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By: Ian Miles:
TOWNLEY FALLS IN BELGIUM
Young motocross sensation Ben Townley retains sixth spot in the world championship despite a setback at today’s 125 Grand Prix of Belgium (Sunday European time).
Just days after a knee operation, the 17-year-old bravely took the grid but fell three times to limp home in 18th spot.
However his top performances this year held his place in a tight title pursuit for his Big Five Vangani KTM team, based here in Belgium.
Winner of the previous round, the expat Kiwi took second spot early in today’s 40-minute moto but saw hopes of a late-season charge at the title buried in the dust.
“I didn’t say anything about the operation before the race, so as not to tip the opposition. “I had a cartilage repair Thursday a week ago and there hasn’t been a lot of time for rehabilitation. “I felt OK in qualifying yesterday but today it just hasn’t gone right.”
This ninth of 12 rounds saw upsets in the log jam at the top of the championship.
KTM’s Patrick Caps won his home GP to leap from third equal and lead the title chase by just two points from the Kawasaki of Frenchman Mickael Maschio.
Meanwhile previous warm title favourite Alex Puzar dropped out of today’s race on his Husqvarna, the veteran and two-time champ slumping from second to fourth overall after being concussed in a race at home in Italy last weekend.
Equal third before today, Philippe Dupasquier of Switzerland was bumped to fifth with a 13th placing in the GP.
Ironically it was Townley’s teammate Tyla Rattray who inherited second in the race, the 16-year-old South African taking his first ever podium place and maintaining seventh spot in the championship.
Factory KTM rider Steve Ramon took third in his national race and held onto that position overall.
The 125 field enjoyed a hard track after this morning's mud dried.
World 125 Championship:
1 Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM, 159 points; 2 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki, 157; 3 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM, 154; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM, 142; 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 140; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 125; 7 Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM, 99.
