Ben Townley wins AMA motocross season opener

New Zealand’s top motocross talent and former MX2 world
champ, Ben Townley, has won the opening round of the AMA
Toyota Motocross championship in front of a sell out crowd in
Sacramento, California.

Having wrapped up the Supercross Lites East coast championship
less than a month prior, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/
Kawasaki star has rocketed his way into the outdoor season with
a 2-1 finish for overall honours, in front of team-mate Ryan
Villopoto.

22-year-old Townley grabbed a good start in moto 1 but lost the
front end in an off camber muddy turn on lap one. He recovered
quickly, and joined the back of the leading train of riders,
assessing their every move. An exciting battled ensued, with
Townley passing both Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey in the
same turn to move into second behind fast starter Josh Grant.
‘BT’ relegated the Californian as he blasted into the lead but a
charging Villopoto soon took over from the Kiwi. Townley
hounded his younger team-mate to the checkered flag for a
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki 1-2 finish.

The second and deciding moto was to be Townley’s from the
word go. Number 101 shot out of the gate to claim the hole-
shot and never looked back. Townley’s smooth riding style and
ability to stand in the rougher technical sections saw him pull
a steady, sizeable gap over Villopoto. Unchallenged, Townley
saluted the enthusiastic partisan crowd to take his first ever
outdoor Motocross Lites win.

“I really didn’t know what to expect today” commented Townley.
“My season has started well and I got a lot of momentum going
after the Supercross although I got caught up in the first moto
and didn’t ride how I should have. I was frustrated and went back
and assessed the race with the guys and we changed a few
settings on the bike. The hole-hot helped a lot. I got the lead and
rode really consistent, put my laps down and picked some good
lines. Once I got into my own rhythm I rode like I know how and
it was a whole different Ben Townley out there.”

Townley heads to High Point raceway in Mt Morris next weekend
for round two of the AMA Toyota Motocross championship.