Ben Townley signs a two year contract

[Danger]

Finally Ben Townley has confirmed that he has signed a two year contract for 2008 and beyond. The rumour which has been around for awhile but is still unconfirmed is that it is with Honda. I wish it had been with Suzuki. Its expected that next year he will race SX Lites in the West Coast series and then the Motocross class in the outdoors. His first race after the MXoN will be at Anaheim1.

[PRYDEE]

Sweet-good on him.:Punk:

[chris]

The rumour which has been around for awhile but is still unconfirmed is that it is with Honda.
Surely not :shifty:

Look out for the rumours regarding a 350cc class too...

[cheese]

350cc 4 stroke? that would be a great size!!

[chris]

350cc 4 stroke? that would be a great size!!
Replacing 450cc...

[Sparky Bills]

Hes been training with Ricky Carmicheal(sp?)

[chris]

Hes been training with Ricky Carmicheal(sp?)
Yep, since he moved to the US.

[DrewBroadley]

http://www.dirtstar.co.nz/Issue/002/BenTownley

[denill]

Finally Ben Townley has confirmed that he has signed a two year contract for 2008 and beyond.


Thanks. Where did you read that Danger??

[cheese]

Replacing 450cc...

Would that allow for the 250 2 stroke to come back in the same class?

[chris]

Would that allow for the 250 2 stroke to come back in the same class?I'm not sure.
I believe it's a noise issue predominantly, together with the belief of some within the AMA that there are only a few riders who can handle a 450 and win regularly.

[scott411]

it was discussed at FIM (europe) and AMA (States) level,

some people are against it big time, i think if they made 450's to ISDE level it wopuld make a big difference,

but i think a 350 would be the ultimate bike,

[Danger]

Thanks. Where did you read that Danger??

I think it was from Kimballs Pit Walk on the AMA site. Ben confirmed it to the writer but would not confirm who the deal was with.

[denill]

I think it was from Kimballs Pit Walk on the AMA site. Ben confirmed it to the writer but would not confirm who the deal was with.


Yeah it's at: <a href=http://www.amamotocross.com/article.php?UID=9NYkLSf5DPdgsG3hieqqHu0OTNKlHv&sc=1003&aid=10159>Townley Talks</A>

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ben Townley told me that he now has signed a two year deal with a team for 2008 and beyond. Ben could not officially say with whom, but as rumored by others, I am 100% certain that it’s Honda. I expect that BT101 will race Supercross Lites and then the Motocross class next year. After the MXON in September, Townley will not race until Anaheim 1.

[takitimu]

but i think a 350 would be the ultimate bike,

No arguements from me on that one, I hear you can get a 350 kit for the 250EXC, which is supposed to go real well.

Fantastic news on BT signing, I'm hoping to get to Steel City again this year :yes:

[NordieBoy]

the belief of some within the AMA that there are only a few riders who can handle a 450 and win regularly.

Sounds like the excuse they used to get rid of the 500 2-strokes and go to the 450's.

[Danger]

Well the latest rumour is that Bens deal with Honda may not be as sewn up as first thought. And he maybe going with Suzuki. Ben last week said that a two year deal had been done but would not confirm who it was with. Everyone has been expecting Honda, but I for one sure hope that the Suzuki rumour has some substance. I wonder why they do not announce who they are going with when they are all signed up?

The one concern is that it will be a shake down year on the EFI 450. Lets hope that it proves to be ready for race conditions. Ben has had too much misfortune on unproven technology during his KTM days.

[denill]

If RC still has links to Suzuki that would be great.

Plus - to be mentored by R DeC would be a pretty big plus!:yes::yes:
He's forgotten more than some managers would know.

[denill]

The one concern is that it will be a shake down year on the EFI 450. Lets hope that it proves to be ready for race conditions. Ben has had too much misfortune on unproven technology during his KTM days.


Yeah, he had a few probs with the Green 250 as well, eh.

[scott411]

Suzuki has been running EFI in Japan for 2 years, its hardly knew, the Japanese use their own domestic series to devolp the really knew stuff,

[cheese]

I read a report on teh new Honda EFI and they said it was too linear on the power curve adn took the fun out of the bike. The old set up with a carb had a whack of power and in comparison the EFI was like an electric scooter. Having said that they said the same thing about the 02 onwards CR's and I absolutely love my CR, the power is very smooth and even and it makes it quite predictable, I had a ride on WRT's 01 and it was very sharp and snappy.

The worst part about EFI is that its going to make it just something else you can't do yourself. If you look back before the 4 stroke revolution, probably around 50% of people would recondition their own bikes, now with all teh 4 strokes alot of people leave it to a shop. This is great for shop owners cause they get to make some good money, also with the valve maintanence!! Now if you want to jet your bike you will have to plug it into a laptop and tune it or buy an aftermarket ECU. So it's all putting the work back to your local bike mechanic and no more DIY.

In all reality its probably a good thing, the bike shops get to make some more money in service adn things get done properly, but its all us riders that have to fork out for it. Anyway that is why I went for a 2 stroke.

[NordieBoy]

There's a guy in the States (off ThumperTalk) who injected his DR350.
Can change the mapping on the fly with a Palm Pilot :D

[scott411]

i think if Bt wants his crf450 to have snap in the middle, HRC will give it to him, factory stuff is very different from what we get to ride

[Danger]

Well Mike Alessi is going to be on the Suzuki 450 (Grrhhh!!!!) so its looking less likely that Ben will be with Suzuki now.

[denill]

Well Mike Alessi is going to be on the Suzuki 450 (Grrhhh!!!!) so its looking less likely that Ben will be with Suzuki now.

Suzzzzuki would have been better off with Ben.

Are the KTM rides all settled??

[chris]

Are the KTM rides all settled??
He won't be going to KTM.

[denill]

He won't be going to KTM.

Why not??????????????

[chris]

Why not??????????????
KTM rear end...

[Danger]

What about it?

[chris]

What about it?
The riders don't like it I understand.

[denill]

KTM rear end...

?????????????????????????

[chris]

Just what I've heard.

[denill]

Just what I've heard.

Can you say what you heard - about the rear end??

Now you've got us all goin.

[denill]

The riders don't like it I understand.

Sorry - missed that response.

[scott411]

What about it?

no link man, does not work in sx whoops well,

thats the rumour that floats around anyway, and KTM has no room for a 450 rider anyway

other big news is that redbull is pulling out of KTM USA, and putiing thier money in ............... Honda

[cheese]

I don't understand all the Honda haters on here. They are one of the worlds biggest engine manufacturers.

[chris]

no link man, does not work in sx whoops well,thats the rumour that floats around anyway,
Stefan Everts has expressed concerns regarding the lack of a link but was told it's not going to be changed any time soon.

[scott411]

lastest i heard ,Everts to KTM, is change it or else you will never win a MX1 world title, but this is jsut idle gossip

[vr4king]

I don't understand all the Honda haters on here. They are one of the worlds biggest engine manufacturers.
2ND that why hate them they are proven bikes over and over

[cheese]

LOL!!!!

what is this link you guys are talking about?

[chris]

lastest i heard ,Everts to KTM, is change it or else you will never win a MX1 world title, but this is jsut idle gossip
I was just being more subtle :)

[merv]

I don't understand all the Honda haters on here. They are one of the worlds biggest engine manufacturers.

Not one of, they are the worlds greatest engine manufacturer, by the time you add up all the cars, bike, scooters, lawnmowers, outboards, generators etc etc no-one makes more and they have plants everywhere including China (oh except NZ huh!).

[merv]

LOL!!!!

what is this link you guys are talking about?

Presume they are talking about the rising rate rear suspension linkage while KTM uses WhitePower with no link so hence no rising rate but they try to claim they can do it all with magic in the shock and spring. I am sure Robert will tell us what he thinks of that.

[cheese]

I thought that is what they were talking about.

When i was looking at getting a KTM, I had to say I liked the idea in its simplicity, but there must be a reason why everyone else is doing it.

[dammad1]

Was it not a KTM that Townely won the world mx2 championship on?......So the linkless rear end cant be that bad.

[NordieBoy]

I thought that is what they were talking about.

When i was looking at getting a KTM, I had to say I liked the idea in its simplicity, but there must be a reason why everyone else is doing it.

ATK doesn't either.

[merv]

Was it not a KTM that Townely won the world mx2 championship on?......So the linkless rear end cant be that bad.

Yep and he came third wasn't it the year after in MX1 so yeah can't be that bad.

[chris]

so yeah can't be that bad.
Bad enough to turn down big money offers however.

[Danger]

I don't think his rear shock had anything to do with Ben going to America for less money.

[chris]

I don't think his rear shock had anything to do with Ben going to America for less money.
Ben went to the States to beat the US riders, which he's doing. Money, shocks etc had nothing to do with it.

[Danger]

Exactly. Your posts above indicated that he turned down big money in Europe because his rear shock was so bad. Now you've changed your mind, or I'm just not following your posts very well.

[chris]

Your posts above indicated that he turned down big money in Europe because his rear shock was so bad
No it didn't. This "Bad enough to turn down big money offers however" just indicates that he turned down an offer from KTM, not where or when.
My other posts stated that BT didn't like the the rear shock arrangement on the KTM and neither did other riders including Everts who is now with the KTM team.

[Danger]

OK, don't talk in riddles. Are you now saying that KTM in the USA offered him big money which he turned down because of the shock?

[chris]

OK, don't talk in riddles. Are you now saying that KTM in the USA offered him big money which he turned down because of the shock?

That is what I was told. It's also definitely Honda next year according to what we know but as long as he keeps giving Villopoto the sads, who cares what brand!

[Danger]

Ok thanks for the clarification. Don't be afraid to just come out and say it next time.

[umka]

as long as he keeps giving Villopoto the sads, who cares what brand!

there couldnt be a truer statment



BT :first: RV :second: Dungey:third:



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