Now fully recovered from the injury that ruined his 2007 world championship campaign.

Coppins was running away with the 2007 world championships, in front by a whopping 107 points – two entire GPs up his sleeve -- after 10 of 15 rounds, but then he crashed heavily at round 11, the Czech GP, and a broken shoulder ruined his title bid.

The Team Rinaldi factory Yamaha rider looks ahead to repeating his early 2007 season form again in 2008 and, baring another disaster, will be world champion by September.

Racing at the Woodville GP is all part of his build-up plan for the world champs, which kick off in the Netherlands on April 6. Few would bet against the Kiwi international and his YZF450 factory Yamaha being at the front of the action most of this weekend and the man himself hopes it be a foretaste of things to come in Europe this season.

A three-time former Woodville champion, Coppins was a factory Suzuki rider when he last raced at Woodville in 2001. He was pipped for top honours that day by Taranaki former world champion Shayne King, of New Plymouth.

Now with a world ranking of No.3, the 30-year-old Coppins determined to add his name again to the massive silver Woodville trophy. This is the first time in several years that Coppins has been able to race at Woodville.

He usually has bike and engine testing commitments in Europe at this time of the year. But this time around he is enjoying a prolonged stay at home and will use the Woodville event to harden himself for the demanding European season ahead.

“It’s great to be able to race at Woodville again. It’s one of the events that got me to where I’m at now,” said Coppins. “It’s also the event where I first turned senior all those years ago.”

Coppins knows it won’t be easy, however, with the cream of New Zealand’s motocross talent lining up against him. Foremost among his challengers will likely be national 500cc champion Daryl Hurley (Suzuki), of Hawera, and defending Woodville champion Cody Cooper (Honda), of Mount Maunganui.

In addition to Hurley and Cooper, Coppins is also wary of visiting Scotsman Neil Flockhart (Yamaha), Wellington’s Corrie Sargent (Honda), three-time New Zealand 125cc champion Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha), Hawera’s Luke Burkhart (Suzuki), Paparaumu’s Jesse Donnelly (Yamaha), Christchurch’s Justin McDonald (Honda), Waikanae’s Michael Menchi (Suzuki) and Taupo Kawasaki trio Nick Saunders, Brad Groombridge and Rhys Carter, to name just a few.

Two New Zealand world motocross champions are also among the more than 730 riders entered this weekend.

The reigning world veterans’ champion, Papakura’s Tony Cooksley (Yamaha), and reigning women’s world champion, Bombay’s Katherine Prumm (Kawasaki) will also race at Woodville.

The weekend’s programme includes races for mini, junior, women’s and veterans’ classes, as well as the popular river-crossing race.