Ben Townley was fastest for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing in Conondale qualifying. Image: Simon Makker.

New Zealand’s Ben Townley dominated the opening Monster Energy MX Nationals qualifying session of the season, topping the premier MX1 times.

Townley was fastest by over two seconds for much of the session, before final lap flyers from fellow Kiwis Josh Coppins and Cody Cooper placed them inside the top three with a NZ lockout.

Townley’s quickest lap was a 2:17.962, with Coppins next best on 2:18.113 and Cooper third on 2:19.412. British champions Brad Anderson and Billy Mackenzie were next best, while top Aussie was Lawson Bopping in sixth. Defending champion Jay Marmont was seventh.

In the Lites, Townley’s Honda teammate Ford Dale was fastest, while the MXD Under 19s class saw Dylan Long at the front of the field.

We caught up with Townley in the Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing truck to get his take on the session.

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals
Round One – Conondale, QLD

MX1 Qualifying Results:
1. Ben Townley
2. Josh Coppins
3. Cody Cooper
4. Brad Anderson
5. Billy Mackenzie
6. Lawson Bopping
7. Jay Marmont
8. Jake Moss
9. Dan Reardon
10. Michael Phillips

MX2 Qualifying Results:
1. Ford Dale
2. Kirk Gibbs
3. Cheyne Boyd
4. Errol Willis
5. Kade Mosig
6. Justin McDonald
7. Adam Monea
8. Scott Columb
9. Lewis Woods
10. Luke Styke

MXD Qualifying Results:
1. Dylan Long
2. Jarrad Davis
3. Kale Makeham
4. Jay Wilson
5. Kayne Lamont
6. Mitch Norris
7. Dylan Leary
8. Micah McGoldrick
9. Sam Martin
10. Wade Hunter