Patetonga - race by race review and photos

Friday 02 March: I take notes throughout the day and 'marry' them to the photographs, which sometimes tell a different story. It's 5 days later but faster than a magazine and more than just the results.

2012 NZ Senior Motocross Nationals – Round 2 Patetonga

Hosted by the Patetonga Motorcycle Club and sponsored by DRD, the track is north of Morrinsville, nestled in the hills above the Hauraki Plains. This is the third consecutive, and final time, the Senior MX Nationals will be held in the current Nationals allocation.

The Championship is of course the showcase of Motocross in NZ.

At Timaru there were surprises and disappointments.

Hayden Clark, riding MX1 for the CMR Red Bull KTM team was going to be close to the podium but did his knee in and it looked like he was out for the season.

Also in MX1 was 20 year old Hamish Dobbyn who was finally back after several operations on a dislocating knee. He had come back too soon and had undone all that good work. We knew he was good, he was the first Kiwi to ever podium at a Junior Worlds and he did it at home, at Taupo. He holeshot the first race and was already several lengths in front of superstar Ben Townley who had a front wheel wash-out and go down. He led for 3 laps until he succumbed to race fitness. He certainly made his mark that day.
27 year old Ben Townley’s credentials are well known but I don’t think everyone appreciated just how fast he is both especially his corner speed. After he went down he made up 13 places in the first lap.
In MX2 43 year old Darryll King showed that he’s not giving up his number 1 plate without a fight.
Also in MX2 Daryl Hurley surprised after a 2 year injury break and was certainly on the pace for a podium.
In the 125 Class is 16 year old Micah McGoldrick had a perfect score of 75, 13 points ahead of Year 11 student Cameron Vaughan. How would he go on the heavy clay tracks of Patetonga and Harrisville.

How would they go on Patetonga’s concrete starts?
The weather looked to be being very favourable. It later turned out sunny and hot.
A big plus for Patetonga is the shade cloth that covers the entire start-gates.
They had also put in a new entrance taking spectators into their parking paddock.

Practice and Qualifying.

They got it wrong at Timaru. Three laps practice and 30 minutes qualifying. It should have been all within a 30 minute timeframe. Not to worry, same for all.
Practice over and there was only 1 non-qualifier from MX1, 5 from MX2 and none from 125.
In MX1 Townley was 1½ seconds quicker than Josh and it was 0.7 to Cody. Dobbyn was only 0.9 behind Coops. Mike Phillips, Justin McDonald and Brad Groombridge were not far behind – but still 6 seconds behind Townley.
In MX2 Ethan Martens was 1.33 ahead of Luke Burkhart, Darryll King and Rhys Carter. Scott Columb was down another 0.7. John Phillips was back and qualified in 8th place. Several ‘names’ were mid-pack but it was only gate pick qualifying. After 6 were relegated to MX3 there was a full-gate of 40. There will only be 38 at Harrisville.
No surprises in 125. Micah was 3rd, so that answered the question of his ability on clay. Cam Negus was 4th on a brand new Husqvarna 125 – all of a sudden they are on the MX scene.
There was going to be 18 in the non-championship MX3.
We all know clay can be a disaster. Too much water and it’s horrid. Too little and it will be dusty. After practice it looked very tacky and good ruts had formed. I had Greg Atkins voice ringing in my ears; "well ripped, water a little and often.”
Heard a few people grizzling about the cost of entry at $20 plus $5 for a programme. One family arrives to support son who they had paid $120 entry fee but he was in the pits. They had young adult daughter in the back with a friend – cost $80.
I since checked Harrisville’s Round 3. Riders get 3 wristbands and a programme at sign-on. Public entry at the gate is $15, under 16yrs $5, under 5yrs free. Family pass $40. Programme purchase at the gate is $2.

There was a good crowd in attendance, considering the track’s geographical isolation (big words!) – more than I have ever seen.

Round 1

MX3 were first up with Nigel Gainfort taking the very outside line but Tony Cooksley was on the inside. Cooksley singled the first jump whilst Gainfort doubled it and had the immediate advantage.

By lap 2 Tony Cooksley was in front and Nigel was dropping positions. Into Lap 6 he disappeared – he had run of of fuel! Tony went on to win from Logan Comer and Matt Combe.

125s next and Cam Negus, who qualified 4th, arrived at the ‘waiting zone’ 10 minutes before his race and everyone was in their gates. He was not happy and told the Steward so. The Starter said he was late. Logan Blackburn had the very inside gate and had a 2 bike lead going into the first corner but Negus, who had an outside gate.

#4 Cam Negus was carrying more speed and came right around the outside to take the holeshot. #10 is Logan Blackburn and #146 Micah McGoldrick. #9 Eli Manson who ended up having one of his best days.

At Lap 2 Micah was in front and led for the next 8. Coming down the hill to the white flag Micah puts it down and looses the lead to Vaughan who went onto win by 13 seconds. Blackburn had a DNF into Lap 10.

MX2 and the top guys spent the time from the 30 second board spinning up heat into their tyres on the concrete.

Straight out it’s DK from Broxy and nothing between he and Burga. Close too was Columb and Jayden Jessup. By the time they were to the big container jump it was Dk, Burga who now had an advantage over Broxy. Next time around it’s Broxy, DK, Shaun Fogarty and Burga. Burga slid down the field until into Lap 7 he dropped 15 places. The slide continued and he finished 34th. It looked like his wrist was playing up. Cam Dillon had a DNF into Lap 6. Broxy won by 5.6 secs from DK by 1 sec to Fogarty – that was hard fought. It was then 13 to Columb and 3 to Carter.

MX1 and a big crowd lined the dirt road beside the 6 rollers.

#909 Hamish Dobbyn took it wide and was a bike length in front of Ben Townley #101 at the first roller. #220 Mason Phillips was up there too. #201 is Justin McDonald and #1 the current champion Cody Cooper.

At Lap 1 it was BT from Mike Phillips, Coppins, Dobbyn, Cooper and Mason Phillips, Groombridge, Matt Hunt, Just McDonald and Tom Hughes in 10th. At Lap 2 Coppins was into 2nd. McDonald had picked up 2 places and Hughes was about to disappear. Out the back he had a big endo and the impact blew the fuel cap off. Tom also had a nasty split chin. The angle of the bars had weight on the electric start and the bike was firing. Next minute BOOM the fuel vapour ignited and Tom had a bike on fire. To cut a long story short two bystanders threw dirt on the bike and got the fire out. It was a mess. There was little other change in the race positions and BT101 won by a whopping 33 seconds. In those first few laps he really goes for it and put up a 2:10.72 – 3.3 quicker than Coppins best. Coppins was actually looking better than he did at Timaru. Cooper was 2.6 behind, another 39 secs to Mike Phillips and 17 to Dobbyn.

Round 2

MX3. Gainfort holeshots and Cooksley back in 7th after wheel spinning up on the concrete start. Brendon White led lap 2 then Gainfort turned up down in 14th. He then dropped to 16th – not his day so packed up and spectated. Matt Combe came through from 6th to just win from Brendon White. Cooksley was 4th, 5 sec down. It’s a good class to watch – not often a Clubman rider gets to ride in front of a big crowd. Also a break from the intensity of the championship classes.

125. Kurtis Lilly surprises himself with the holeshot. Lap 1 and McGoldrick in the lead with Lilly back to 8th. Mid race and the order remained the same to the flag. McGoldrick won by 13secs from Vaughan who was 24secs ahead of Amrein and 3 to Blackburn. There was 2 DNFs and 9 riders lapped.

Good to see, Micah McGoldrick #146 waited to shake hands with #808 Cameron Vaughan

MX2 and no Luke Burkhart (aka Burga). His wrist again and rough for CMR Red Bull Race Team with Clark out of MX1. 38 riders line-up. It’s very intense on the line.

I have in my notes that Broxy holeshot but in this pic it was clearly #76 Shaun Fogarty from #808 Jayden Jessup, #9 Jesse Wiki and #6 Rhys Carter. You can see #5 Broxy is well back.

When they returned into sight at the top of the hill Broxy led Fogarty by about 10 bike lengths. Carter goes down at the top of the hill and back to last. John Phillips is down at 36th? At Lap 3 it was Broxy, Jessup, Fogarty, DK and Martens. At Lap 4 Jessup leads and there’s no Broxy. Commentator Neil Ritchie is ‘beside himself’ – he certainly adds to the excitement. Broxy is down to 10th. Phillips is also gone – remember his first ride back after his internal injury when he went down on the bars and lacerated his liver. Next 4 laps it’s Fogarty in the lead with DK behind. At Lap 9 DK is in front. DK wins by 2 secs from Fogarty, 12 back to Martens who was dicing with Jessup – both these riders no showing. It was 4 back to Columb and 12 back to Hurley. What had happened to Broxy was as he came out of the corkscrew beside the startgate he dropped his front wheel over the outer edge. It his a post and spun him out.

MX1 and interesting to see BT101 moves his start position from the very inside to next to the Starter’s box. Lots of differing body language on the line. They don’t look more relaxed than Coppins. Mike Phillips has the big headphones on and eyes closed.

BT101 takes the holeshot but only just from Dobbyn. Townley is on the very outside and carrying more speed. Surprise, Luke Temple is 3rd!!

First lap and it’s Townley, Coppins, Mike Phillips, Groombridge, Dobbyn, Saunders and Mason Phillips. BT101 is 7.6 sec ahead which is from one side of the startgates to the other – astonishing. Beware Australia! Lap 7 and Cooper is past Mike Phillips for 3rd. Dobbyn sits in 5th and looking better every race. He finished at 24:23 which was 37 secs ahead of Coppins. It was 17 to Cooper and 10 to Mike Phillips (also getting faster every race) and 20 to Dobbyn.

Talking Harrisville, it’s looking just soo good. It has been tested by non-championship riders and they were in raptures over all the new jumps.

Bryan and Carmen Davidson were there – been up for a MNZ Commission meeting. They do it for the love of the sport and Bryan, who is Motocross Commissioner, is always very approachable. He’s ‘damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.’

Jim Tuckerman, President of MNZ was also there with the new Media Manager Phil Dark.

The ‘chat’ around the pits was BT101 out the back. There’s a sequence of a step down to a single to a tabletop. BT101 was the only one completely missing the single and landing on the tabletop.

Back in the pits I spied Cannon Smith (the C in CMR) talking to Jayden Jessup. When asked later, Cannon confirmed that Jayden will ride for them at Round 3.

Physiotherapist John Appel had rolled-up to watch and before long had his massage table out and helping out riders with various problems. He will be at Harrisville - $30 for the day. Contact John on 07 8349901 or on Facebook – it’s under Advance Physiotherapy - Les Mills Hamilton or John Appel.

Round 3

Starting to get dusty.

MX3 and #800 Tony Cooksley takes the holeshot of the day and led to the line. #344 Steven Cunha was behind him for 4 laps then DNFd after he high sided in the rollers.

Cooksley won by 10secs from Logan Comer and 7 back to Matt Combe. Cooksley won the overall with 68, Combe 65, Comer 59, Brendon White 51 and McCulloch 42.

Kinda feel for these non championship riders as there is zero recognition, same as it was at Timaru. Pukekohe Club recognise this and will include them in the Cyclespot $50 per race, holeshot prizemoney which will be presented after Race 3.

125 Class and the holeshot is deceiving. #808 Cameron Vaughan looked to have it ...

... but #146 Micah McGoldrick was carrying more speed on the inside.

At Lap 1 it was Vaughan by a whisker from McGoldrick. It was intense racing and Vaughan won by 6 seconds. Blackburn was 40secs behind them. McGoldrick acknowledged Vaughan’s win and said he had no excuses, it was Vaughan’s day.

Overall 125, Vaughan had 72 points and McGoldrick 69. The Championship was now McGoldrick 144 and Vaughan 134. What Neil Ritchie drew our attention to, was Garth Amrein, a Patetonga Club member he came through from 21st to finish 9th. He was already back in the pits when summoned to the podium as his 53 points was good enough for 3rd on the day. Under 21’s podium was the same. Eli Manson had a good day for 4th with 48 points, Callan May 5th on 48. Cam Negus was 6th on 41.

L to R: Michah McGoldrick, Cameron Vaughan, Garth Amrein.

MX2. As soon as the 125 podium was cleared the gates dropped and next thing they are charging towards us. Broxy had 3 bike lengths over DK with Dion Picard inside him. Hurley was on his wheel and Columb outside him. Then it was Fogarty, Jessup and Lamont. Rhys Carter was well back. I was told Kieran Leigh got stuck in the gate and was up to 21st at Lap 1. The order was Broxy, Columb, DK, Jessup, Hurley and Fogarty. Two later Fagarty went down out the back and came around 35th. Columb was in the lead from Broxy, DK and Jessup and that’s how it stayed to the flag. The front three were quite close but then there was a big gap. Martens who was 10th at Lap 1 did well to come through for 5th.
I must also mention Jonathan Martelli who stalled out the back into Lap 3 whilst 25th and called it a day. He’s only been back on the bike for 2 weeks after busting his shoulder last October at the Valley Champs.
Into Lap 9 Kieran Leigh pulled up with sever cramp in the upper thigh. John Appel was there in a flash and thought it something to do with the pin in his Femur.

MX2 Podium L to R: Scott Columb, Darryll King, Peter Broxholme

Overall MX2 was now King 134, Columb 128, Hurley 105, Broxy 97, Carter 91, Martens 89 and Jessup 89.

With Lommel MXoN in mind it will be interesting to see who gets the MX2 nod this year – it’s a sand track remember and the Under 23 yrs rule is still there. Who do you think it will be?

MX1 and it’s #1 Cooper, #101 Townley, #6 Coppins, #201 McDonald and #220 Mason Phillips.

Next lap it was Townley by 9 seconds from Cooper, Coppins, Mike Phillips, Dobbyn, McDonald and Mason Phillips. At Lap 2 Mason Phillips went from 7th to 13th then clawed back 4 places only to drop one. Coppins was past Cooper at Lap 3 and at Lap 9 Mike Phillips was past him too. Dobbyn sat in 5th from go to whoa. There appeared to be some confusion at the white flag. Townley almost came to a standstill beside the flaggie – was he expecting the chequered? For Pukekohe and Taupo the total elapsed time will be 20 minutes, not plus 2 laps. They will sort how many laps for each class after Qualifying as Harrisville has a new layout so lap-times are not know. Townley did another lap hence the lesser margin to Coppins of 7 seconds. It was 44 to Mike Phillips and 8 to Cooper and 6 to Dobbyn.

L to R: Josh Coppins, Ben Townley, Cody Cooper.

Overall is now Townley 150, Coppins 132, Cooper 113, Mike Phillips 102, McDonald 100. Dobbyn is 8 down on 92.

The Patetonga Club do a great job with a small pro-active Committee. They probably came out on the right side of the balance sheet. The Committee is attempting to purchase the land and secure the facility for their future. The track has been subdivided off and they are looking to raise funds to buy it. Maybe it would be a good idea to have a sign at the gate saying that as I’m sure some of those entering would have chipped in a few extra dollars.

Half-way through the Championship now so bring on Harrisville this weekend and Taupo on the 18th.