Cooksley (Yamaha YZ250) finished 20th and 22nd, for a shocking 25th overall at the water-logged circuit at Bellpuig, his hopes of defending his 2007 title now in tatters.

To make life even more difficult for the Kiwi hero, the two separate age categories of last season have now been combined into one "super" veterans' world championship, meaning Cooksley now also lines up against the younger "senior class" front-runners of last year, including 46-year-old three-time former 500cc world champion David Thorpe. But Cooksley remains typically stoic in the face of such adversity.

"It was tough in Spain. The guy who finished second to me (in the 51-60 years' class) last year didn't even qualify in Spain," said Cooksley. "The ruts were well above the bikes' swingarm. It was so deep, they were pulling bikes out of the mud using ATVs."

Round two is at a new venue -- Mallory Park, near Leicester -- next weekend and Cooksley will just make the best of it.

"It's probably too much to expect me to catch up (to the championship leaders) now, but my aim is still to finish as the first rider aged over 50.

"I obviously want to do well but, regardless, at least I am still living my dream."

Cooksley romped to a four-race clean sweep of the two-round series last year. It has now been expanded to three rounds and the 2008 championship wraps up in Lommel, Belgium, on August 3.