"I would have loved to bang bars with Shayne," said Hurley afterwards.
The third member of Suzuki's international team, Aucklander Blake Gillard, put aside his RMZ250 to try the
RMZ450 for size and, initially, it looked like it was going to be a Suzuki 1-2-3 for the podium.
Gillard finished third in the first race but then mysteriously went off the boil in the second race and managed
only seventh place. He bounced back to finish third in the last race, earning himself fourth overall for the day.
"I was using is a strength-building exercise for Australia but, for some reason, I felt uncomfortable in race two.
I think I was trying too hard and needed to relax more and just roll the power on gradually
"The 450 is a powerful bike. But I figure, if I can ride three 30-minute races on a 450, then the RMZ250 will be
no problem for me in Australia."
Meanwhile, Mount Maunganui rider Ben Thomasen has not been on a motocross track for several years, so it was a
huge surprise to see him standing on top of the podium in the Pro Under-250cc class on Sunday.
But the 23-year-old Kawasaki rider was in scintillating form, finishing 1-2-1 in his three races.
Thomasen (Kawasaki KX250F) was hounded all day by Honda star Jonathon Llewellyn, Australian Pro Lites rider Daniel
Reynolds and his own Team Green team-mate Jesse Wiki.
Leading overall standings at the King Of The Mountain motocross near New Plymouth on Sunday:
Main Photo: Daryl Hurley (1) leads a flock of Suzuki's
Credit: Andy McGechan
REUSLTS:
Pro Over-250cc:
1. Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki RMZ450);
2. Luke Burkhart (Masterton, Suzuki RMZ450);
3. Mitch Rowe (New Plymouth, Yamaha YZF450);
4. Blake Gillard (Auckland, Suzuki RMZ450);
5. Renny Johnston (New Plymouth, Honda CRF450).
Pro Under-250cc:
1. Ben Thomasen (Mount Maunganui, Kawasaki KX250F);
2. Jonathon Llewellyn (Tauranga, Honda CRF250);
3. Ben Rutten (Te Horo, Yamaha YZF250);
4. Jesse Wiki (Hamilton, Kawasaki KX250F);
5. Katherine Prumm (Pukekohe, Kawasaki KX250F).
Junior 125cc:
1. Lee McKinstry (Taupo, Honda CRF250);
2. Adam Rutten (Te Horo, Suzuki RMZ250);
3. Sam Ebbett (Palmerston North, Suzuki RMZ250);
4. Tim Coleman (Marton, Honda CRF250);
5. Brad Wood (Putaruru, Honda CRF250).
Junior 85cc:
1. Henry Madams (Wellington, KTM85);
2. Tom Managh (Wanganui, CR85);
3. Scott McKinstry (Taupo, CR85);
4. Cameron Dillon (Mangakino, Honda CR85);
5. Callum Dais (Rongotea, Suzuki RM85).
