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WINNING this weekend’s 40th annual New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville has extra special significance.
The victorious rider\'s name will go down in the history books as the champion of the country’s biggest and most prestigious motocross at a time when the sport in New Zealand is at an important cross-roads internationally. He will also, at a time the event celebrates a milestone anniversary, add his name to a long list of motocross glitterati that includes former and potential future world champions.
The Woodville event marks the last big hoorah in New Zealand for at least four Kiwis who will embark on hectic campaigns in Europe, each man intent on winning a motocross world title in the epicentre of the sport, continental Europe.
Motueka’s Josh Coppins, New Plymouth’s Shayne King, Cambridge’s Damien King and Masterton’s Corrie Sargent will all regard this weekend’s racing at Woodville as a solid warm-up before the Grand Prix season kicks off in Spain on March 11.
For the past two seasons, the high-flying Coppins has claimed the top prize at Woodville and few would doubt that it will be any different this year.
That is particularly so, since at least one of his main rivals, Hamilton’s Darryll King, a four-time winner at Woodville, won’t be coming this weekend as he and wife Darlene brace for the arrival of their first off-spring, twins.
Nonetheless, this weekend’s historic 40th annual event promises to be another classic battle of the giants with King’s younger brother Shayne (New Plymouth), a five-time former winner at Woodville, sure to keep Coppins honest.
Kiwi international Coppins, the newly-crowned world 250cc No.4, comes to Woodville on top of his game, but Taranaki’s King has equally impressive credentials. King, 30, was 500cc world champion in 1996.
King had a mediocre season racing in the United States in 2000 and will be particularly keen to shoot down rising star Coppins and reassert himself as the top New Zealander.
The Woodville Grand Prix, again sponsored by the New Zealand Suzuki importers, is the only motocross event either Coppins and King will contest at home before embarking on their respective GP seasons abroad.
It’s also the only time this season the star duo will face each other on equal terms and, while they’re firm friends off the track, they’re fierce enemies on it. The action will be intense as they go head-to-head in dispute of more than $10,000 in prize-money and trophies.
Woodville represents the biggest event on the nation’s motocross calendar and has attracted a record entry list this season, well in excess of last year’s 750 riders.
More than 90 races are programmed for the two days but, for the grand title, the Woodville trophy boils down to two 30-minute races for invited riders, the cream of the senior crop.
Entry list for the Suzuki-sponsored event reads like a Who’s Who of Kiwi dirt bike talent.
The international contingent will have plenty of local talent to keep them honest. Former national 250cc and 500cc champion Michael Cotter (Cambridge) and former national 125cc champion Andrew Hardisty (Tokoroa) should also impress. Pahiatua’s multi-talented Paul Whibley, national enduro champion and 250cc motocross No.6, heads the local contingent.
As in past years, the event includes races for mini riders (4-7 year olds), juniors (8-16 years), seniors (16 and up), veterans (over-35s) and the popular river-crossing race for the enduro riders.
* TO mark the 40th running, veterans of past events will parade some of the old bikes that would have been raced at Woodville in earlier times.
Also, trackside, will be a marquee to house historic items and memorabilia from the 60s and 70s. The Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club has written to about 160 Woodville veterans, inviting them to attend and bring display items.
Woodville honours board –
The last 15 Woodville champions:
1986 Graeme Allen (Christchurch);
1987 Greg Hanson (Britain);
1988 Darryll King (Hamilton);
1989 Willie Surratt (United States);
1990 Darryll King;
1991 Darryll King;
1992 Shayne King (New Plymouth);
1993 Shayne King;
1994 Shayne King;
1995 Shayne King;
1996 Josh Coppins (Motueka);
1997 Darryll King;
1998 Shayne King;
1999 Josh Coppins;
2000 Josh Coppins.
