2002 World Championship kicks off in Valkenswaard.

The 2002 Motocross World Championship kicks off this weekend at the Valkenswaard circuit in the Netherlands, for the first of the twelve rounds that also includes several new races in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Moscow.

The format of the MX Grand Prix heralded a new era in the sport last season with all three classifications, 125cc, 250cc and 500cc racing on the same day at the same event and this all-star attraction retains the same structure for the on-coming campaign.

The FIM have ushered in some changes to the rules for '02 with the possibility of riders now being able to contest two classes during a Grand Prix, and a new points system designed to keep the championships as close as possible throughout the year.

While MX fans will still be treated to all the premier off-road riders in action on the same day there has been an adjustment to the timetable. The 125 category will no longer be the opening moto of Sunday's race-day, occurring instead after the 250 and 500 events. Mickael Pichon (Suzuki 250) will be the first world champion in action at Valkenswaard. Pichon undoubtedly starts the year as favourite after winning ten out of 14 GPs in 2001 but is set to face considerably tougher opposition this time out. The KTM factory is back in this class with a new bike, new team and two top riders (125 World Champion James Dobb and Irishman Gordon Crockard, GP winner and 3rd in the 2001 World Championship). Frenchman Fr?d?ric Bolley (250 World Champion in 1999 and 2000) has a new motivation for this year after leaving Honda and signing for the Yamaha Rinaldi team.

New Zealand Josh Coppins joins newcomer Yoshitaka Atsuta (Japanese Champion, Honda), Australian Andrew McFarlane and Norwegian Kenneth Gundersen (both debuting in this class on their factory Kawasakis), former 125 World Champion Alessio Chiodi (Italy, Yamaha), Finn Jussi Vehvilainen (Honda), Britain's Carl Nunn (factory Husqvarna) and Frenchman Johnny Aubert (best privateer in 2001) are also among the top group expecting to challenge for podiums and even more in this class.

During the last two seasons the 500s has been under Belgian 'rule', with Joel Smets (KTM) and Marnicq Bervoets (Yamaha) joined last year by Stefan Everts (Yamaha). Winning all the GP's and monopolising the final top three positions in 2001 (Everts, Smets and Bervoets respectively) the three stars will hopefully find some stronger opposition this year with Italian Andrea Bartolini riding the new four-stroke Honda, Frenchman Yves Demaria (KTM), Sweden's Johnny Lindhe (Husqvarna) and Spaniard Javier Garc?a Vico (KTM) all hoping to break the stranglehold.

Twice World champion, Joel Smets has been impressive during the pre-season races (4 victories in a row) but triple crown holder Stefan Everts won the opening round of the Belgian Championship last weekend. Yves Demaria back in this class after two seasons in the 250s and now Smets' team-mate is also leading his national series. Yamaha, Honda, KTM and Husqvarna will be joined this year again by two other factories: Husaberg (with Swiss rider Jocke Karlsson and Finn Miska Aaltonen) and VOR (with two rookies in the class, Italian Alessandro Belometti and Portugual's Joakim Rodrigues).

As the last race in the programme the 125 Grand Prix will undoubtedly suffer from the one or two deep racing lines embedded in the dark Dutch sand but 2001 runner-up Steve Ramon seems to be the favourite of this classification on his new factory KTM, even if he has never won a GP. Valkenswaard is bound to witness strong performances from two local riders: Erik Eggens (factory KTM) and Marc De Reuver (very impressive on his Yamaha in the pre-season races), who were both on the podium last year. Winner of three GPs in '01, including his first ever at Valkenswaard, Eggens is likely to be Ramon's toughest opponent but there's a lot of other talented and well-experienced riders vying for honours: Frenchmen Luigi Seguy (5th last season) and Mickael Maschio (back in this class on a factory Kawasaki), American Tallon Vohland (back in Europe after two seasons in the USA), Belgium Patrick Caps (back on a KTM) and Italian Alessandro Puzar (factory Husqvarna) among the big names.

The 125s is also an arena in which youth gets a chance to shine with British's Steven Sword (factory Husqvarna), Billy McKenzie (Yamaha), Belgium's Kevin Strijbos (Suzuki), Australian Brett Metcalfe (KTM), Switzerland's Julien Bill (KTM), and German Marco Dorsch (KTM) all looking to grab their first GP podium score.

Spectators in Valkenswaard will get the chance to meet some of their stars thanks to autograph sessions with factory KTM riders on Saturday at 18.00 and with Team Yamaha Rinaldi's men on Sunday at 9.40am.