While former Grand Prix motocross star Josh Coppins has seen many of the sport's great tracks, he has not yet tackled Lee Stream.
Coppins will get a taste of the track near Outram when he rides in the Mosgiel District Motorcycle Club-hosted Otago championships this weekend.
It will be only his third competitive outing since he retired from fulltime professional racing at the end of 2012, shortly after winning the Australian open class motocross title.
The former New Zealand, British and Italian motocross champion now manages the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team and juggles his job with family, sponsors, and a social life, meaning his own training takes a hit.
''I don't have time,'' Coppins, who is also a test rider for Yamaha Motor Corporation, said.
Muscle memory must count for something as it is ''all I did for 20 years''. After only a few rides - on his own motorbike for a change - this week, he was feeling ''quietly confident,'' about this weekend.
''This is the most prepared I have been for any of them [three events he has contested since retirement].''
Coppins (36) has been riding around Dunedin during the coaching clinics he has held for Otago riders this week.
He said it was important for them to see that ''I still go OK'' and that what he was teaching them, he was also putting into practice.
The decision to dust off his boots and helmet was easy as ''everything just fell into place'' with the timing of this event, and he admired the club and its track, Coppins said.
Then there is the reason that is perhaps at the crux of it all.
''I enjoy it,'' the Motueka rider said.
Queenstown's Scott Columb is Coppins' ''lead rider of the team'' and will also be competing this weekend on his new two-stroke Yamaha YZ250.
Event co-organiser Dean Veitch said along with Coppins, Columb, Dunedin's Campbell King and Nathan Clare, of Nelson, ''top-end riders from all around the South Island'' had entered.
To be held at the Scorgies' property, on Lee Stream Rd, which will be signposted from Outram, it would be the first two-day event the club had run for ''many years,'' vice-president Craig Henderson said.
Racing begins about 10am both days and spectators are welcome to watch the eight classes plus four mini classes in action.
