NZ Insider No.15: Townley’s Speed

Welcome to our brand new weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s NZ Insider. Penned each week by Kiwi, Chris Ritchie, the NZ Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories on NZ-related dirt bike happenings across the globe. 

The 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals wrapped up over the weekend in Coolum, and with most of the Kiwi contingent on the sidelines due to injury, it was great to see our boy Ben Townley head back for one final cameo in support of the Breast Cancer cause for Penrite Oil Honda Racing, as well as MX2 CMR Red Bull KTM pairing, Hamish Harwood and Hamish Dobbyn, and Brad Groombridge filling in under Craig Anderson’s Berry Sweet Husqvarna big-rig.

Hats off to Takaka’s Hamish Harwood who ended the series in second Overall in the MX2 class, in his debut season, basically as a Privateer getting it done out of the back of a van, finishing the final round of with 8-6-5 moto scores. His consistency paid off with plenty of results at the pointy end of the field throughout the season, proving the difference over his rivals who had their ups and downs. Ultimately, he was unable to match Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout, who clinched his maiden title by 47 points, and managed to edge out Luke Arbon by three points, with Arbon finishing in third Overall for the series.

Also in the MX2 class, Harwood’s teammate Hamish Dobbyn went 5-5-DNF for 11^th Overall, and will now switch to the 450 in preparation for his Motocross of Nations appearance in a matter of weeks.

In his second round filling in at the Berry Sweet Husqvarna team, Brad Groombridge left Coolum with 15^th overall from 15-13-24 results across the three motos.

Townley, in his final cameo appearance for the season went 4-1-12, showing he’s still got what it takes throughout the day. BT101 unfortunately missed out on a podium spot on a countback to CDR Yamaha’s Jacob Wright, finishing fourth Outright, but still effectively second Overall. His charge to 12^th from last after going down in the first turn in the final moto was also impressive.

Bids for BT’s one-off lid he wore at Coolum in support of Breast Cancer awareness and the National Breast Cancer Foundation are open here.

BT’s strong showing reignited the debate surrounding the Motocross of Nations and getting him back to Europe to fly the flag for NZ. As much as many of us would like to see that happen, those days are gone as BT has chosen to hang up his boots from international racing in Europe and America for personal reasons, and concentrate on his role with Honda in NZ and Australia.

His appearances at various rounds throughout this season have essentially been to fill the void left by NZ MX1 champ, Cody Cooper, sidelined after Round 1 with a knee injury, and to ensure Penrite Oil Honda Racing still has a bike on the MX1 gate for Team Manager/Owner, Yarrive Konsky, and his sponsors.