Motocross: Townley's the hat trick hero

Taupo's Ben Townley has stamped his authority on the national motocross scene with a superb hat-trick of wins at the first round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships near Timaru.

Honda's Townley was unbeatable in his three MX1 (open class) outings on Sunday, finishing the day comfortably ahead of fellow Kiwi internationals Josh Coppins, of Motueka, and Justin McDonald, of Christchurch.

Townley was made to work for it in the day's first race at the Pleasant Point circuit when he dropped his Carlton Dry Honda CRF450 in turn one.

He then put on a master class as he powered through the field to the win. His next two outings were more straightforward, Townley leading from start to finish in both races.

"It was a really good day for me," said the 27-year-old Townley. "I had a small mishap in turn one in race one and then, as I was catching back up, I had the brake pedal ripped off in a rut. When I eventually caught up to Josh and Cody [Cooper, of Mount Maunganui], I got a bit lucky, with lapped riders slowing them, and managed to slip past."

Coppins finished runner-up each time.

Former MX1 champion McDonald (Bel Ray Honda CRF450) kept Coppins on his toes with 4-3-4 results on Sunday and he is third overall as the riders now head to Patetonga, near Morrinsville, for round two in a fortnight.

"I have not raced in Patetonga in about 10 years, so that will be interesting," said Townley, who had been racing primarily in Europe and the United States since 2001.

"The MX1 class is packed with talent this season and I know that Justin McDonald and [his Bel Ray Honda team-mate from Rotorua] Michael Phillips have been racing in Australia in recent times, so they know all about racing with speed and intensity.

"It's great to be leading the series after round one and to end the day in one piece. This has been a great build-up, too, for my upcoming Australian Motocross Championships campaign."