Townley sustains broken nose in Steel City‏

The penultimate round of the Lucas
Oil AMA Pro Motocross series has dealt a painful blow to New Zealander Ben
Townley.    The Lucas Oil – Troy Lee – Honda
racer received a rock to the face in the opening  450 moto while
chasing eventual overall winner and fellow Honda rider, Kevin
Windham.  The painful incident did not keep the gutsy Kiwi from
soldiering on to secure a well deserved podium finish as he had to fight
back to third while keeping a charging Andrew Short at bay.

‘Lady Luck’ also
deserted Townley in the second moto when he tangled and crashed with
Australian Michael Byrne in the first turn.   BT could not
continue the race due to a damaged motorcycle and had to return to the pits
disappointed.

“I was right on Kevin when we
hit the wall jump on the first lap and his back wheel spat out a rock that
connected me right on the nose.    At first I thought of
pulling out as the pain was that bad but the adrenalin must of taken over
and I had to work my way back from around 6^th spot to 3rd. 
It was really close racing with Short towards the end of the moto but I
managed to hold on.  We patched up the nose for moto 2 but my race
didn’t last very long with the first turn crash so it was a day to
forget.  I’m looking forward to racing Pala next weekend.”
commented Townley.   

Race results:

450 Class
(Moto Finish)

1. Kevin
   Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda (1-2)
   


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


3. Justin
   Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (5-4)
   


4. Andrew
   Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (4-5)
   


5. Mike
   Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (7-7)
   


6. Ryan
   Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (40-1)
   


7. Nick
   Paluzzi, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (10-8)
   


8. Kyle
   Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (14-6)
   


9. Robert
   Kiniry, Syracuse, N.Y., Suzuki (9-11)
   


10. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (3-37)
    

450 Class
Championship Standings

1. Ryan
   Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 493
   


2. Brett
   Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 356


3. Andrew
   Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 351
   


4. Mike
   Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 301
   


5. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 291


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


7. Kyle
   Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 238
   


8. Ryan
   Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 211
   


9. Chad Reed,
   Australia, Kawasaki, 204


10. Nick Wey,
    Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki, 201


11. Kyle
    Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 201