It's tough when you have a big No 1 plastered over the front and sides of your motorcycle – everyone has you in their gun sights, wants to shoot you down and take that title away.
Bay of Plenty's national MX1 motocross champion Cody Cooper can feel the pressure, although it's something he has become accustomed to over the past few years, and he is determined that it will be he who is "firing the bullets" at this year's 59th annual Honda New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville, this weekend.
But Cooper won't be the only rider at Woodville feeling added pressure with the bold No 1 on their bike – Rongotea's Seth Henson, Invercargill's Seth Morrow, Hamilton's Amie Roberts and Tauranga's Levi Townley are also distinguished national champions in their respective categories and they too will be hoping to add a Woodville trophy to their repertoires.
Henson won the national 12-14 years' 125cc title last April, but he has since stepped up to the 15-16 years' grade, where he realises it will be much harder for him to dominate.
"I have never won at Woodville in the past, but it's definitely something I want to do," said Henson.