[Features]

NZ INSIDER #62: TOWNLEY PODIUMS

9 years ago | Words: Chris Ritchie

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the NZ Insider, penned by Chris Ritchie.

The penultimate round of the Australian MX Nationals was held at Echo Valley, Toowoomba over the weekend, with both Ben Townley and Cody Cooper in action on their Penrite Honda CRF450s. With BT101, now a semi-professional racer after recently rekindling his love for racing, he demonstrated his wealth of experience and speed going 2-5 in his two MX1 motos for 3rd overall. Penrite Honda teammate Coops continued his consistent top 10 results of 2015 with 8-7 for 8th overall. KTM’s Hamish Harwood switched up to the MX1 class and was 13-13 for 12th overall. Having shown promise late at home in 2014 on a 450, Harwood will want to finish his Aussie season off on a high this weekend in Coolum.

For BT and Coops, their Australian campaigns for 2015 will also draw to a close this weekend at Coolum, with their focus quickly shifting toward France and their duties in Ernee representing New Zealand at the Motocross of Nations, now only four weeks away.
Even more so, in relation to Townley with his appearance at the final round of the MXGP series at Glen Helen eagerly awaited by both his European and American fans, as well as a strong Kiwi supporter contingent making the trip across the Pacific to support the #101.

The opening round of the North Island Motocross Championship took place at Flipp’s MX Park near Palmerston North, hosted by the Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club over the weekend. It was a bumper programme of Junior and Senior class racing over the two days. The weather gods turned on two sun-filled days – a welcome relief after weeks of rain leading up to the event.

Junior round one winners:
• 8-10 years 85cc – Rhys Jillings
• 11-12 years 85cc – Brodie Connolly
• 13-16 years 85cc – James Scott
• 12-14 years 125cc – Maximus Purvis
• 15-16 years 125cc – Wyatt Chase
• 14-16 years 250cc – Tony Cvitanovich

Senior round one winners:
• MX1 – Brad Groombridge
• MX2 – Scotty Canham
• Senior 125cc – Kurtis Lilly

The series will conclude with the second and final round over the weekend of 19-20 September at Mere Road, Hastings, in Hawkes Bay.

The Taupo Motorcycle Club has begun preparations for their biggest event of the year – MX Fest, now less than two months away, to be held over Labour Weekend in October. This marks the unofficial beginning of the Kiwi summer motocross season, and is always a strong indication of the movers and shakers across both Junior and Senior classes, with another bumper event calendar fast approaching!

Finally, the Kiwi flags will be waving at the famous Assen TT circuit this weekend in support of both Josiah Natzke and Darryll King, who both have a chance to claim their respective titles, each at opposite ends of the racing careers. For Natzke, one point separates him, and Spanish teammate and rival Jorge Prado in the European EMX125 category, while DK is one of the favourites in the Veteran World Cup after claiming 2nd in Sweden in 2014.

 

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