Although Scott Columb could not claim a win from the first round of the New Zealand Supercross Championships in Timaru yesterday, he did manage a prize.
The Queenstown international defending champion wound up second in the points to Papamoa's Mason Phillips in all three senior lites MX2 races.
However, in a crowd-pleasing sequence which included a no-hander, he was victorious in the best trick feature competition, commentator Neil Ritchie said.
Former American supercross champion Ben Townley, of Bay of Plenty, showed his class to take the round victory.
He dropped off the top of the MX1 podium only once, relinquishing one win from the trio of races to the rider placed second overall, Justin McDonald, of Christchurch. Melbourne rider Dylan Long gained a well-deserved overall win in the junior 250cc class, with second to Rangiora's Isaiah McGoldrick.
Overall honours for junior lites 85cc went to Micah McGoldrick, Isaiah's younger brother, who carded 1-1-1.
Ritchie, one of two Motorcycling New Zealand co-ordinators for the four-round series, said the governing body was very happy with the calibre of the riders.
"We've got some good quality," he said of the 65-rider field.
The second round will be held in Motueka on Sunday.
