Though the teenage Karro demonstrated his remarkable skills in leading Sunday's first MX2 race, he soon dropped to the sideline with injury, giving Hawera's Daryl Hurley and Rotorua's Michael Phillips (Honda) the chance to rekindle their national MX2 championship battle.
Hurley won both races at Taupo and won the day from Phillips, who was twice runner-up, with Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Kawasaki) the third best, recording 5-3 finishes.
But it was the MX1 battles that most of the fans came to see.
In those races, Coppins was sublime.
Coppins won both MX1 races, winning the day ahead of Mackenzie and a surprising Darryll King (Hamilton, Yamaha). The New Zealand veterans motocross champion, at 39, showed he still had the pace to race at GP level.
Fourth best was Queenstown's Scott Columb, the Suzuki rider just back from a season racing GP motocross in Europe, and amateur racer Nick Saunders (Kawasaki), the Toyota parts shop manager from Taupo producing a splendid 5-4 result from his day against the GP heroes.
Swanepoel suffered from poor starts all day and, although inspiring in his charges through the field, had to settle for fifth overall.
Coppins also won the best-of-the-best feature final, leading from start to finish, although Mackenzie drew uncomfortably close during the mid-stage.
Coppins was happy with a hat-trick of wins at Taupo after a frustrating 2008 season in Europe.
"To tell the truth, I feel very tired. I'm a bit out of shape at the moment. 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 now heads back to his base in Britain where he will enjoy a three-week holiday with his partner, Lisa Church. The pair are expecting their first child in January.
He then begins his build-up for the 2009 MX1 motocross GP season, perhaps content that he ended 2008 in convincing style at Taupo.
