BT wins again

**denill** · 22nd April 2007, 18:02

Originally Posted by paturoa

and in between we have the, de Nations!

Yeah! you're right there - and the chance of Kiwis on the top of the rostrom are VERY, VERY good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**arj127** · 22nd April 2007, 18:38

Great to see Ben is back on top winning races and championships.

**wayne708** · 22nd April 2007, 21:38

Great to see we have a winner from the weekend. What with the rugby,the league, yatching, cricket, and Holden winning at Puekohe it hasn't been the best weekend for me. Good on yer Ben, keep it up.

**FlangMasterJ** · 22nd April 2007, 22:59

Congratulations to Ben for his win. Hope to see hom dominate the outdoors season then move up to the 450's.

**denill** · 23rd April 2007, 07:21

Date: 21 April 2007.
Press release:

Ben Townley crowned Supercross Lites East coast champion.

New Zealand’s Supercross sensation, Ben Townley, has been crowned Supercross Lites East Coast champion at the 7th and deciding round of the Amp’d Mobile SX series in Detroit Michigan. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider pulled back a huge points deficit over the duration of the series after a first round DNF had the 22-year-old almost counted out of the running.

With 3 points separating Townley from points leader, Ryan Morais and five from team-mate Darcy Lange, it would be a tough, three way battle for the title. Townley qualified fastest in timed practice however a hard heat race saw the Kiwi finish third to place him directly into the 15 lap final.

The Ford field stadium was on it’s feet as the gate dropped for the SX Lites final with Ryan Dungey grabbing the lead in front of Ryan Morais. Townley trailed in fourth after being pushed wide in the first turn when Ryan Morais stalled is machine on the second lap. With this stroke of luck, the title was virtually in Townley’s grasps as he strung together a bunch of consistent laps to pass Billy Laninovich for second. Townley kept his cool, certain not to make any detrimental mistakes and crossed the finish line with his first hard earned AMA Supercross Lites title in the bag.

“This a dream come true,” choked Townley with tear-filled eyes. “It’s unexplainable – so many emotions, so much hard work and so much blood, sweat and tears have gone into winning this championship – I can’t find words to describe it. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki team have been awesome. I have to thank Mitch, my mechanic, Craig Behl and all the guys in the team who have helped make this happen. THOR, Parts Unlimited, Alpinestars, Scott, Amp’d Mobile and all our other sponsors have stood by me when things were tough and this payback for them all. I’ve dreamt about this moment since I was kid and to have it come true, with my family, friends and fans here with me, is just awesome.”

Townley will head to Las Vegas on the 5th of May for the coveted East vs West coast shoot-out after which the AMA Motocross season will kick off two weeks later at Hangtown in Sacramento, CA.

www.bentownleymx.com

Results:
Detroit SX - Supercross Lites East coast

1 Ryan M Dungey Belle Plaine, MN Suzuki RM-Z250

2 Ben Townley Tallahassee, FL Kawasaki KX250F

3 Thomas K Hahn Decatur, TX Honda CRF250R

4 Billy R Laninovich Lake Elsinore, CA Honda CRF250R

5 Ryan Morais Temecula, CA Yamaha YZ250F

6 Branden L Jesseman New Brighton, PA Yamaha YZ250F

7 Kelly D Smith Ludington, MI Suzuki RM-Z250

8 Mike A Alessi Victorville, CA KTM 250SXF

9 Matt Boni Geneva, FL Kawasaki KX250F

10 Darcy G Lange Hemet, CA Kawasaki KX250F

Supercross Lites East coast final championship standings:

1 133 B. Townley

2 130 R. Morais

3 117 D. Lange

4 103 B. Jesseman

5 98 R. Dungey

6 85 B. Laninovich

7 84 T. Hahn

8 84 M. Alessi

9 83 M. Goerke

10 68 J. Brayton

**denill** · 23rd April 2007, 07:27

Some pics from Detroit:

**NordieBoy** · 23rd April 2007, 07:40

You little beauty

**denill** · 27th April 2007, 16:08

Mark your calendars:

Townley becomes one of the pre-race favorites for the upcoming Dave Coombs Memorial East/West Supercross Shootout in Las Vegas on May 5. He’s also considered one of the pre-season favorites in the Motocross Lites division of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF that kicks off on May 20 at the Hangtown Classic near Sacramento.

**telliman** · 27th April 2007, 19:15

persoally i dont think anyone has the bike speed to stick it to RV,every year or two the lites throw up someone with the xfactor and rv is that (and ryan dungy maybe), but unless rv gose down and out in the first corner then enough said. FIRST ROUND, OUT DOORS, JUDGMENT TIME! WORTH THE WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!!!!!

**scott411** · 28th April 2007, 09:16

Originally Posted by telliman

persoally i dont think anyone has the bike speed to stick it to RV,every year or two the lites throw up someone with the xfactor and rv is that (and ryan dungy maybe), but unless rv gose down and out in the first corner then enough said. FIRST ROUND, OUT DOORS, JUDGMENT TIME! WORTH THE WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!!!!!

i think your wrong
BT has ran with RC, (des Nations France 05) he won 3 sx and a title in his first year of sx (RV only won 1and finished 3rd in his)
it is going to be the BT vs RV show int eh nationals this year, i think BT can run with RV anbd beat him straight up at some tracks, it will be an exciting season,

**telliman** · 28th April 2007, 09:20

was refering to the east/west, your bang on for the outdoors!

**scott411** · 28th April 2007, 09:34

from teh interviews i have seen i think that BT is not really worried about vegas, with the track being so slick out their a start will make a big difference,

for the record i think RV will win as well, BT on the podium with Dungrey as well

**denill** · 28th April 2007, 11:10

Originally Posted by scott411

from teh interviews i have seen i think that BT is not really worried about vegas, with the track being so slick out their a start will make a big difference, for the record i think RV will win as well, BT on the podium with Dungrey as well

Read on Racer X:

When it happens, it happens fast. It’s been quite a week for Ben Townley: he’s on the cover of the new Dirt Rider, Motocross Illustrated and Cycle News, and there’s certainly more to come! Townley’s rise from the ashes of last season has been an inspiration for everyone but his competition, and now he’s looking like one of the main contenders to Ryan Villopoto’s reign in the Lites outdoors. When we checked in with him Monday, he was already out in California, finally testing his outdoor bike.

“I’m way behind on this, but it will be all right,” he said, no doubt referring to the amount of extra testing time Villopoto got because he clinched his title way, way earlier. Either way, with Townley healthy, Ryan Dungey riding extremely well, and Jason Lawrence maybe getting his act together (more on that below), the Lites could be the race to watch this summer.