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Photo - Ben Townley after winning his first, (and KTM's) but not last MX1 GP:
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'.
Ben Townley has made KTM history being the first rider to win an MX1 GP on the orange race machine. The Kiwi MX star proved today that he will most certainly be a force to be reckoned with after he posted a second and third to claim the overall victory on a fast and technical circuit in Bellpuig, Spain.
Townley had to make do with a difficult gate pick for the first heat and as the pack charged to the first turn he was bang in the middle of the commotion. In true ‘BT’ style he took advantage of some fallen riders and weaved his way through the pack emerging in the top ten. Further mistakes by Smets and Everts handed a charging Townley some more positions. With fifteen minutes gone BT had rocketed into third position and was working on the Dane, Brian Jorgensen for second. Jorgensen fumbled and crashed while BT capitalized and was well on his way in second place. Race leader Pichon was too far gone to start chasing so he wisely relaxed his race pace and settled for second, knowing that there was another 35min + 2 lap race to come.
Once again, BT was caught at the back of the start pack and had to bide his time on a dusty first lap. KTM mechanic Craig Behl, signalled that his rider was in thirteenth spot and still had loads of work to do. Townley bolted past riders left right and centre and before long he was breathing down Pichon’s neck. Four laps later and Townley had capitalized on the Frenchman’s mistake and he was into fifth. Fellow countryman, Josh Coppins was having the ride of his life up front when he came together with Jöel Smets and crashed. Townley also slipped past fellow KTM team-mate Steve Ramon and was now in third – an awesome ride through the field. With two laps to go and the overall victory in the bag BT cruised home in third position to claim his first ever MX1 GP victory.
“I’m really happy! I didn’t expect to win so early in the championship. Moving up to the MX1 class the racing has been so intense with guys like Stefan, Joël, Michael and Josh. Some of these guys have been my hero’s when I came to Europe five years ago and now it’s great to be racing them and beating them. I can’t say enough about KTM at the moment – they have been really working hard every day, every minute to win races – we showed today that we can and it’s their first in the MX1 class and hopefully we’ll have some more!” said an ecstatic Townley.
