for the race. The other bikes were very fast, and it was difficult to pass and break away, so I tried to keep calm and think of the championship. In the end, it was a very good result, and I look forward to the next race in Germany."
WorldSSP300 now heads into their eight week long summer break before the fight returns in Germany in August. As the first ever season comes to a break, the riders will now be preparing for an intense second half, with the title now in sight.
