Cooper won the MX1 class last year with a 1-2-2 score-card, finishing the day four points ahead of Ferris, and Otago's just-turned 20-year-old Courtney Duncan stunned the testosterone-fuelled MX2 (250cc) class to snatch that class win with an outstanding 1-3-2 score-line, while Fielding's Tony Cvitanovich did enough in finishing 4-4-3 to be crowned 125cc class champion at Woodville last year.
Not only did 15-year-old Cvitanovich win the 125cc class, but he was also rewarded with the Roddy Shirriffs Memorial Trophy as the highest-placed senior 125cc class rider under the age of 22.
The winner of the spectacular river race class was Palmerston North's James Galpin.
The founder of the iconic event 56 years ago, Palmerston North's Tim Gibbes, has expressed enthusiasm that the Woodville motocross would live on forever.
"I'm not surprised that it's still a major event. I remember back in the beginnings when we had 5000 tickets printed but the call came back from the entrance gate at one o'clock in the afternoon that they'd sold out. The crowds just kept coming," said the 83-year-old former world championship rider.
"When this first became an international event, nobody in New Zealand knew what motocross was."
They certainly know all about it now and Cooper will again have some heavy-hitters lining up against him this year.
Kirk Gibbs will not be back this year, but Ferris is and recently won the Australian MX1 championship. Kiwi internationals such as Waitakere's Hamish Harwood, Mangakino's Kayne Lamont, Taupo's Brad Groombridge, Rotorua's John Phillips, Rangiora's Micah McGoldrick, Waitakere's Ethan Martens, Hamilton's Josiah Natzke, Mount Maunganui's Rhys Carter and Queenstown's Scott Columb also have good reason to fancy their chances.
Racing over the two days at Woodville caters for minis, juniors, women, veterans and seniors, with the novelty river race on Sunday always a crowd-pleaser.
