McDonald still has a reason to smile

Christchurch’s McDonald (Timaru Honda CRF450F) was unable to hang onto his No.1 plate in the premier MX1 class this season, Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper snatching that away for 2011, but McDonald still found plenty to be cheerful about despite his campaign being plagued by illness.

McDonald ended up fourth overall in the MX1 class this season, just behind team-mate Michael Phillips (Honda Hamilton CRF450F), but on Sunday he showed glimpses of the form that earned the national MX1 crown in 2009.

McDonald finished runner-up to Cooper at the Barrett Road circuit near New Plymouth on Sunday, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Honda man with too many points dropped at the earlier rounds.

A mystery virus hampered his title defence this season and McDonald admitted he was “very weakened by the virus”.

“I have not really been able to train properly since the national supercross series (which wound up near Timaru in January). The doctor said I should not really be doing anything. I certainly lacked my usual punch this season.”

But McDonald had obviously shaken off the worst of his affliction as he finished 3-2-2 in his three races on Sunday.

“At least I was able to get into the groove today. I’m obviously over the worst of my illness,” he said.

Rotorua’s Phillips finished third overall on Sunday and this was enough for him to secure the No.3 spot in the championship, just 11 points behind the runner-up, Motueka’s Josh Coppins, and 20 points ahead of the detuned McDonald.

“I’m pretty happy with that,” said Phillips afterwards. “This was my debut season on the 450cc bike and third is pretty good, especially when you consider the international class of the men who finished ahead of me.”

Blue Wing Honda race team co-ordinator Peter Finlay said he was already looking positively towards next season’s campaign.He said that Australian rider Cody Mackie (Timaru Honda CRF250), who finished third in the MX2 class on debut in New Zealand; Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme (Botany Honda CRF250), who finished fifth in the MX2 class, and Taupo’s Cameron Dillon (Huka Honda CRF250), who finished eighth in the MX2 class, would all be returning to race again next season.

Mackie heads back to Australia and Dillon now heads to Europe to race for a French team, but they have each vowed to again be at the forefront in New Zealand when the 2012 season kicks off.

“We also can’t say enough to thank the guys behind the scenes who made this all possible,” said Finlay. “These people did so much hard work and we also appreciate the support we received from the dealers such as Huka Honda, Honda Hamilton, Timaru Honda and Botany Honda.”

Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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