“To tell the truth, I feel very tired. I’m a bit out of shape at the moment.” His nearest challenger was fellow GP star Bill Mackenzie (Honda), from Scotland, making his first ever visit to New Zealand.

But, even with the threat posed by the fellow MX1 world championship contender, Coppins was always in command at Taupo.

“Billy is a tough competitor. He rides on the edge. But, with a lap to go in the feature race, I just put the hammer down and was able to break him.”

Coppins actually led a Yamaha 1-3 in the MX1 class as 39-year-old veteran Darryll King came home third overall, vindicating his last-minute decision to race on Sunday, backing up his runaway win in the veterans’ class the day before.

"I didn't expect that kind of result at all," said King afterwards. "I pick and choose the races I do these day and I guess I just wanted to race this one," he laughed. "I backed off where I needed to. I didn't want to do anything silly. I'm heading off on an overseas holiday with my wife this week and she would never have forgiven me if I'd hurt myself."

Coppins now heads straight back to his base in the United Kingdom when he will enjoy a three-week holiday with his partner, Lisa Church. The pair are expecting their first child in January.

Coppins then begins his build-up for the 2009 MX1 motocross GP season, perhaps content that he ended 2008 in convincing style at Taupo.