Townley ends Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Champs with 4th overall.

The 12^th and final round
of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross championships has seen New Zealander B
en Townley round off the championship with a well deserved 4^th

overall.   After a two year layoff due to injury, the gutsy Kiwi
also fought through another setback at the start of the season when he
perforated his bowel while practicing at home in New Zealand but still
managed to start the series, missing valuable testing and physical
preparation time.

With a 28 year absence of MX in the
San Diego county, fans were delighted to see Pala Raceway host its
inaugural event and thousands turned out to watch the race.   As
moto 1 got underway, BT 101 did not get the start he needed and he quickly
had to fight his way through the pack.   He managed to shut down
and pass Mike Alessi and last week’s overall winner Kevin
Windham.   Ryan Sipes and Kyle Regal were both running a fast
pace but Townley could not find that extra speed to run them down and had
to settle for 6^th spot.

A similar start in moto 2 left
Townley with some work to do and it took him 5 laps to settle into a rhythm
before he attacked Ryan Sipes and a mistake by Metcalf handing him another
position.   Next on the list was Kyle Regal  and then Kyle
Chisholm as Townley moved into 3^rd spot with just over five
minutes left on the clock.   A charging Metcalfe made for some
exciting racing however Townley could not keep the Australian at bay as he
had to relinquish 3^rd with 2 laps to go.

“Looking back on the
championship I guess I can’t be too disappointed with 4^th
overall after such a long layoff but there were also some opportunities I
missed this year.   I am really glad to be back racing and to
have a season under my belt.   I want to thank the Lucas Oil
– Troy Lee Designs – Honda team and Redbull for giving me this
opportunity and supporting me with getting my career back on track. 
My goal is still to win races and championships and I am really looking
forward to doing everything possible to achieve that in the future.”
commented Townley.

Townley will now represent Team NZ
at the Motocross of Nations to be held in Denver, Colorado on the 25-26
September.

Race results:

Round 12 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn.,
   Suzuki (1-1)


2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas,
   Honda (3-2)


3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda
   (2-3)


4. Ben Townley, New
   Zealand, Honda (6-4)


5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky.,
   Yamaha (4-6)


6. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla.,
   Yamaha (9-5)


7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss.,
   Honda (7-8)


8. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa,
   Yamaha (12-7)


9. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda
   (5-14)


10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki
    (11-9)

450 Class Championship
Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn.,
   Suzuki, 543


2. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda,
   398


3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas,
   Honda, 393


4. Ben Townley, New
   Zealand, Honda, 321


5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif.,
   KTM, 314


6. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla.,
   Yamaha, 266


7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif.,
   Yamaha, 260


8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky.,
   Yamaha, 234


9. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda,
   224


10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki,
    223