Ben Townley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ben Townley (Born Dec 12, 1984) 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 125cc/MX2 World Championships. In his first few seasons (2001-2003), aboard privateer support and later factory KTM bikes, Townley emerged as a major force in the GP scene, with multiple podiums and several victories.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Ben Townley prepares before the 2007 Washougal motocross national.

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 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 (and close friend) 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 teamate Ryan Villopoto kept the points race close during the the 2007 Motocross series with Ben Townley finishing a close second to his teammate.

Ben 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. Ben is still scheduled to compete in the AMA Motocross series for Red Bull Honda though. The Kawasaki Team Would Love For BT To Come Back To Us