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Townley fights through pack in last GP.
The last GP in Ernée, France has brought the 2003 MX season to an end. In a year that started off in an ICU bed for the New Zealander, BT has fought back despite the numerous knocks and disappointments that he has been dealt along the way.
With a brilliant hard fought performance in the last three GP’s, Ben was tipped as the only rider fast enough to pose a threat to newly crowned 7 times world champion, Stefan Everts. As the gate dropped for the gruelling 35 min + 2 lap race, the number eighteen bike had totally missed the start while former World Champ, Alessio Chiodi and Everts grabbed the hole shot respectively.
In the opening corners, the factory 125cc KTM, worked it’s magic and carved it’s way into the top ten - only to see all the hard work disappear before BT’s eyes: “I could see Everts just in front of me so I knew I had made up for a bad start! Going into a right hander after the tabletop, Barto washed out and I had no chance of missing him as I was already in the air” explained a frustrated youngster.
BT remounted and started his counter attack on the 30 man field. The determined teenager barged his way through the pack, often having to use aggressiveness on a circuit that most riders thought was hard to pass on. He set a blistering pace and by the halfway mark had already closed down fellow team-mate, Steve Ramon, in sixth position. The orange duo only managed to pick off one more position which was enough to hand Ramon the 125cc title and yet another championship for KTM.
“I am disappointed that I couldn’t finish off the race as I wanted to. I was hauling until I caught Steve - should have taken it much further,” he explained.
Townley’s sixth position ensures him of the number 11 plate for next year – a year where the talented teenager from Taupo will be one of the favourites to claim and defend yet another 125cc title for the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer.
