Planning ahead
By Alex Hodgkinson on 12th Oct 04
The dust still hasn't settled on his first MX2 crown and Ben Townley's already looking forward to winning the '05 MX1 title... "IN MY mind I can only have one thought for 2005 - to win the MX1 world championship. It's going to take a lot of work during the winter but, if I didn't think I could do it, then I wouldn't say it. I know I can win races and I realistically believe that I can win the title too. Other people have different thoughts but they don't know what I ride like on those bikes." The celebrations were still in full swing for Ben Townley, who has annihilated the MX2 world - he won at least one moto at all-bar-one GP in every corner of Europe - this summer but the 19-year-old Kiwi was already looking ahead with the indefatigable (and justifiable) self-confidence that's indelibly implanted in his psyche. And he's far from alone in recognising his ability. KTM moved mountains to ensure they kept BT and Stefan Everts has already admitted openly that he awaits the new challenge with anticipation. Though still a teenager, Ben has first-hand knowledge that injuries can cut a swathe through the best-laid plans after a life-threatening off-season crash before the start of his '03 campaign left him with a shattered wrist and torn liver. But the openness of his character and 100 per cent commitment at all times leaves no room for calculated hamster tactics. They are the facets of his character that make Ben so endearing to his army of dedicated fans. And luck is not a word in his vocabulary. "I think everyone will always be maturing but I could have done the same already in 2003 if I hadn't got hurt. But I did and I've always said if it's meant to happen then it's meant to happen. You just have to get on with it. "So many people said I just needed to be careful in the last few GPs but I tried that in the first race at Namur. I went out there, just riding round and being too cautious and I was doing myself more harm than good. I was thinking points and I was leaving myself open to getting taken out. "Then, all of a sudden, I decided to get on with my race, dropped my lap times by two seconds and I moved up three positions in two laps. If I just ride like normal, then the risk is smaller than trying to ride cautiously. For the remainder of the series I just treated them like any other race." Even this year injuries have never been far away. "But each of them has just made me stronger. At Valkenswaard I stepped up to Marc (De Reuver) because I didn't want to lose there. And I won both races. Many people said I would have lost the second moto but I think I have a mental advantage over the other guys in MX2 and he broke the bike trying to beat me. I hadn't ridden in two weeks and my ankle wasn't moving that much, then I injured it again on Sunday morning and the pain was the main thing I had to overcome." The next heart-stopper was Teutschenthal. "I think I could have finished the race but I was just so angry at the way the flagmen handled the situation. It took two MX1 riders to get on the track to push everyone over. I was like disco dancing to get to my bike but every time I came close somebody else flew over the jump and nearly landed on me. I think I could have scored points if I could have got back to my bike but it is such close racing at that track and I was too far behind when I finally did restart." Tumbling 30 yards down a 45° slope during practice at Namur was, according to Ben, nothing to worry about. "I didn't crash. I just fell over in the mud and couldn't stop from sliding down the hill." A more perilous escape came one week earlier in Czecho. "Loket was huge. I just got thrashed by the bike. Honestly, when I stood up, I was amazed that nothing was broken. It was on the tabletop at the bottom of the track - I endoed and the bike came down on top of me. "There's not many people down there and nobody realised how close I had been. The bike was written off but I went back and got the second bike and went out again straight away to finish the session, so nobody realised. I was pretty lucky to get away with that one - all weekend from then it was tough just to get in and out of the camper let alone get out and ride the bike so I was so pumped to win that race. I've had some awesome GPs and I've had some tough times but I have won some of those and that just makes it even better." Ben has already begun his preparation for the step-up to MX1 in 2005. "My first race on a 450 this year was Desertmartin, then in August I raced the Belgian championship. Both those races were with production bikes but I have already started testing on the '05 factory bike. "We're not starting from the ground up but it will be a long winter, particularly for me, because I have to get physically ready. The '05 bike has a new frame but the other characteristics of the bike are very much like the 250. For me the biggest change is the weight - having to handle those MX1 bikes for 40 minutes is really difficult. I'm sure the team will be there for both Steve (Ramon) and me and we will probably each do our own thing but I don't think the bikes will be very different because his riding style is pretty similar to mine. "I like smooth power and good torque so I don't notice the extra power that much but one thing I've already learned is that you have to have a lot of respect for those bikes. You don't ride those bikes, they ride you. You can't play around on a 450 or they will throw you off. "I'm only going home to New Zealand for about 30 days around Christmas and that's the time of year to take a break anyway. My body is still growing anyway as a 19-year-old but racing the 450 can only be beneficial - I'm only going to mature more quickly. I also have to be stronger and build up physically. It just takes a lot of hard work and dedication so that, when I come into next year, I'll be ready." And the recipe for success is belief in himself. ":I won't be thinking about beating Stefan or anyone else. I don't go into the championship thinking about other people. I've never done that. I have to believe in my own ability - and I do - and if all goes well I can do it. "Stefan Everts is the king. He's won his eighth title this year and you have to have so much respect for the guy for having that effort to stay on top and to stay racing in Europe for so long. But he's getting older and, when you look at the last few years, his rivals have not been there, putting the pressure on him all the time. The last time he had that was in 1998 and, when he had that constant pressure, Tortelli beat him. "Realistically, this is going to be Stefan's last year racing because he's not going to want to go out anywhere but the top. He's that kind of athlete, who won't carry on racing when he starts getting beaten regularly. I'd like to think that I will do the same when my time comes." Ben's also aware of the other rivals who need to be beaten. "There's going to be Pichon, there's going to be Josh and I think Strijbos can go up to another level. I don't know so much about Pichon but he's a bit up and down and doesn't seem that strong mentally." For the first time in their careers Ben and Josh Coppins will be GP rivals. "I don't think it will strain our relationship. We're still going to share a house, to train together, we're still going to help each other - but once you're out on the track there's no love lost between any riders. But if something happens, you know it is nothing personal, it is just the desire to win and that will stay and the track and not get taken home. "Racing each other will be good motivation for both of us. When I went to Desertmartin Josh didn't want to lose that race because he knew he'd hear it all week. And if Josh rode every week like he did at Desertmartin to beat me, then I'm convinced he would have won more GPs. I hadn't been on a 450 for so long but I know I wasn't going slow and he was pulling two seconds a lap." For 2006 Ben will go to America. "It was always my dream and I've got to do it. I've got to try it out - if I didn't I would never know. It's gonna take a while to get up to pace with Carmichael, Reed and Stewart - particularly in SX - and I've set myself three years over there to get that far. Supercross is particularly high risk and injuries can happen any time but I think I'm smart enough to run less of a risk than Langston or Tortelli. "But that's another reason for riding MX1. I want to develop my riding a lot more before I go and, if I do a good enough job over the winter, it's only going to be better for me in terms of my preparation for America and I also get the chance of another world title. I want to be stronger physically and mentally and smarter before I make the big leap. "And it would be nice to win MX2, MX1 and in the US. I want to put my name up in lights alongside JMB and Albee!" Anyone want to argue? Words by Alex Hodgkinson