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Townley rockets onto podium in Germany - By Glen Dempsey:
New Zealand’s young Motocross prodigy, Ben Townley has rocketed his way onto the podium at the 10th round of the 125 world grand prix championship.
After placing fourth in Saturday’s qualifying race the talented youngster from Taupo went on to post the fastest Sunday warm up time.
Thirty of the world’s fastest 125 riders dashed in to the 180° first turn causing a lot of jostling for positions and BT was no doubt fighting for his in the top 10 of the pack. Passing the timekeepers in 7th position on lap one the factory 125 KTM rider focussed on executing his race strategy. Reigning 125 world champ, Michael Machio and former world champion Andrea Bartolini were not making things any easier as the trio excited race fans with their alternating passing manoeuvres. BT managed to pressurise and dispose both world champs and sets his sights further ahead.
By the halfway mark the number 18 factory KTM had moved into third and after breathing down the neck of fellow KTM Champ team mate, Steve Ramon, he made no mistakes in blazing past, in pursuit of Six times World Champion, Stefan Everts.
The partisan crowd cheered on BT as he succeeded in closing down the gap to three seconds with two laps to go, however the experienced Everts added a few more seconds cushion to assure himself of yet another GP victory. As the track officials showed the last lap board BT seemed set for a well deserved second…..
Team orders had decided otherwise for Townley as he was instructed to hand second place to team-mate Ramon in the last turn – in order to help KTM secure their lead in the 125cc world championship.
“I made the most of my start and enjoyed picking off the likes of Chiodi, Machio, Eggens, Sword, Bartolini and Ramon. I tried to close Everts down but he turned up the pace in the closing laps. Apart from catching a cold this week, I am pleased with my result” explained the youngster over his cellular telephone while racing to catch a ferry in order to compete at the Ken Hall – Monday bank holiday international in the UK.
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Visit Ben @ his BenTownleyMX.Com: website.
