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BEN TOWNLEY, NZ’s YOUNGEST WINNER:
Motocross whizzkid Ben Townley has been confirmed as the youngest New Zealander ever to win a grand prix.
At 17 years and 7 months Townley became one of the youngest from any nation when he claimed the Swedish 125 Grand Prix crown on Sunday, grabbing the attention and headlines of Europe.
The great Sebastien Tortelli of France was 16 when he won the first of his 20 grand prix events. He went on to take two world championship titles.
By contrast the greatest current star and perhaps the best of all time, Belgian Stefan Everts, was a few months older than Townley at his first GP win.
Everts, who won the 500 class GP on Sunday, this year eclipsed Joel Robert’s record of 50 GP wins.
The 29-year-old son of four times world champion Harry Everts, Stefan has won the world title five times and seems set for a sixth this year to equal the record of countryman Robert who ruled the 250 class a quarter-century ago.
With his Swedish win Everts stood alongside Townley and 250 class victor Mickael Pichon (France).
This puts the fledgling talent of Townley into select company.
Just a year and a half ago he was awaiting results of his School Certificate exams when he was whisked away to the world championship.
He is still not old enough to hold a driver’s licence in Europe where the championship is based.
Neither does Townley hold a motocross title at senior level in his native New Zealand. Winner of numerous under-age titles in his home country as well as Australia and Indonesia, Townley was injured during the 2000 nationals in his only senior year before heading overseas.
His maiden GP season 2001 was hardly a runaway success. Scoring points in just one of 12 rounds, the Belgian GP at Genk, he spent time convalescing in New Zealand after a serious arm break and finished the year ranked number 33.
But the young Kiwi’s ability had caught the eye of Kurt Nicoll, race boss of motocross giant KTM and himself the winner of 13 GP races in his career.
On his return to Europe 11 months ago Townley was on a bike supplied by the Austrian factory and riding in the colours of the Belgian-based South African team Big Five Vangani Racing.
His win in Sweden was also the team’s first.
Now Townley is a full factory rider on visits to high-profile US national events, including one next week, and he has been assured a topline factory KTM 125 for the 2003 world championship, remaining in Vangani colours.
His 25 race points from Sunday propelled KTM to 191 on the constructor’s table, which they now lead by a handsome 48 points over Kawasaki.
Townley showed mastery beyond his years in controlling the 40-minute race from behind and in front, recording the fastest lap along the way.
He put the heat on KTM’s top 125 factory rider Steve Ramon and relegated the high-flying Belgian to runner-up spot on one of the toughest circuits on the GP calendar.
Now Ramon finds himself third equal in the title chase with four rounds remaining.
One place ahead of him on the ladder is Italian Alex Puzar who was pushed back to third place by the KTM pair in Sweden Puzar the veteran, former world champion in both 125 and 250 classes and winner of 23 GP events, the same number as Harry Everts.
Current 250 class master Pichon took his tally to 21 on Sunday, seven out of eight this year. Ironically it is Townley's Kiwi mentor Josh Coppins who is pushing Pichon hardest.
Townley is a comparatively lowly sixth on this year’s world championship ladder (although close on points) thanks to some inconsistent performances early in the year. They now look a thing of the past as the youngster confidently eyes his future.
European experts predict a strong title challenge from Townley in ’03.
If he can win it he will be only the second Kiwi; Shayne King took the 500 class crown in 1996. During a long career King won five grand prix races, as did his brother Darryl.
Darryl King’s 1998 Swiss GP win was the last by a New Zealander before Townley this week.
Switzerland and Austria can claim just two world titles each, while great motorcycle nation Japan has only one.
Australia has never had a world motocross champion. In fact New Zealand’s current tally of 11 GP victories totally eclipses the four of its neighbour and arch-rival.
Current World 125 Championship points, after eight of 12 rounds:
1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki, 143 points; 2 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna, 140; 3 equal Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM, 134; Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM, 134; Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM, 134; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 122; 7 Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM, 77.
[My haven`t things changed. Guys these days are winning their first World GP, MX or Road, before they have had their first shave.
Or so it seems.]
