Townley will ride Aust MX Nationals at Coonabarabran

The Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, will enjoy its second visit to Coonabarabran’s Goanna Tracks complex when the series continues this weekend, 14-15 April.

After a spectacular start to the season a fortnight ago in the Sunshine State, the series travels south to New South Wales for what will be the second of 10 rounds to be contested in 2012.

New Zealand’s former world champion Ben Townley won for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing at the opening round in a demoralising performance against the Aussies, confirming he’ll again line up at round two before heading to the U.S. to compete for Chad Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports team.

Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing Media Release: 
BT101 said: "Ford [Dale] came back to New Zealand with me after Conondale which has been really good. We have had great weather and we got in some great riding at my home track. It’s always good having someone to ride with who is younger than yourself and very keen and enthusiastic. From what I have seen on the internet of the Coonabarabran track it looks like one that I am going to enjoy. 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.


Photo courtesy of Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing - image Shayne Rice.

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.

Yamaha Australia Media Release:
Josh Coppins proved as consistent and reliable as ever at the opening round finishing in the top three in every moto and round the day out in second place. The Coppins SOP is to win the races when he can and finish inside the top three at every opportunity and he will again employ that strategy this weekend. A small bonus for Coppins is that he has previously raced at this venue, an experience he couldn’t draw on last season.  

Josh Coppins: "Conondale went well and the two week break is just enough to fine tuning my training but also keep up my usual routine. The Coonabarabran circuit is without doubt one of the best in Australia and I had a pretty good outing here last time and hope to repeat in 2012.”

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 Goanna Tracks was introduced to the series.

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

Also in the Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing media release:  "MX2 frontrunner Dale is just a single point off the lead of the MX2 class, left to rue a crash in the second moto at the opening round.has made the most of the opportunity to ride with and learn from teammate Townley during a fortnight at the former World Champion’s home track.

"It’s been awesome spending two weeks with Ben,” said Dale. "He has a lot of experience and has helped me a lot.  We’ve worked on a few weak spots and different areas of my riding, as well as getting in a lot of fitness training. I love the track at Coonabarabran – it’s really fast and wide so it’s easy to pass on.”

The MXD 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 (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.

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals Calendar:
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