After a spectacular start to the season a fortnight ago in the Sunshine State, the Monster Energy Australian Motocross Championships series this weekend travels south to New South Wales for what will be the second of 10 rounds.

Current New Zealand MX1 champion and former MX2 world champion Ben Townley, of Tauranga, won the opening round of the series for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing.

It was a demoralising performance against the Aussies and he has now confirmed that he will again line up at round two before heading to the United States to compete for Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports team.

“From what I have seen on the internet of the Coonabarabran track, it looks like one that I am going to enjoy,” Townley explained.
“It is a good-looking track and very Americanised – I am used to longer tracks.

“The good thing about a longer track is that it doesn’t get as abused throughout the day. I wasn’t feeling 100 percent at Conondale so I’m really looking forward to seeing where I am at in terms of my fitness this weekend.”

Finishing runner-up to Townley at round one was countryman Josh Coppins (CDR Yamaha), forging himself as an early title favourite, while top Australian was 21-year-old talent Todd Waters (Motul Pirelli Suzuki). Waters continued his form with a win in the NSW state titles at Moree over the Easter break.

Defending four-time champion Jay Marmont (Monster Energy Kawasaki) suffered from the effects of a knee injury at Conondale, but with time now in his favour, expect an improvement upon his seventh place in the series come Sunday. Marmont was victorious at the venue one year ago, the springboard for his march toward the premier Monster Energy MX1 title.

Burke resident Tye Simmonds has formed his own privateer Honda team for 2012 and will be a certain threat at Coonabarabran, one of his local circuits on the calendar. The weekend will be his first national outing on the circuit, spending last year in America when Coonabarabran’s Goanna Tracks complex was introduced to the series.

Also look out for the other Kiwis in the competition – Mount Maunganui’s  Cody Cooper (Motul Pirelli Suzuki), the NZ MX1 No.3, and former New Zealand champion Michael Phillips (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing), of Rotorua.

Leading the 250cc Motul MX2 class into round two is South Australia’s Kirk Gibbs (Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha Racing), already starting a thrilling head-to-head battle with former team-mate Ford Dale (Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing) in the race for the title. Gibbs’ current team-mate Luke Styke sits third.

“While it’s still not 10 percent and I’ve had to manage it between the rounds, I was at least able to get some bike time in and resume my full off bike training again,” Gibbs said of a wrist injury suffered during the pre-season.

“I was able to be consistent at the opening round and I think that is going to be the key to winning this championship with so many capable of winning races.”

Kiwi riders to look out for here include Scotty Columb, of Queenstown, and Christchurch’s Justin McDonald.

The MXD (under-19) class features Australia’s leading Under 19s rising stars, with Victorian Dylan Long (Choice Motorsport KTM) firing the first shot at the opener. He won ahead of Kiwi Kayne Lamont (CMR Red Bull BikesportNZ.com KTM), with Sam Martin (GYTR Yamaha) ranked third in the early stages.

The Coonabarabran round marks the first two-day event on the Monster Energy MXN calendar for 2012, with the addition of the Veterans and ATV categories alongside the regular MX1, MX2 and MXD classes.

Practice and qualifying for the pros will commence Saturday before racing takes place on Sunday, while the Vets and ATVs will contest the bulk of their motos on Saturday.

The 2012 championship series will continue on 14-15 April at Coonabarabran in New South Wales.

 

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, standings after round one:

MX1 Class:

1. Ben Townley (NZ) 75

2. Josh Coppins (NZ) 62

3. Todd Waters 54

4. Jake Moss 46

5. Brad Anderson 44

6. Lawson Bopping 41

7. Jay Marmont 41

8. Cody Cooper (NZ) 38

9. Tye Simmonds 38

10. Billy Mackenzie 34

 

MX2 Class:

1. Kirk Gibbs 63

2. Ford Dale 62

3. Luke Styke 57

4. Josh Cachia 56

5. Adam Monea 50

6. Justin McDonald (NZ) 48

7. Kade Mosig 44

8. Cheyne Boyd 35

9. Lewis Woods 35

10. Brock Winston 31

 

Under-19 Class:

1. Dylan Long 72

2. Kayne Lamont (NZ) 58

3. Sam Martin 49

4. Jay Wilson 48

5. Dylan Leary 47

6. Kale Makeham 45

7. Mitch Norris 43

8. Dion Picard (NZ) 41

9. Mitch Budd 38

10. Joel Milesevic 34

 

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals Calendar:

Rd1 – 1 April – Conondale, QLD

Rd2 – 14-15 April – Coonabarabran, NSW

Rd3 – 28-29 April – Wonthaggi, VIC

Rd4 – 12-13 May – Wanneroo, WA

Rd5 – 20 May – Murray Bridge, SA

Rd6 – 1 July – Hervey Bay, QLD

Rd7 – 15 July – Barrabool, VIC

Rd8 – 29 July – Appin, NSW

Rd9 – 19 August – Moree, NSW

Rd10 – 25-26 August – Coolum, QLD