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If you have been made aware that Ben Townley recorded a magnificent achievment in Uddevalla, Sweden: on the weekend it was most probably NOT because you read or heard it via the mainstream media.
Ray Whitham is a guy who has for some time battled to seek a fair go for motorcycle sportspeople and below is reproduced his latest tilt (at Radio Sport) in an effort to have the gross imbalance redressed.
Come on you guys!!!!!
19 year old Taupo International Motocross star Ben Townley has taken maximum points and his sixth overall Grand Prix win of the season at Uddevalla, Sweden. With 6 rounds to go in the 2004 World Motocross Championship Ben has now extended his lead to 77 points in the MX2 title chase.
As a Radio Sport motorcycle correspondent I ask the question. What does this hugely talented New Zealand sportsman have to do to qualify for his outstanding achievements to be recognised on a sport's radio station in his home country. Along with the overnight cricket win this surely is one of the big sports stories of the day........your opposition network certainly thinks so.
I e-mailed the story to your newsroom earlier today and no doubt it has been on other "wires" as well. Quite frankly, the non-reporting of Ben's weekend success is inexcusable. Especially on a radio station dedicated to sport..
I am obliged to make one further point. As an organiser (Promotions & Publicity) of a major motorcycle event in New Zealand later this year I am about to commit our organisation to at least $10,000 of advertising with your network. That must now go on hold until such time as we can be satisfied that Radio Sport does in fact mean All sport and does include international motorcycle results in its news bulletins, especially where New Zealander's are successful. I don't think that's too much to ask of a sport's station.
And the other sad thing. Should Ben come home with the World Championship there will be the usual clamour to get him on air.
The hypocrisy of that is, I suggest, obvious....
Regards
Ray Whitham
