Ben Townley
Encyclopedia
Ben Townley is a professional motocross
rider originating from Taupo, New Zealand.
After claiming multiple National championships in his native New Zealand, Townley moved to Europe and began campaigning the MX2-GP World Championships. He rode for the German PHASE Suzuki
team in 2001, but after internal troubles, left the team towards the end of the season and joined the Vangani Racing team. In 2002, this team became known as the "Dream Team" as Townley and teammates Tyla Rattray
and Tanel Leok
, all still teenagers, scorched to top 10 results in GP after GP. Townley started the 2002 off with a second place at the GP of Valkenswaard
, and after a few more podium finishes, he scored his first GP victory at the GP of Sweden at Uddevalla
. He continued his good form at the Champ KTM
team in 2003, and made his mark as a definite word championship contender.
In 2004, riding the prototype KTM
250-SXF four stroke, Townley won the MX2 World Championship over teammates future champ Antonio Cairoli
and teammates Tyla Rattray
and Marc DeReuver. Townley had reached a new level of speed and endurance, winning nearly every race when his prototype machine did not fail.
2005 saw Townley move up to the MX1-GP class aboard a 450cc KTM. Townley won several GPs in the premier division in that rookie season, and was a consistent threat for the win by the end of the year. He finished third behind champion Stefan Everts
and fellow New Zealander Josh Coppins
.
Townley and Coppins represented their country at the 2005 Motocross des Nations
in Ernée
, France. It was there that Townley first faced the premier American riders who typically contend only their National championships. Townley was superb, running faster than Kevin Windham
, Mickael Pichon
and Stefan Everts
, and was only defeated by American champion Ricky Carmichael
, who is widely considered the fastest rider in the world.
Thereafter Townley moved to the United States and settled near Carmichael's home in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a member of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit team and races a Kawasaki
KX250F in the Motocross/Supercross Lites class. In 2006 Townley suffered a severe knee injury while preparing for the Supercross
Lites East championship and subsequently sat out the majority of the 2006 season.
Townley returned to the Supercross championship in 2007 and won the 2007 Supercross Lites East championship over rookie Ryan Dungey
and Ryan Morias. Ben Townley and teammate Ryan Villopoto
kept the points race close during the 2007 Motocross series with Townley finishing a close second to his teammate.
Townley signed with Team Honda
Red Bull Racing for the 2008 Supercross/Motocross season riding the Honda CR250F for the Supercross series and the CR450F for the Motocross series. Due to breaking his foot while training for the 2008 Monster Energy AMA
East Coast Supercross Lites series Ben was not able to compete. Because of this, Benjamin Coisey from France, took his spot for the East Coast Lites series racing for Red Bull Honda. Townley is still scheduled to compete in the AMA Motocross series for Red Bull Honda though.
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
rider originating from Taupo, New Zealand.
After claiming multiple National championships in his native New Zealand, Townley moved to Europe and began campaigning the MX2-GP World Championships. He rode for the German PHASE Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
team in 2001, but after internal troubles, left the team towards the end of the season and joined the Vangani Racing team. In 2002, this team became known as the "Dream Team" as Townley and teammates Tyla Rattray
Tyla Rattray
Tyla Rattray , is a Grand Prix motocross world champion.Rattray made his first foray into international racing in 1999 when he participated in the inaugural FIM 85cc world cup at Gaildorf, Germany...
and Tanel Leok
Tanel Leok
Tanel Leok is an Estonian motocross racer competing in the FIM Motocross World Championships in MX1 class.-Early life:...
, all still teenagers, scorched to top 10 results in GP after GP. Townley started the 2002 off with a second place at the GP of Valkenswaard
Valkenswaard
Valkenswaard is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality had 30,871 citizens and spans an area of 56,50 square kilometers ....
, and after a few more podium finishes, he scored his first GP victory at the GP of Sweden at Uddevalla
Uddevalla
Uddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak...
. He continued his good form at the Champ KTM
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
team in 2003, and made his mark as a definite word championship contender.
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
250-SXF four stroke, Townley won the MX2 World Championship over teammates future champ Antonio Cairoli
Antonio Cairoli
Antonio "Tony" Cairoli is an Italian five-time Grand Prix motocross world champion.Cairoli began his motocross Grand Prix career in 2002 riding a Yamaha. He was the 2005 FIM world champion in the MX2-GP class. In 2007 he again won the MX2-GP world championship as well as the English supercross...
and teammates Tyla Rattray
Tyla Rattray
Tyla Rattray , is a Grand Prix motocross world champion.Rattray made his first foray into international racing in 1999 when he participated in the inaugural FIM 85cc world cup at Gaildorf, Germany...
and Marc DeReuver. Townley had reached a new level of speed and endurance, winning nearly every race when his prototype machine did not fail.
2005 saw Townley move up to the MX1-GP class aboard a 450cc KTM. Townley won several GPs in the premier division in that rookie season, and was a consistent threat for the win by the end of the year. He finished third behind champion Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records....
and fellow New Zealander Josh Coppins
Josh Coppins
Joshua Coppins is a professional motocross racer who rides for the Aprilia factory racing team. He began his international racing career in 1996 as a privateer. Coppins was runner up to Mickaël Pichon in the 2002 F.I.M. 250cc world championship riding a Honda...
.
Townley and Coppins represented their country at the 2005 Motocross des Nations
Motocross des Nations
The Motocross des Nations is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross"...
in Ernée
Ernée
Ernée is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is named after the River Ernée, which runs through the town and is situated about halfway between the towns of Laval and Fougères...
, France. It was there that Townley first faced the premier American riders who typically contend only their National championships. Townley was superb, running faster than Kevin Windham
Kevin Windham
Kevin Windham , is a professional motocross racer from Centreville, Mississippi. At 17 he received a full factory ride from Team Yamaha...
, Mickael Pichon
Mickaël Pichon
Mickaël Pichon is a French motorcross racer.Pichon took part in the Supercross circuit in the USA from 1995 until 1999. He became World Champion twice in this competition, while racing for Kawasaki. He then came back to Europe and signed a contract with Suzuki to compete in the 250cc motocross...
and Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records....
, and was only defeated by American champion Ricky Carmichael
Ricky Carmichael
Ricky Carmichael is a racer known for his success in Motocross. He is currently competing in NASCAR. He drives the #4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series and the #30 Chevrolet Impala part-time for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series...
, who is widely considered the fastest rider in the world.
Thereafter Townley moved to the United States and settled near Carmichael's home in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a member of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit team and races a Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
KX250F in the Motocross/Supercross Lites class. In 2006 Townley suffered a severe knee injury while preparing for the Supercross
Supercross
Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Professional supercross contest races are held almost exclusively within professional baseball and football stadiums.-History:Supercross was derived...
Lites East championship and subsequently sat out the majority of the 2006 season.
Townley returned to the Supercross championship in 2007 and won the 2007 Supercross Lites East championship over rookie Ryan Dungey
Ryan Dungey
Ryan Dungey is a professional motocross racer competing in the AMA Supercross and Motocross championships.His hometown is Belle Plaine, Minnesota, although he currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, so he can take advantage of the good weather for riding with 15-time AMA Champion Ricky...
and Ryan Morias. Ben Townley and teammate Ryan Villopoto
Ryan Villopoto
Ryan Villopoto is a motocross and supercross champion who currently competes in the AMA Supercross series and the AMA Lucas Oil Motocross series. He resides in Mennifee California and will race for Kawasaki in the 2012 supercross and outdoor motocross series...
kept the points race close during the 2007 Motocross series with Townley finishing a close second to his teammate.
Townley signed with Team Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Red Bull Racing for the 2008 Supercross/Motocross season riding the Honda CR250F for the Supercross series and the CR450F for the Motocross series. Due to breaking his foot while training for the 2008 Monster Energy AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
East Coast Supercross Lites series Ben was not able to compete. Because of this, Benjamin Coisey from France, took his spot for the East Coast Lites series racing for Red Bull Honda. Townley is still scheduled to compete in the AMA Motocross series for Red Bull Honda though.
External links
- BenTownleyMX.com - Official site