News Release
Back to Back Wins for Columb
11 November 2008
Suzuki riders struck gold in the hills near Hastings on Sunday. Suzuki riders dominated two championship classes at round two of the New Zealand Motocross Championships near Hastings.
For Scotty Columb (Suzuki RM-Z450) it was the best possible way to respond to the bad luck he had endured at round one of the series near Rotorua two weeks earlier -- the man from Queenstown scoring back-to-back wins to see him rocket right back into contention for the MX1 crown that Suzuki also claimed last season.
With his two wins at Hastings, Columb catapulted himself from a distant 10th to a dangerous third in the championship standings.
However, with just two rounds to go, Columb will need a couple of repeat performances if he is to overcome the 17-point deficit he has on the leading two men -- Cambridge's Damien King and Tauranga's Peter Broxholme.
"Today makes up for the rough time I had at Rotorua," said the 25-year-old, just back from a successful season racing the GP circuit in Europe.
"To finish 1-1 is just what I needed. I just need to keep doing that," he said.
While Columb was setting the track alight in the MX1 class, Gisborne's Matt Hunt (Suzuki RM125) was producing similar fireworks in the 125cc class.
The 17-year-old finished third and second in his two outings to remain safely third overall in the 125cc class but, significantly, he won the day's race-within-a-race to find the best rider in that class aged under 21.
Hunt is now just five points behind under-21 championship leader Cameron Dillon (Taupo).
"I'm back on track to win the under-21 crown," Hunt agreed.
"I'm feeling very positive about the day. I rode tight in the first race but I came right in the next one. I've been getting good starts and that helps," he said.
Meanwhile, in the MX2 (250cc) class, Hawera's Daryl Hurley has his work cut out.
The national 500cc champion, who chose not to defend his MX1 title this year as he switched instead to the smaller bike class, slipped further behind the championship leader on Sunday.
From one point behind Rotorua's Michael Phillips after round one, to nine points behind after the "battle of Hastings", Hurley admits he needs to start winning races.
"Michael beat me fair and square today. I'm just not fast enough at the moment.
"Naturally I'm disappointed but perhaps I'm being hard on myself too. I didn't have a great build-up to the nationals this year with so much else happening in my life."
Hurley had to cope with becoming a father for the first time and then, just two weeks later, losing his own father. He also bought a new business in Hawera, which is taking a lot of his time.
"I guess I was under-prepared for the first time ever."
It's not mission impossible for Hurley (Suzuki RM-Z250), though, and a couple of good results will quickly wipe away the nine-point deficit.
