Josh Coppins was engaged in a season-long battle for the MX1 title with Todd Waters before retirement at the close of 2012. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

World Motocross veteran Josh Coppins is backing Australian Todd Waters’ transition to the MX1 Motocross World Championship in 2014, but has warned that the Queenslander will take time to acclimatise to the relentless structure and schedule of grand prix racing.

Now retired Kiwi Coppins edged out Waters for the Australian Motocross Championship in 2012 following a season-long battle, and he’s a supporter of Waters’ dedication that the talented 22-year-old has displayed during his domestic career.

Click here for information on Waters’ signing for Red Bull ICEONE Husqvarna Factor Racing. Click here for comment from Waters on his international opportunity.

After witnessing Waters firsthand during their race for the MX1 title last year, former world number two and multiple GP winner Coppins is certain Waters has what it takes to succeed internationally in due course.

“First of all he’s got a great work ethic and he’s pretty relaxed, so I think he will fit into the European lifestyle,” Coppins told MotoOnline.com.au when contacted today. “I believe he’s got good pace to match his conditioning, which will help.

“To me, the hardest thing he’ll adapt to and it’s probably been the same for Dean Ferris, is the technicality of the tracks and your mistakes are really punished. In Australia you can run off the track and it’s not really and issue, whereas in Europe if you run off you’ll be in a wooden or steel fence.

“Limiting the mistakes will help, but as far as can he succeed? I think he can. As long as he shows enough in his first year, I think he will be able to hopefully stay on, continue and work on it. It’s not going to be easy.”

While Coppins rates Waters’ abilities both on and off the bike, expectations are high when placed within a factory team on the world stage and rising to the challenge will be instrumental in his long-term future.

“Currently I would say his pace is somewhere between eighth and 10th,” Coppins predicted. “And I know that the team are hoping for better than that, but I don’t think that will be the case. Todd’s going to have to work hard not only on his pace, but the consistency.

“When I say that, I mean the consistency in long, hard, back-to-back races. To get through without injuries or making mistakes is key, so you can build on that. Physically it’s very, very hard to back up those races, because you’re doing three hours of riding over a weekend.

“That’s double what they do in Australia at a Motocross round, which is fine for three or four weeks, but do it for 16 and then add in domestic races, you’re looking at 30 events a year so it takes a bit to understand and keep that performance week in, week out. That’s what he will have to adjust to.”

Australian Ferris recently became out fourth ever rider to win a world championship round, seizing the MX2 overall victory in Belgium earlier this month.

In his final appearance with Motorex KTM in Australia, Waters enters this weekend’s MX Nationals finale 25-points in arrears of Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Matt Moss following an injury-plagued season to date.