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TOWNLEY TAKES VICTORY IN FRANCE BUT USA SAMPLE NATIONS GLORY
25 September 2005 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG
Factory Red Bull KTM’s Ben Townley scored a first and a second in his two rides for New Zealand at the 59th Motocross of Nations today.
The Ernee circuit in France saw a bumper 60,000 crowd packed into the venue over the weekend and in warm sunny conditions to see the world’s best motocrossers compete against each other. USA walked away with the Chamberlain trophy for the sixteenth time and Ricky Carmichael was undefeated. Heavy rain during the night and the morning helped soak the track that was badly in need of watering during Saturday’s practice and qualification. Again the circuit was swamped by spectators. The paddock was almost un-passable for the volume of people and the hillside that flanked the track was a human sea of faces, colours and flags. Townley, contesting the MX Open class onboard his SX 450F, won the second of three motos on the race programme (MX Open and MX2) and signed off his five year stint in Europe and four year relationship with KTM by finishing a strong second behind Ricky Carmichael in the last sprint of 35 minutes and 2 laps (MX1 and MX Open). Despite his efforts New Zealand could only finish fourth. Team France were second overall and new KTM recruit Sebastien Tortelli experienced an up and down afternoon. The former World Champion was seventh and second-best MX2 rider in the first moto but crashed three times in the next race and crossed the line a lap down in a lowly twenty-ninth. Steve Ramon completed a four year term with KTM by helping 2004 Champions Belgium to third place and the last step of the podium. The 2003 125cc World Champion produced a strong performance on the SX 250F in the MX2 class with eighth and third positions. His result in the second race was the highest classification attained by a MX2 rider. Tyla Rattray was sixteenth and eighteenth and did not enjoy his best form riding in MX2 for South Africa while Carl Nunn was extremely content with his role in lifting Great Britain to fifth place by being the fourth and third best MX2 representative in both of his outings. Marc de Reuver enjoyed a dress rehearsal on the 450 (MX1 class) by holding fifth position in the initial moto until a fall demoted him to eighth. The Dutchman showed good speed in the final race of the day to place sixth and push Holland to seventh. David Philippaerts rode the 450 for Italy in the Open category and showed his capabilities on the bigger machine with a top finish of fourth in the second moto (MX Open and MX2). MX3 campaigner Julian Bill was fourteenth and twenty-ninth for Switzerland.
Steve Ramon:
“My riding was good today, especially considering I have only practiced twice with the bike this week; I was surprised with my speed actually. In the first moto I really had to push to come to the front because it was not easy to pass the bigger bikes. Sebastien was a little bit stronger than me and I was struggling towards the end. My start was much better in the second moto and I pushed really hard early on because I was right at the front. I went on to take third and that was great; I am happy to be on the podium.”
Sebastien Tortelli:
“It was tough work from the start because I was right on the outside of the gate and it was hard to come to the front. I felt great on the KTM and the bike was working awesome so I was really happy with my first moto. In the second race I wanted to do well perhaps too much. I collided with Ivan but that is what racing is about; bumping, rubbing and going for the win. I am happy to be here on the podium with the French team.” Ben Townley:
“In the first race I did not get a very good start but I came through pretty quickly and I was desperate that the leaders would not get away. I went down when the front slipped away from me. Vuillemin and Ramon went through but I soon overtook them again. I was pushing hard but then Windham crashed and that gave me the lead. In the second moto my goggles broke on the line and I completely fluffed the start. Again I wanted to get to the front as soon as possible and I got close to Ricky, trying as hard as I could, but could not get close enough. I just did my best for the Europeans. The time for all this ‘they are better than us, we are better than them’ stuff now has to stop. Ricky is the best rider in the world and after him it is a lot less obvious.” Carl Nunn:
“I had a good first turn in the first race but Ramon and Tortelli went by me and they were really on the gas. I was running with Tedesco and wanted to beat him but he got away from me slightly and I lost his back wheel. In the second race I got an even better start but was out-dragged on the straight and got closed off going into the corner. Again I lost some positions but found a good rhythm and made some decent moves to regain places. I had a busy race with McFarlane and Rodrigues. I am happy with what I did for Britain and it was more than I thought I could do.” Tyla Rattray:
“I did not get a good start in the first moto and was messing around on the first few laps. I was riding terribly and a bit stiff; I found it hard to get into a rhythm. In the second moto I found it easier having warmed up and felt much better on the bike. I got into ninth and maybe would have got eighth but I had a small crash around the back and it took me a while to get going because I was on the hill. I haven’t ridden well this weekend but the second moto was not too bad.” Marc de Reuver:
“Fifth place was in my pocket in the first race and a stupid mistake made me lose some positions. I crashed quite hard on the double jump but I was able to restart the bike with three kicks so I could still finish eighth. In the third heat of the day I was feeling good on the bike and my speed was OK. I was a little bit tired towards the end but I was happy.” Moto1 (MX1 and MX2) 1. Carmichael, Ricky Suzuki 35:52.761
2. Coppins, Joshua Honda 36:00.181
3. Pichon, Mickael Honda 36:07.889
4. Leok, Tanel Kawasaki 36:33.092
5. Everts, Stefan Yamaha 36:48.056
6. Tedesco, Ivan Kawasaki 36:49.925
7. Tortelli, Sébastien KTM 36:50.723
8. de Reuver, Marc KTM 37:01.901
9. Ramon, Steve KTM 37:04.875
10. Mackenzie, Billy Yamaha 37:14.988
11. Nunn, Carl KTM 37:16.850
18. Rattray, Tyla KTM 37:50.832 Moto2 (MX2 and MX Open) 1. Townley, Ben KTM 36:13.816
2. Vuillemin, David Yamaha 36:23.311
3. Ramon, Steve KTM 36:32.988
4. Philippaerts, David KTM 36:35.110
5. Windham, Kevin Honda 36:51.853
6. Strijbos, Kevin Suzuki 36:56.094
7. Garcia Vico, F Honda 37:18.508
8. Ristori, Marc Honda 37:20.725
9. Atsuta, Yoshitaka Suzuki 37:21.575
10. Seistola, Matti Honda 37:27.664
11. Nunn, Carl KTM 37:28.372
16. Rattray, Tyla KTM 37:48.148
29. Tortelli, Sébastien KTM 37:11.056 Moto3 (MX1 and MX Open) 1. Carmichael, Ricky Suzuki 35:34.904
2. Townley, Ben KTM 35:39.967
3. Windham, Kevin Honda 35:50.717
4. Coppins, Joshua Honda 36:12.696
5. Pichon, Mickael Honda 36:17.609
6. de Reuver, Marc KTM 36:22.992
7. Vuillemin, David Yamaha 36:29.152
8. Strijbos, Kevin Suzuki 36:33.253
9. Everts, Stefan Yamaha 36:36.942
10. Leok, Tanel Kawasaki 36:39.921
14. Philippaerts, D KTM 37:18.000 Overall Nations Classification 1. USA 16
2. France 24
3. Belgium 31
4. New Zealand 32
5. Great Britain 56
6. Estonia 59
7. Netherlands 82
8. Portugal 83
9. Republic of South Africa 86
10. Spain 99
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