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Photo - Ben at Gallarate:
This report is from Ben Townley`s PR man, Glen Dempsey.
Visit Ben @ his website: BentownleyMX.com:
It features his latest news, pictures, profile etc. and while you're there, leave a message for the young Kiwi in his `Guestbook'.
Kiwi motocross star, Ben Townley, has experienced a tough day in front of an enthusiastic Italian crowd in Gallarate. The MX GP season has now passed the half way mark as Townley steadily builds on his championship lead.
Starting orders were given for the fist MX2 race of the day and BT was mixed up in mud of the first turn. The slippery surface required fine throttle control and BT could not force his speed without risking a mistake. He gradually picked off positions each lap and made his move on championship contender, Stephen Sword, to jump into fourth position. Next up was Belgian, Patrick Caps, however as BT captured third spot, he had lost too much ground to Italian hero, Claudio Federici and eventual race winner Andrew McFarlane. BT nestled in third and in doing so extended his championship lead over Sword.
"The track was so slippery in the beginning and I just couldn’t find a rhythm. Once it started drying out I got some momentum going but I’d already lost too much ground to Claudio and Andrew at the start," explained Townley.
A first turn crash in race two would throw any chance of an overall victory out of the window. Townley dusted himself off and gave chase. The New Zealander kept his cool and began his fight back into contention. By the halfway mark, the number thirty factory KTM had broken into the top ten. BT battled with Federci in the closing laps however it was the Italian who got the better of the Kiwi. The New Zealander showed his fighting spirit and crossed the finish line eighth position. Not only BT had experienced misfortune. Fellow team mate Rattray collided with some fallen riders in the opening seconds of the race and Stephen Sword was thrown from his bike on a fast downhill step jump. Luckily both riders came off lightly from their ordeals.
"I don’t know what to say. I have increased my lead in the championship but this is not the way I want to be doing it. It just wasn’t my day and I have to accept that that’s part of racing. I’m going to take a few days off and get focussed on the next round in Neeroeteren (Belgium)"
2004 MX2 Point standings:
1. Townley Ben, NZL, KTM, 352
2. Sword Stephen, GBR, Kawasaki, 306
3. Rattray Tyla, RSA, KTM, 291
4. Mc Farlane, AUS, Yamaha, 260
5. Cairoli Antonio, ITA, Yamaha, 221
6. Maschio Michaël, FRA, Kawasaki, 209
7. Chiodi Alessio, ITA, Yamaha, 192
8. Nunn Carl, GBR, Honda, 178
9. Federici Claudio, ITA, Yamaha, 162