New Zealand's Ben Townley enters this weekend's MX Nationals opener as the pre-race favourite. Image: Shayne Rice.

Kiwi Ben Townley is excited ahead of his maiden Monster Energy MX Nationals appearance this weekend at Conondale in Queensland, which will mark his lone showing of 2012 in Australia.

Round one will mark Townley’s first and only MX Nationals race for the team in 2012 as he pursues an incredible opportunity to race the U.S. AMA championship with TwoTwo Motorsports.

The recently-crowned New Zealand champion is eager to make an impact when he rides at Conondale for the first time this weekend.

“I am excited about this weekend,” Townley said. “Plans have changed recently and it will be nice to be able to race for my team and sponsors to show appreciation of their support in my international opportunity.

“I’m not approaching this race any different to any other race, I’m in great form and I’m ready to go.”

Townley hasn’t turned a wheel at the Conondale complex, but with experience on his side, he says he enjoys the challenge of taking on new territory.

“This will be my first time to Connondale, I’m looking forward to it,” he added. “I always enjoy the challenge of a new track and from what I hear it’s a great track.


“It’s very important for me to keep racing, being behind a gate and racing a high level of competition is always the best preparation I feel.”

Townley was originally scheduled to contest the entire series until the once in a lifetime offer came from Chad Reed to switch to TwoTwo Motorsports in the U.S.