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Photo - Ben Townley, showing promise at Zolder:
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'.
MX Kiwi star, Ben Townley, has proved that he will be a force to be reckoned in this years premier MX 1 class. Townley impressed a 16,000 strong partisan crowd when after a terrible start, the factory KTM rider sliced through the field in search of his main rivals, Michael Pichon of France and Belgian hero Stefan Everts.
Townley succeeded in closing down a ten second gap between himself and Pichon and was on the Frenchman’s back wheel challenging for second place. A mistake and small crash by Townley gave Pichon room to breathe but Townley was not to give up that easy. After picking up his machine, BT gave chase and once again started hunting down the two riders in front. With one lap to go, Townley had Pichon and Everts in his sights but unfortunately time had run out and he crossed the finish only four seconds adrift of winner Everts for an unbelievable ride!
The second and deciding race of the day would turn out to be survival of the fittest. Both Townley and Everts experienced bad starts and had their work cut out while fast starter Smets lead Pichon in the opening stages. Townley tried as best he could to latch onto Everts as the two carved their way through the pack. At the halfway mark Townley lost the Everts tow when he had a small get-off trying to get past Kevin Strijbos. Once again Townley never lost too much time and a few laps later he re-passed Strijbos to move into fifth. Without risking any valuable points, BT settled for fifth position, placing him fourth overall for the GP.
“The first race was really good. I came through very fast but I probably shouldn’t have pushed so hard in trying to catch Pichon. My goal was to finish top five this weekend but after the first race result I think I should have finished on the podium. The second heat was physically demanding for everyone but I probably should have waited in the first and kept myself for the second heat,” said BT.
Race Results:
MX1 Race 1
1, Everts Stefan, Bel, Yamaha, 40:06.703
2, Pichon Mickael, Fra, Honda, 40:09.100
3, Townley Ben , Nzl, KTM, 40:11.536
4, De Dycker Ken, Bel, Honda, 40:20.903
5, Smets Joel, Bel, Suzuki, 40:23.065
6, Coppins Joshua, Nzl, 40:45.533
7, Strijbos Kevin, Bel, Suzuki, 40:45.956
8, Cooper Paul, Gbr, Honda, 41:04.022
9, Leok Tanel, Est, Kawasaki, 41:09.931
10, Nemeth Kornel, Hun, Suzuki, 41:12.467
11, Theybers Danny, Bel, Suzuki, 41:13.901
12, Crockard Gordon, Gbr, Yamaha, 41:14.171
13, Atsuta Yoshitaka, Jpn, Suziki, 41:14.901
14, Noble James, Gbr, Honda, 41:20.025
15, Leuret Pascal, Fra, Honda, 41:30.823
MX1 Race 2
1, Smets Joel, Bel, Suzuki, 40:08.222
2, Pichon Mickael, Fra, Honda, 40:26.187
3, Everts Stefan, Bel, Yamaha, 40:51.901
4, Barragan Jonathan, Spa, KTM, 40:58.805
5, Townley Ben, Nzl, KTM, 41:11.986
6, Strijbos Kevin, Bel, Suzuki, 41:13.946
7, Noble James, Gbr, Honda, 41:15.998
8, Jorgensen Brian, Den, Yamaha, 41:25.716
9, De Dijcker Ken, Bel, Honda, 41:40.258
10, Cooper Paul, Gbr, Honda, 41:45.828
11, Coppins Joshua, Nzl, Honda, 41:49.801
12, Ramon Steve, Bel, KTM, 41:50.811
13, Federici Claudio, Ita, Yamaha, 41:56.313
14, Vehvilainen Jussi, Fin, Honda, 40:08.634
15, Leuret Pascal, Fra, Honda, 40:11.918
World Championship classification:
1, Everts Stefan, Bel, Yamaha, 45 points
2, Pichon Mickael, Fra, Honda, 44 points
3, Smets Joel, Bel, Suzuki, 41 points
4, Townley Ben, Nzl, KTM, 36 points
5, De Dijcker Ken, Bel, Honda, 30 points
6, Strijbos Kevin, Bel, Suzuki, 29 points
7, Coppins Joshua, Nzl, Honda, 25 points
8, Cooper Paul, Gbr, Honda, 24 points
9, Noble James, Gbr, Honda, 21 points
10, Barragan Jonathan, Spa, 20 points
Read the MXLarge Report:
