Motorsport: Kiwis pose big threat as Coppins chases more glory

Josh Coppins is excited about racing in Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Fighting a war on two fronts is probably not a great idea, but the mongrel doggedness and supreme confidence of at least three Kiwi motocross heroes will see that happen this season.

The Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships is only at the halfway stage but, starting this weekend, Motueka's Josh Coppins (Yamaha) Mount Maunganui's Cody Cooper (Suzuki) and Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Honda) will kick off their respective Australian campaigns.

Fresh from constructing a solid six-point lead at the top of the New Zealand series, Coppins now switches focus as he steels himself for a tilt at the Australian Motocross nationals, starting on Sunday just outside Melbourne.

Significantly, two of Coppins' main rivals at home will also be among the men most likely to challenge him across the Tasman - the two riders who are just behind him in the New Zealand championship stakes, Cooper and Phillips.

"It's really professional in Australia so it's great to come and race here, plus spend a little bit more time at home - I'm excited about it," said Coppins, who races for the MXDK Rockstar Yamaha team in New Zealand and the CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha Team in Australia.

Coppins' CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha teammate in Australia is defending triple champion Jay Marmont, the two men joining forces to spearhead Yamaha's assault on the open class crown.

The nine-round Australian series kicks off at the world-renowned Broadford circuit, in Victoria, this weekend and winds up at Coolum, in Queensland, on July 31.

Immediately after the Broadford event, Coppins will return to complete his Kiwi campaign with round three of the New Zealand championships set for Rotorua on March 20 and the fourth and final round in New Plymouth on March 27.

Coppins' trophy cabinet may need a rebuild because, if everything goes to plan for the Kiwi legend, it could be six major titles for Coppins in the short space of time since he wrapped up his Motocross World Championship career in Europe last September.

It is highly likely that Coppins could add the New Zealand and Australian open class motocross crowns to the Woodville Motocross, North Island, South Island and New Zealand Supercross Championship titles he collected just a few weeks ago.

Phillips also has a major win to his credit this season, having won the annual Summercross event near Whakatane in December, and with international experience already with racing in Australia, Italy and Britain, Phillips is also a warm favourite to win across the Tasman next weekend.

Cooper, too, has vast international experience, with an Australian MX2 (250cc) title to his credit and two seasons under his belt racing in the US, so next Sunday's podium could well feature at least one Kiwi, and possibly even three.