‘Momentum’: Josh Coppins & Ben Townley

There’s a truism that a brand and its products are only as good as the people behind them. Which is exactly why Yamaha Motor Australia (YMA) has created a series of short films called “United by Yamaha”; to shed light on some of the personalities who make Yamaha tick as a brand – whether they’re staffers, ambassadors or customers.

The third episode of the United by Yamaha series joins two of Yamaha’s best-known ambassadors – Kiwi moto royalty, Josh Coppins and Ben Townley – for a fascinating snapshot of how they’re giving back to the sport they love.

Here is YMA’s insight into the film’s backstory, followed by the cool seven-minute film itself, called Momentum. Enjoy…

Anyone with even a remote interest in the sport of motocross would recognise the names, Ben Townley and Josh Coppins. The dynamic duo are two of the best riders to ever come out of New Zealand and are regarded legends of the sport across the globe. And yet, despite their success, the pair are two of the most down-to-earth, approachable blokes you could ever wish to meet. Josh and Ben are also keen to share their knowledge and experience to help the next generation of Kiwi racers to succeed.

Following their retirement from international competition, both headed home to New Zealand with a plan to give back to the sport through customer experiences, high-performance coaching, and even race-team ownership.

While their plans were similar in design, the two initially embarked on differing retirement journeys. Ben’s market was unforgettable guided adventures through his business, 101 Adventures, as well as high-performance coaching – a perfect combination of his passions past and present. Josh, on the other hand, decided race-team ownership was the best way for him to remain involved with the sport, and Josh Coppins Racing (JCR) was established in partnership with Yamaha Motor New Zealand in 2013.

While Josh and Ben’s paths crossed countless times throughout their racing careers, and their journeys continued to be intertwined in retirement, it was Ben’s son, Levi, who was the catalyst for a partnership that is a match made in heaven for the next generation of two-wheeled Kiwi superstars.

Since its inception, JCR has grown into a slick professional structure for on and off-road racing. The goal of JCR is Yamaha customers for life as well as providing opportunities for Yamaha owners to maximise their ownership experience. With Ben joining the JCR crew, they also want to develop New Zealand’s next big talents before unleashing them onto the world stage.

Momentum meets both of the big names behind Josh Coppins Racing and discovers two guys with egos in direct contrast to their success and abilities, as well as an infectious passion for all things two wheels and the Yamaha brand.