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From - Ian Miles:
TOWNLEY SECOND IN RUSSIA:
Hot young motocross ace Ben Townley swept to second in the Russian 125 Grand Prix, clinching a stellar sixth place in his first full year at the world championships.
The sensational 17-year-old led for half of the race, letting fellow KTM rider Steve Ramon (Belgium) through with two laps to go.
But it was not enough for Ramon to win the world title - he came up just four points short of the sole Kawasaki of Frenchman Mickael Maschio who took fourth in the race on the outskirts of Moscow.
Townley repeated the second placing earlier in the day of his mentor Josh Coppins whose 250 result netted him runner-up spot in the world.
"It felt awesome out there today," commented Townley after his 40-minute charge on the Big Five Vangani KTM. "It was a huge buzz watching Josh lead the 250 and stand on the podium, then it was my turn."
The world waited for results of the world title as the 125 event was not carried on major TV channel Eurosport and communications were a nightmare because of major telecoms access problems at the Park Extreme Circuit at Sorochany.
Expat Kiwis Coppins and Townley link with former world champion Shayne King to represent New Zealand at the MX of Nations event in USA in a fortnight.
Confirmed final standings:
World 250 Championship: 1 Mickael Pichon (France) Suzuki 288; 2 Josh
Coppins (NZ) Honda 222; 3 Pit Beirer (Germany) Honda 205; 4 Jamie Dobb
(England) KTM 177; 5 Kenneth Gundersen (Norway) Kawasaki 167; 6 Fred Bolley
(France) Yamaha 151; 7 Gordon Crockard (Ireland) KTM 143; 8 Andrew
McFarlane (Australia) Kawasaki 128.
World 125 Championship: 1 Mickael Maschio (France) Kawasaki 225 points; 2 Steve Ramon (Belgium) KTM 221; Patrick Caps (Belgium) KTM 197; 4 Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland) KTM 183; 5 Alex Puzar (Italy) Husqvarna 169; 6 Ben Townley (NZ) Big Five Vangani KTM 147; Tyla Rattray (South Africa) Big Five Vangani KTM 118; 8 Jeff Dement (USA) Honda 103.
