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Photo - Ben Townley:
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'.
The fourth round of the Open Dutch championship in Berghem, started off according to plan for New Zealand’s motocross ace, Ben Townley. Townley set the fastest qualifying time, almost two seconds faster than his closest rival and team mate Marc De Reuver.
Race one had the Dutch fans hoping for a Townley – De Reuver battle and that’s exactly what they got. The two Champ KTM riders recovered from mediocre starts and by the second lap De Reuver was leading with Townley hot on his heels. Townley lost no time in closing the Dutchman down and made his pass to take the lead. The Kiwi looked like he was opening a slight gap when De Reuver counter attacked with an aggressive passing manoeuvre which shook Townley a little. Thinking about a more important world title, BT wisely let the Dutchman go and settled for second.
Townley changed his starting gate position for the second race and that delivered him a better jump as he emerged in second place after a few corners. His charge on the lead was short lived when he was caught off guard by a deep sand hole and was flung over the bars. There was concern as Townley lay motionless on the side of the track – he had the wind knocked out of him but as he regained his breath the brave Kiwi remounted and gave chase to the field. Only a few laps later Townley went down again, this time he would wisely retire from the race.
“I just shouldn’t have even raced today” admitted Townley “I have had the flu all week and to be honest I just didn’t have the drive today which is definitely what you need in this thick sand. You have to be 100% committed on every section of track not to mention the entire race and I just couldn’t do that with the obvious result. Marc is unbelievable in these types of sand conditions – he won’t be having it this easy at the next Dutch race, that’s for sure!” vowed BT.
Championship standings:
Townley Ben, NZ, KTM, 169
van Hastenberg Jan; NL, KTM, 150
Goncalves Rui, POR, Yamaha, 147
Brons Pascal, NL, KTM, 138
van Vijfeiken Rob, NL, Yamaha, 135
Verbrugge Dennis, BEL, Yamaha, 130
de Reuver Marc, NL, KTM, 120
van de Ven Rinus, NL ,KTM, 120
Tuin Nick, NL, KTM, 109
Priem Manuel, BEL, Suzuki, 106
