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Photo - BT at the Valence start line:
This report is from Ben Townley`s manager, 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'.
World MX2 champion, Ben Townley, has taken his first win of the season in snow-showers and freezing temperatures that could not keep away an enthusiastic French crowd in Valence.
Townley’s day did not start too good as the bitter temperatures were making it difficult to find the perfect carburettor setting for his bike. A small crash on a patch of ice which bruised the Kiwi’s right knee meant he only managed to qualify in 26th position – three seconds off the pace. That didn’t phase the twenty year old and he made the most of his gate pick as riders lined up for the first heat.
Starting from the outside BT did the best he could in the first hundred meters and was placed in the top ten as the pack completed lap one. Townley rode his own race and started to pick off positions as he tried to keep Stefan Everts within his sites, as he too was moving through the field. BT passed the Rinaldi duo of Melotte and Jorgensen on his way into the top five. Everts had by this time taken over the lead and had a clear track ahead of him. BT closed down fellow KTM rider Sven Breugelmans who had lost the lead to Everts. He overwhelmed “Breugel” and moved into second although by this time Everts had a comfortable cushion, so Townley was content to settle for a second place finish and not force any unwanted mistakes.
BT’s second heat got off to a terrible start when he clipped bars with another rider as the gate dropped and was stone last going into the first turn. Late breaking and some good passing lines helped BT carve his way through the pack. Everts and team-mate Melotte tangled up front, with Everts coming off second best and going down hard. By this time BT had broken into the top ten and was on the move. A slight snow shower just into the race put the brakes on the Townley freight train as he slowed his pace as not to slip on the freshly fallen snow. Five minutes before the end Townley picked up the pace again and placed himself in fifth with two laps to go. BT closed down French rider Chistophe Martin but could just not grab third position. From last to fourth was impressive enough.
Both Townley and Melotte were equal on points going into the final heat of the day. Everts would not line up for the final race of the day so it was a KTM vs Yamaha battle for overall honours. Melotte grabbed a great start and the lead in the opening stages while BT was having to manoeuvre his way through the field from outside the top ten. The factory KTM 450F was flying past riders left right and center and by the halfway mark Townley had Melotte in his sights. He was closing down the Belgian at a rapid pace and once he had closed the gap, he shot past without any hesitation and immediately and looked set to be on his way. With two laps to go, BT had a comfortable lead and kept his cool to take the chequered flag and the overall victory for KTM.
“My goal was to come here today and finish three races and have no crashes” explained the Kiwi while his words were translated to an applauding partisan crowd. “The last race was good - I was able to find my rhythm and come through well.”
Townley moves to Southern France for next weekend’s race in Pernes les Fontaine where he will be competing against his fellow countryman Josh Coppins and yet another international field of riders.
