    |
 |
|
|
|
From - Ben Townley`s PR Team:
Visit Ben @ his BenTownleyMX.Com: website.
It features his latest news, pictures, profile etc. and while you are there, leave a message for the young Kiwi in his `Guestbook`.
Team New Zealand miss out on podium:
Still on a high from the previous day’s hustle and bustle that the MX Des Nations brings with it, Ben Townley and the rest of the kiwi team lined up for their Semi Final qualifier as favourites to win.
Win is exactly what they did as Josh Coppins took the chequered flag with Townley, crossing the finish line in 9th, Shayne King in 16th, giving the New Zealanders the number 1 qualifying spot after tallying the two best results of the heat.
As the gate dropped for the final, Coppins was flying the New Zealand flag in the top three of the pack going into the first turn, while Townley was not too far behind. During the first turn mayhem, the pack was jostling for positions and a few turns later BT was hit from behind which in turn caused him to plough into the rider in front of him. Team mate King was not having much better luck when his left grip was dislodged from his handlebars and the former World Champ had to ride the 30min + 2 lap gruelling race without.
The crash shook Townley and the bruised youngster started to circulate after he had pulled into the pits to repair the damage done to his KTM 450cc machine, only to retire one lap later.
Coppins and King fought on bravely to finish 5th and 14th respectively, to give New Zealand 4th overall, missing out on an expected podium by a meagre 3 points.
BT commented on the race : “This pretty much sums up my year. I wanted to help put New Zealand on the podium today but I just couldn’t avoid that crash. I’ve trained so hard for this race and my comeback this year. One consolation is that I’ve done all my falling for the next few years! Bring on 2004!”
Results
Overall Teams
1. Belgium 5
2. United States 10
3. Finland 16
4. New Zealand 19
5. Great Britain 20
6. Japan 20
7. Ireland 27
8. Estonia 27
9. France 36
10. Czech Republic 37
11. South Africa 38
12. Denmark 55
Individual Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, USA, Honda
2. Stefan Everts, BEL, Yamaha
3. Joel Smets, BEL, KTM
4. Gordon Crockard, IRL, Honda
5. Josh Coppins, NZL, Honda
6. Jussi Vehvilainen, FIN, Honda
7. Paul Cooper, USA, Honda
8. Akira Narita, JPN, Suzuki
9. Tim Ferry, USA, Yamaha
10. Antti Pyrhonen, FIN, Yamaha
11. Avo Leok, EST, Honda
12. Kazumasa Masuda, JPN, Suzuki
13. James Noble, GBR, Honda
14. Shayne King, NZL, Honda
15. Michal Kadlecek, CZE, Yamaha
16. Aigar Leok, EST, KTM
17. Christophe Martin, FRA, Suzuki
18. Wyatt Avis, RSA, Yamaha
19. Luigi Seguy, FRA, Yamaha
20. Tyla Rattray, RSA, KTM
21. Garreth Swanepoel, RSA, Yamaha
22. Martin Zerava, CZE, Honda
23. Adam Lyons, IRL, Yamaha
24. Brian Steele, IRL, Honda
25. Miska Aaltonen, FIN, KTM
26. Steve Ramon, BEL, KTM
27. Brian Jorgensen, DEN, Honda
28. Kim Nielsen, DEN, Yamaha
29. Johnny Aubert, FRA, Yamaha
30. Stephen Sword, GBR, KTM
31. Josef Dobes, CZE, Yamaha
32. Ryan Hughes, USA, KTM
33. Ben Townley, NZL, KTM
