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Motocross ace Ben Townley of Taupo has celebrated his 16th birthday today by becoming the youngest New Zealander ever to sign for world championship Grand Prix racing.
In the early hours of this morning the talented schoolboy agreed a deal with a German team to race in the gruelling 15-round world motocross championship next year.
He will go from a school certificate year at Taupo nui a Tia school to a Frankfurt-based professional team racing in grand prix events all over Europe and as far afield as Australia from March to September.
It is the same championship in which expat Kiwi Josh Coppins is a star - Townley will start in the 125 entry class which supports the permier 250 championship in which Motueka\'s Coppins is a title contender for 2001.
\"I know it\'s a huge step, everybody tells me I\'m very young,\" said the mature Townley, multiple New Zealand champion in the junior ranks.
\"But I think I\'m ready for it . I\'ve already raced with some success overseas in Australia and America.
\"All my life I\'ve aimed at becoming a professional motocross rider, now this opportunity has come along and my family and I think it is the right one to take.
\"Josh Coppins has always been a hero of mine, now I\'ll be racing at the same events as him - awesome!\" Ben said.
\"Josh has already been a lot of help in getting this deal sorted out.\"
Ben Townley will be one of three riders in the German team, which next week begins arranging the international racing protocols to allow Ben to race.
The team has a comprehensive support establishment for rider training and bike preparation near Frankfurt where Ben will be based.
\"Ben won\'t be paid, but all of his racing and living costs will be met as a fully professional rider,\" said his mother Vicki Townley today.
\"The team owner has made it clear to us that he is keen to identify young talent as an intro to grand prix racing.
\"It is a compliment to New Zealand racing that he sees us as a breeding ground for top riders - he is clearly impressed with the Kiwis who have done so well in Europe,\" said Mrs Townley.
Ben celebrates his birthday and his new status at a supercross event in New Plymouth today.
