by Steve Cox
450 Words: Lakewood
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PrintWhen the TLD/Lucas Oil Honda team let the news out that they had signed Ben Townley to take on the 450cc Nationals, a lot of people didn’t know what to make of it. On hand, Ben Townley is Ben Townley. He’s gnarly. He always has been, and he very likely always will be. On the other hand, though, he hadn’t raced in two years, and very few people outside of Damon Bradshaw have taken a sabbatical like that and been able to win again. And on top of that, he was slated to be racing for the Troy Lee team, which would be making its debut in the 450cc class with Townley behind the throttle.
Combine the new 450cc team, new Honda 450 (for Townley), and two years out of competition, and there were bound to be some doubters. But most of them who were paying attention stopped doubting by the time the second moto finished at Hangtown.
Ben Townley kills a rut on his way to second overall in Colorado.
Photo: Steve Cox
No, Townley didn’t win at Hangtown. He didn’t even get on the box. But what he did do was pass his way into the thick of the battle up front in both motos before falls knocked him back a bit. In the second moto, at one point, he ran second before he fell.
Who comes off the couch (almost literally in Townley’s case, as he spent six of the nine weeks prior to Hangtown laid up with an internal injury) and lays the wood to the likes of Andrew Short, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant and the rest of the AMA’s top 450cc riders, even if it was sort of spoiled with falls?
Ben Townley does, that’s who.
Doubters were silenced even a bit more at the Glen Helen US GP, where Townley absolutely dismantled the rest of the field in the second moto.
Townley’s only Achilles Heel was that he wasn’t quite in shape yet (refer back to the "off the couch" bit above), and he continued to make small, but costly, mistakes.
The mistakes continued in the first moto in Colorado, where Townley had not one but two falls, but still managed to grab sixth place. But in the second moto, Townley held it together, started third, then worked his way past former teammate Andrew Short and into second, where he stayed until the finish, with only current SX champ and outdoor points leader Ryan Dungey in front of him.
To top if off, the 6-2 score landed Townley second overall on the day – his first podium finish since his return to racing.
The last thing Townley needs to figure out is what happened with that Dungey kid since the last time they raced in 2007...
Ryan Dungey has been eating his Wheaties since the last time he raced Ben Townley outdoors.
Photo: Steve Cox
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Townley is on a good bike and his speed looks good. Give it another race or two and I honestly believe that BT101 will be on top of the podium, and get another couple poduim finishes this season. No one should honestly expect him to be a championship contender this year. He is finding his speed and getting healthy and strong. In 2011, barring any injuries, he will be a title contender for the outdoors--count on it!!!
Yeah please with the RV comment, dgizzy. Townley was out for 2 years with many injuries, including a perforated bowel just this year. RV was out for the nationals last year and he came back quite nicely. Supposedly he will be walking shortly and probably riding not too much longer after that. We might see him at a race or two before the year ends? But Kawasaki better plan on keeping him. Reed is under contract next year (pretty sure), so if that is the case dropping him still means paying him. In other words not happening unless he decides to retire. I say Pourcel makes it a 3 rider Kawasaki team or becomes Pro Circuit's first 450 rider.
When the music stops and the chairs are full, some (more) good riders are going to be w/o after contract season ends. KTM re commiting to the class will see some darned good talent ending up there. They need a stable, non-injury prone, good R&D, SX rider. Any bets on an orange #29?
I think Shorty is going to find some pissed off, frustrated, down deep speed and rage the rest of the season, I'm Colorado boy now, what do ya want from me? Honda will keep him and with Canard they can fly the "H" flag. Reed is thinking that Super V8's seem pretty good right now.
yeah, what is up with Reed so far? I expected more from him this year. However, I understand at that level, it only takes one thing to be off [be it bike settings, team, health, mental toughness] and you're behind the 8 ball already.
another unintelligent d****y post. if you're over 18 id be shocked
dgizzy*****
BKR, Reeds second year in his Kawasaki contract is optional.
Lewisid1, you are close; RV won 14, BT won 8. They ended up 9 points apart. What is interesting, is that last year, CP won 13, RD 6. I only maintained the BT/RV were very close that summer, you maintain that was not so, evidently that RV was considerably faster based on their ration of moto wins to each other (14/8) of 1.75. Correct? So given that the CP/RD ratio (13/6) works out to 2.17, we can agree (using your math) that CP was even that much faster than RD. In fact, both pairs were very close, with RV and CP each being the faster pilot over races won on-track.
"ElsinoreRacer"...Well, you got me there, and I'm not sure if I'm just being biast because I'm a huge Dungey fan (MN boy). But I thought Dungey and CP were more evenly matched than RV and BT. The stats say otherwise, but Neither Dungey nor Pourcel really passed the other in a race and walked away. I think Pourcel won more motos due to putting himself in the right spot on starts, Which is a valid reason to win (you gotta be in it to win it). RV on the other hand just consistently seemed to be faster on the track than BT......Overall though, I agree with your post.
Dgizzy and Yz'Sean have been spending way too much time together. Where do they come up with half this dookey??? whatever happens to reed outdoors happens. He will surely Be training extra hard, because he wants 1 more SX title. everybody wants to go out on top. as for RV getting droppen from Kawi... Never going to happen. I think honda should do what yamaha did. Get out for good. Townley and metty are all over short on non factory bikes, smoking him. RV and RD are both men on missions. Both of them feels they diserve to be on top, therefore they will battle for years to come. I'm gonna put my money that if RV doesn't win championships, He will always be winning races if healthy.
I can't believe Reed is being all but left out of the discussion about who can beat RD. I am not a Reed guy but I bet he gets a few podiums and a win or two before the season is over. Reed has the skills and experience to potentially podium any race he is in.
Dgizzy isn't even a real person. I think he's the alter ego of Ping or DC. No one could be that off the wall and entertaining at the same time. Read between the lines, he knows more than most of you but comes off like a real ditz. He likes to bait you guys.