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The world motocross championships start this weekend.
This is the year when New Zealand-born Josh Coppins seeks to restore his climb to the top, after a season dogged by bad luck in 2001.
Still finishing sixth outright in the glamour 250 class, the plucky professional rider was disappointed after flying to fourth the previous year.
“Last year was just one of those frustrating times, from start to finish,” said Coppins, who turned 25 last week.
“Every time I got going, I had another mechanical problem or a slower rider crashed me out … I just couldn’t get any traction.”
Coppins has been recruited by the mighty Honda team to bolster its ranks for 2002, the 40th anniversary of the world 250 title, and he has already shown impressive pre-season form on the new CR250 racebike.
“It’s great to ride,” commented Coppins. “It’s very forgiving and it handles all the different conditions we ride in.”
The conditions the riders strike at this weekend’s first of 12 rounds will be the deep sand of Valkenswaard in The Netherlands.
Most the championship contenders have been training there over the past fortnight, or in nearby Belgium.
“It’s completely different and takes quite a bit of time to adjust to,” said Coppins.
“There are some specialists guys who do really well in sand, but they tend to slow up in other conditions.
“I can generally ride them all, and that’s important over a championship as tough as this.”
Coppins’ pre-season riding was on hard-packed clay in Italy where his Berni team is based, ideal preparation for grand prix two in Spain in three weeks’ time.
New Zealand has another rising star with 17-year-old Ben Townley in the 125 class.
Riding a factory-backed KTM for the Big Five Vangani team, the young man turned heads in his rookie season 2001 with a final placing of 33rd in the world.
Now he has started 2002 impressively, notching up big results in sand races around Belgium where his team is based and which remains a centre of world motocross despite hosting just one grand prix this year.
“I’m really happy with my form,” said Townley.
“I didn’t expect as many top placings as I’ve had so far this year; now it’s a matter of taking that speed to the first GP.”
In changes to the race calendar for 2002, the championship loses an Australian round but takes in Bulgaria, Czech and also Russia which hosts the final grand prix next September.
The riders will contest other events: Coppins is currently just one point off the lead in the Italian All-comers championship and Townley is fourth equal in the Dutch.
The world championship calendar:
| March 24 | Netherlands | Valkenswaard |
| April 14 | Spain | Bellpuig |
| April 28 | Germany (eastern) | Teutschenthal |
| May 12 | France | St Jean-d\'Angély |
| May 26 | Italy | Castiglione del Lago |
| June 9 | Bulgaria | Sevlievo |
| June 23 | Austria | Kärntenring |
| July 7 | Sweden | Uddevalla |
| August 4 | Belgium | Genk |
| August 18 | Germany (western) | Gaildorf |
| September 1 | Czech Republic | Loket |
| September 15 | Russia | Sorochany (Moscow) |
