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New Zealand MX Champs

 
 

Round 1 from Timaru

The scene has been set for an enthralling New Zealand Motocross Championships season as the four-round series kicked off near Timaru on Sunday.

When the dust settled at the Pleasant Point circuit, at the conclusion of three races for each of the championship classes, it was Taupo’s Ben Townley, Queenstown’s Scott Columb and Amberley’s Micah McGoldrick who stood tallest on their respective podiums.
 
Honda’s Townley was unbeaten in his three MX1 outings, finishing the day comfortably ahead of his great friend and key rival, Motueka’s Josh Coppins (Yamaha).
 
Former world No.2 Coppins finished the day with a hat-trick of runner-up finishes and he finds himself nine points behind Townley, with former MX1 champion Justin McDonald (Honda), of Christchurch, third overall as the riders now head to Patetonga, near Morrinsville, for round two in a fortnight.
 
Suzuki’s Columb, back in action after an almost two-year absence from the sport because of injury, showed he was back to his best in winning the MX2 (250cc) class at Timaru today.  
 
Columb finished 2-2-1 in his three races, enough to edge out defending MX2 champion Darryll King (Yamaha), of Hamilton.
 
Suzuki men Daryl Hurley, of Hawera, and Rhys Carter, of Mount Maunganui, were also outstanding in the class, finishing third and fourth overall respectively.
South Canterbury Motorcycle Club timing chief Noel May said, aside from overall winner Columb, Carter was the most impressive rider of the day.
 
“It didn’t look like Carter could buy himself a start today but he fought back through the field each time. He is certainly a hard charger,” said May.
 
In the dual-title 125cc and under-21 category, KTM rider McGoldrick was supreme.
 
He tops both classes after a totally dominant performance on Sunday.
 
Second, third and fourth overall in the 125cc class after round one are Rotorua’s Cameron Vaughan (Yamaha), Tauranga’s Logan Blackburn (Yamaha) and Rotorua’s Cameron Negus (Suzuki) respectively.

Words and photo: Andy McGechan – www.BikesportNZ.com

MX1 Overall Results

1. Ben Townley 75 25 25 25

2. Josh Coppins 66 22 22 22

3. Justin McDonald 56 18 20 18

4. Cody Cooper 55 20 15 20

5. Michael Phillips 46 15 18 13

6. Hamish Dobbyn 46 14 16 16

7. Brad Groombridge 40 12 14 14

8. Mason Phillips 35 7 13 15

9. Nick Saunders 34 11 11 12

10. Bjarne Frederiksen 30 10 12 8

MX2 Overall Results

1. Scott Columb 69 22 22 25

2. Darryll King 67 25 20 22

3. Daryl Hurley 63 18 25 20

4. Rhys Carter 56 20 18 18

5. Ethan Martens 46 14 16 16

6. Luke Burkhart 40 15 15 10

7. Jayden Jessup 40 12 14 14

8. Peter Broxholme 39 16 8 15

9. Campbell King 28 9 6 13

10. Geran Stapleton 28 10 10 8

MX3 Over Results

1. Tony Cooksley 72 25 25 22

2. Matt Coombe 67 22 20 25

3. Tommy Dillon 58 20 22 16

4. Nicholas Coomey 53 18 15 20

5. Brodie McPherson 52 16 18 18

6. Kyle Pickerill 46 15 16 15

7. Jayden Gardner 41 14 13 14

8. Ben Raitt 40 13 14 13

9. Daniel Brosnahan 36 12 12 12

10. Nick Emery 33 11 11 11