Team Green riders hogged the limelight and both senior podiums at the fourth and final round of this season's New Zealand Supercross Championships in Auckland on Saturday Evening.
Tauranga's Ben Townley (Penny Homes Kawasaki KX450F) was always going to wrap up the open class title -- he had led the series from the start and began the night at Auckland's finale with a massive 26-point advantage -- but the Lites (250cc) class win by Mount Maunganui's Mason Phillips (Fly Team Green Kawasaki KX250F) came as icing on the cake.
Phillips had started the evening's racing at the Manukau City track nine points behind defending Lites champion Scott Columb, of Queenstown.
But when Phillips blasted off to record a hat-trick of wins and Columb could only manage 2-3-9 results, the balance of power had shifted dramatically and Phillips claimed his first national title.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," said the 24-year-old Phillips as he topped the Lites class podium.
"The biggest thing for me is the fantastic support I've had from Team Green. It's blown me away really," he said.
"When I beat Scotty in the first race, I knew I could do it again and that gave me confidence for the night. When I also won the second race it put me within one point of Scotty and the title.
"Then, on the first lap of that last race, I saw Scotty was way back and so the pressure came off for me. I wasn’t pushing too hard in that last race because I didn’t want to throw it all away with a mistake."
The night was doubly significant for Phillips because he also moved up from fourth to second equal in the open class, level with fellow Bay of Plenty rider Cody Cooper, although the pair finishing the series a massive 40 points behind Townley.
The result had special meaning for Townley too, the 25-year-old Kiwi international on the fight-back from long-term shoulder injury.
"My recovery has come a long way since I started riding again in October," said the Red Bull-sponsored rider. “I’m still not as fast as when I was at my best, not yet … but I soon will be,” he said, sounding a warning for his American rivals as he soon heads back to the US to prepare for the national motocross series there.
"This (New Zealand) campaign was all about me warming up and getting sharp ahead of the American nationals.
"The racing in New Zealand is getting better and better and this event in Auckland was a real stand-out for me. They put on an awesome show."
Rangiora's Micah McGoldrick won the Junior Lites (85cc) title but he had didn't have it easy with two very quick Kawasaki riders chasing him throughout the series.
Feilding's Haki Waller (AFC Motorcycles Kawasaki KX85) and Pahiatua's Scott Sowry (Tony Jury Motorcycles Kawasaki KX85) finished second and third respectively in the championship.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
