Townley on way to achieving triple goals | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

It's one down and two to go for Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley.

The motocross star celebrated victory at the weekend's 51st annual Woodville Motocross, savouring the accomplishment of acing the first of three big missions he's set for himself this season.

The 27-year-old also has his sights set on winning the national MX1 (450cc) class titles in New Zealand and Australia before the year is over, although success at Woodville is perhaps regarded as the "jewel in the crown". It's definitely an indicator of how his season might eventually pan out.

Winning at the Honda-sponsored Woodville event was certainly high on the list of priorities for Honda ace Townley as he put everything on the line to win.

Townley finished 1-2-1 in his three MX1 (450cc) races to finish ahead of fellow Kiwi internationals Cody Cooper (Suzuki), of Mount Maunganui, Motueka's Josh Coppins (Yamaha), Christchurch's Justin McDonald (Honda) and Hamilton's Hayden Clark (KTM).

He then wrapped up the main prize by winning the nine-lap feature race, this time finishing ahead of Coppins, Cooper, McDonald and Queenstown's Scotty Columb (MX2 Suzuki).

The three-day festival of motocross on Sunday marked more than half a century since New Zealand's largest stand-alone motocross was created in 1961, an event that has since become a must on the Kiwi calendar - a must-see for the nation's fans and a must-ride for the cream of the country's racing talent.

"It was one of the most technical, rutted tracks that I have raced on in many years. It was a good day, results-wise, but there is still plenty of work to do ahead of the nationals [which kick off near Timaru in two weeks.]."

In other racing at Woodville, Masterton's Luke Burkhart (KTM) served notice on his rivals by dominating the MX2 (250cc) class, a hat-trick of wins stamping his authority.

He beat reigning national MX2 champion Darryll King (Yamaha), of Hamilton, and Queenstown's Scotty Columb (Suzuki) to the top step of the MX2 podium.

Tauranga's Logan Blackburn (Yamaha) was the surprise winner of the 125cc GP class, the BikesportNZ.com rider's win in the day's final 125cc race enough to clinch the title from fellow Yamaha men Cameron Vaughan, of Rotorua and Katikati's Garth Amrein.

Top junior rider was Amberley's Micah McGoldrick (KTM), winner of the 250cc class and also the top man in the 250-125cc Champion-of-Champions race.

Hamilton's Josiah Natzke (Yamaha) won both the junior 13-16 years' 85cc class and the 150-85cc Champion-of-Champions feature race.

Taupo's Emma Davis (Honda) scored a hat-trick of wins in the GP class and Auckland's Chris Power (Honda) finished 1-2 to take honours in the river race class.