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Contributed by: Ian Miles.
Young motocross sensation Ben Townley goes back into the heat of battle this weekend at the Grand Prix of Sweden.
The 17-year-old expat New Zealander is right in the hunt for the world 125 title as he lines up his KTM at this eighth of 12 rounds in the championship.
The Taupo Terrier holds sixth place after flying as high as second early this year, but the position belies the closeness of the chase.
Townley has 97 points while the leader has only 125 in a championship where every one of the remaining five grands prix offers 25 points for victory.
And it’s victory which is very much on Townley’s mind as he heads to Scandanavia, after he led the previous round in Bulgaria before slipping to third place for his third podium finish of the year.
“I am working on my consistency to keep the points coming in,” said the mature young star of the Big Five Vangani team this week.
“There is no clear favourite in this class, half a dozen of us have been featuring in the results and I have to make sure I keep at the front of the pack.
“I know I can compete with these guys, now it’s time to stay ahead of them.”
Townley declares confidence for Sunday’s event at the natural rock quarry of Glimminge Motorstadion near Uddevalla 100km north of Gothenberg, even though he fell there last year.
“It’s not an easy circuit but it uses good natural terrain, a bit like we do in New Zealand,” he commented.
“Last year it was wet and that was quite tricky on the rocks.”
Since then Townley has blossomed into the find of the 2002 season and he has been recognised with an ongoing contract with motocross heavyweight KTM.
Last year’s 125 race was won by Norwegian Kenneth Gundersen who has now moved to the 250 class.
This time Townley will face particular pressure from Kawasaki’s Mickael Maschio (France), who saw his points lead decimated when he failed to finish in the blazing heat of Bulgaria a fortnight ago, and the winner of that event, former world champ Alex Puzar of Italy who has burst his Husqvarna back into the limelight recently.
Success in Sweden is important psychologically before the racers take a month’s holiday break.
The following grands prix take them to Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic before the season concludes in Russia in September.
Townley’s fellow Kiwi expat Josh Coppins, battling a doping charge after taking a hay fever tablet, is expected to line up in Sweden to defend his current second position in the 250 championship.
[Darryl Atkins is also featured in the entry list for Uddevalla and he will be out to repeat his qualifying rides and then to improve on his finishing placings to date.]
