The Ben Townley Show
OK, deep down we all knew BT101 was going to give the rest of the MX1 field a right spanking at Conondale. But a spanking is an understatement. By leading all 34 laps of the day against a star-packed field Ben proved he’s back and in a big way. In doing so, you can guarantee the US-based riders and teams have gone from ‘moderately alert’ to ‘rather alarmed’ at the prospect of the heat he’ll bring to the AMA Motocross Championship under the TwoTwo Motorsports tent.

Darryll King’s Brain Explosion
One of the most bizarre incidents of the day happened at the end of the MX1’s opening race, when Kiwi legend Darryll King (who was using Conondale to launch his World Vets Championship campaign) howled past the checkered flag and ploughed into both Jay Marmont and Dan Reardon, sending them flying like human skittles. Both Marmont (back) and Readon (lower leg) suffered injuries but still finished the day’s racing in obvious pain, while DK DNSed the final two races. We’re not sure on his condition, or what he was thinking at the time, but we can only gather he hadn’t seen the checkered flag signalling the end of the race.

The Drunk’s Hill Sender
To be frank, Australian motocross is more known for its lack of challenging jumps than its big booters, but the Conondale track builders put an end to that. They added a second downramp to the already whippable Drunk’s Hill tabletop that gave riders the option of launching a sphincter-puckering 120ft from a blind take-off. Only Townley, CDR Yamaha’s Lawson Bopping and JDR Motorsports’ Dan Reardon found the balls to hit the brute, and none of them did it twice.

The International Invasion
The Australian motocross championship has always seen a handful of Kiwis and the odd American come over to scope out their speed against the Aussies, but this year it’s risen to another level altogether. Seven internationals contested MX1 at Conondale (most at the pointy end of the field), two in MX2 and two in MXD, proving the MX Nationals is beginning to find a lot of traction on the world stage. Long may it continue.

Dale’s Déjà Vu
Here’s an interesting little exercise: cast your mind back to the opening round of the 2011 MX Nationals at Broadford. Who was on fire in the opening two Pro Lites races? Ford Dale. Who then crashed hard in the third and final moto and had to DNF? Yep, Ford Dale. Spookily enough, Dale was tearing the MX2 class a new ring-hole at Conondale, winning both the opening races convincingly… and then suffered a massive get-off in the final. However, determined to not let history repeat itself completely, Ford got back on his horse and circulated woozily for several laps before his head cleared and he could come back to finish eighth.

Talkin’ About You, Willis
Normally, when a racer steps up to a new class it takes them at least a season to find their feet and come to terms with the pace and argy-bargy of the new field. But Errol Willis is not normal. After setting a blistering qualifying time within the top six of his new MX2 class, the 2011 Under 19 champ effectively down-trowed the entire field by leading a large chunk of the final 30-minute moto. His 11th-place overall doesn’t do justice for how good the young upstart rode, and I’m willing to put money on the fact he’ll be on the podium before the season’s out.

Timing Teething Trouble
One of the biggest coups for 2012 was securing the highly reputable Tag Hauer as the official timing sponsor for the Monster Energy MX Nationals. There were a few hiccups and dramas with the timing system that had a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering what was going on, but once the kinks are ironed out, this system is going to be world class.

The MXD class was red-hot at the Monster Energy MX Nationals season opener, with new talent on the rise. Image: SImon Makker/Makkreative.com.

New Kids On The Block
The MXD (formerly Under 19s class) is always a hugely unpredictable field, especially at the beginning of the season when the newly-graduated groms try and find their place in the pecking order. 2012 is shaping up to be harder to pick than a broken nose, as Dylan Long – who was sidelined for most of 2011 with injury – stamped his authority on the class, and Kiwi kid Kayne Lamont suckerpunched the field by comfortably winning the second moto. With one of the pre-season favourites, Jay Wilson, trying to shrug off a wrist injury, the MXD class is as wide open as ever.

Don’t Count Jay Out
Before the MX1 gate dropped rumours flew thick and fast that four-time champion Jay Marmont had suffered a significant knee injury. The murmurings were true: Monster Energy Kawasaki’s new signing had torn his MCL, but he still got behind the grips, gritted his teeth and rode as hard as he could. The result was an impressive seventh overall, which, incidentally, is a better start that last year’s ninth placing at Broadford, and he still won the championship. Jay’s told us he’s been pushing his knee pretty hard this week and it has responded well. You can expect to see his results improve from here on out.

Luck Of The English
You’ve gotta feel for Carlton Dry Honda’s Brad Anderson. The UK champ was clearly the best of the rest behind Townley in the opening two motos, with comprehensive 2-2 results in the back-to-back races. With his form and pace everyone expected him to be on the podium at day’s end, but a bike misfire in the final 30-minute moto forced him to pull out before he did some real damage, relegating him off the box. However, Ando’s warning shot has been fired: he and the entire Honda outfit are here to do business.