Townley on target to land first national title

Ben Townley. Photo / Supplied

More high-octane action is set to erupt in Manukau City this Saturday night as the New Zealand Supercross Championships reach a climax.

When national supercross championship leader Ben Townley went down in a bone-jarring crash at the third round of four in this season's New Zealand Supercross Championships in Tokoroa on Saturday night, many in the large crowd feared the worst.

Was this the end to the Kiwi international's comeback bid? Was this the end to Townley's first New Zealand championship campaign in almost nine years?

It took him quite some time to regain his feet and remount his Kawasaki. But he did, and limped to the end of the race, albeit in an unaccustomed ninth place.

The Tauranga man, still on a long road to recovery following a shoulder injury suffered in the United States in 2007, then did a remarkable thing at Tokoroa ... he won the next two races and looked comfortable doing it.

The 25-year-old Townley therefore remains on target to take his first national title in almost 10 years and he will hopefully wrap it all up on the land beside the TelstraClear Events Centre in Manukau City this Saturday night, the area being turned into a floodlit moonscape for a thrilling final round of the championship.

With his 9-1-1 results in Tokoroa on Saturday, Townley extended his lead in the championship chase to 26 points over his nearest threat, Christchurch Honda rider Justin McDonald. Mount Maunganui pair Mason Phillips (Kawasaki) and Cody Cooper (Suzuki) are third equal, just one point back.

"The crash was just one of those things really. A piece of a trackside barrier was sticking out, my foot-peg clipped it and down I went," Townley explained. "Considering the circumstances (with the crash), I am happy to still finish the night on the podium. In damp conditions like this, you just have to take what you can."

While most attention was focused on Townley, there was no denying the incredible pace of fellow Kiwi international Cooper, who, despite having to brave a painful knee injury following his crash at round one, won the night in Tokoroa with 1-3-2 results and leapt from fourth to third equal in the championship standings.

"The way things have been going for me lately, I have to say I'm surprised I won the night. I was sick at round one and then crashed and hurt my knee. Then I got only second placings at round two ... but now I've got an overall win to celebrate.

"I struggled a bit because my sore knee has no strength in it. I'll just have to see what I can manage at the final round in Auckland."

The Senior Lites (250cc) class belonged to defending champion Scott Columb (Suzuki), the Queenstown man finishing 2-1-1 on the night to edge out dual-class campaigner Phillips - who took his Kawasaki to 1-2-2 finishes.

Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki) was third best on the night and also remains third in the championship standings.

Rangiora's McGoldrick brothers, Isaiah and Micah, continue to lead the two junior classes.

Isaiah McGoldrick (KTM) won the junior 250cc class at Tokoroa and created a 16-point buffer over nearest challenger Tom Managh (Suzuki), of Wanganui.

Micah McGoldrick topped the podium in the Junior Lites (85cc) class and stretched his lead to 21 points over Feilding's Haki Waller (Kawasaki).

Leaders of the pack

Leading standings after round three of the New Zealand Supercross Championships at Tokoroa:

Senior open:

1. Ben Townley (Tauranga) 162 points;
2. Justin McDonald (Christchurch) 136;
3= Mason Phillips (Mount Maunganui) 135;
3= Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui) 135

Senior lites:

1. Scott Columb (Queenstown) 165 points;
2. Mason Phillips (Mount Maunganui) 156;
3. Brad Groombridge (Taupo) 132.

Junior 250CC:

1. Isaiah McGoldrick (Rangiora) 157 points;
2. Tom Managh (Wanganui) 141;
3. Brandon Tipene (Auckland) 125.

Junior lites:

1. Micah McGoldrick (Rangiora) 172 points;
2. Haki Waller (Feilding) 151;
3. Scott Sowry (Pahiatua) 130.