Christchurch builder Justin McDonald is in very high demand in the earthquake-ravaged Canterbury region, such is the quality of his skills with a hammer and nails.

But it was a few of his more illustrious rivals who were getting a hammering at the weekend as McDonald nailed down a top finish at the opening round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships at Pleasant Point, near Timaru, on Sunday.

Up against the full-time professionals, several on them flown in from overseas, seven-day-a-week builder McDonald finds it difficult to place himself on a level playing field when it comes to preparing his body for his sporting passion, motocross.

But the former national MX1 champion showed that, even with limited time in the busy week for riding his fire engine-red Bel Ray Timaru Honda CRF450, McDonald has the skills and tenacity to overcome any deficit.

“I have so much work on as a builder that I can’t find the time I need to train for motocross,” explained the 27-year-old McDonald said afterwards.

Even so, McDonald managed 6-4-5 results at Timaru on Sunday, placing him a remarkable fourth overall in the MX1 class, not too far behind seasoned professionals Cody Cooper (Moto City Suzuki RM-Z450), of Mount Maunganui, Scottish former GP star Billy MacKenzie (JCR Yamaha Racing YZ450F), and Australian pro Kirk Gibbs (KTM Australia 450SXF).

“I’m pretty happy with my result today,” said McDonald.

“I’ll keep plugging away and just try to be consistent. You never know what might happen in a championship like this.”

Defending MX1 class champion Ben Townley (Carlton Dry Honda CRF450) won the day’s first race at Timaru but then, tragically, crashed out of the next race and was taken to hospital for a check-up.

He was later released with just some serious bruising but the crash certainly knocked the wind out of him and potentially derailed his title defence.

“Ben has come back strong from such disasters before and he’s made of pretty tough stuff,” said Bel Ray Honda team manager Peter Finlay, of Auckland.

“He is resilient and will come back strong at the following rounds.”

Townley has a long of work to do to make up the deficit after not scoring in two of the three MX1 races at round one, and McDonald is one of the tough nuts he’ll have to crack in his fight-back.

Round two of the series is set for Patetonga, in the Thames Valley, in two week’s time.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com