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Kiwi motocross sensation Josh Coppins mounts his challenge for the world title across 15 rounds from Australia to Europe next year.
The 23-year-old expat, fourth in the world this year as he continues his climb up the rankings, flies the New Zealand flag before a worldwide television audience of tens of millions.
The race calendar for 2001 has just been announced and was immediately altered with the cancellation of the Brazilian Grand Prix for financial reasons.
That may be good news for New Zealand with a number of top riders believed to be considering holidaying here now there is a month between round two in The Netherlands and the Australian GP at Broadford in Victoria.
New Zealand has had only one motocross world champion and none in the premier 250 class.
European experts are confidently predicting it\'s just a matter of time before Coppins changes that.
Contesting the the championship since he was a fresh-faced 17-year-old a long way from home, the determined Kiwi has improved his placing every season and was rewarded with a factory ride on the Corona Suzuki for 2000.
He returned the favour by exceeding the team\'s top-five expectation and has re-signed with the crack outfit to push for gold next year.
\"I have to aim for the title, it\'s important to keep looking upwards,\" said the mature young professional from his team\'s base in Belgium where he has already been testing for next year.
\"Realistically there are still champion riders ahead of me with more experience ... but certainly I\'m expecting to get past them over the next couple of years.\"
Coppins expects 2001 to be a unique challenge for everyone.
\"There are big changes to the format - all three classes, 125, 500 and 250, are being run at the same grands prix all year.
\"Triple headers are really good for the spectators, but it does mean wear and tear on the track.
\"And it\'s a big move for us because we\'ve always had two legs at each GP ... now there\'s time for only one.
\"That means I have to go harder right from the start rather than concentrating on riding consistently to use my fitness advantage, but I\'ve already done some work on that with my trainer and team and I\'m confident I can make the change,\" Coppins said.
The 2001 championship calendar:
11 March Catalunya, Spain;
18 March Valkenswaard, Netherlands;
15 April Broadford, Australia;
29 April Genk, Belgium;
13 May Teutschenthal,Germany;
27 May Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (GP of Europe);
10 June, Karntenring, Austria;
24 June Arsago, Italy;
1 July Uddevalla, Sweden;
15 July Ernee, France;
5 August Namur, Belgium;
12 August Roggenberg, Switzerland;
19 August Gaildorf, Germany;
2 September Lierop, Netherlands;
16 September Misano, San Marino.
The Motocross des Nations teams event will be held on 30 September at Aarsago, Italy. The World Supercross (stadium) Championship will follow - no dates have been finalised yet.
