BT101 Makes a Run
Monday, October 17, 2011 | 5:10 PM
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Vegas is always about the risk versus the reward, for no one more so over the weekend than Ben Townley. BT101 spent a year away from the U.S. racing scene while embarking on what turned out to be an ill-fated run at the MX1 class in the FIM GPs. Injuries ended his season early-but then again, that same thing happened far too many times while Ben was preparing for a U.S. supercross run, as well.
Ben wants back on a strong U.S. team for the 2012 AMA Pro 450 MX Championship. To show what he has, he picked up a one-race Monster Energy Cup deal with his old Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team on a 450. For Townley, who last completed an AMA Supercross season in 2007, jumping into the deep end at the MEC could be risky. Even though the event was dubbed as a hybrid between motocross and supercross, could Ben really show his motocross potential next summer on this track?
Consider the reward worth the risk. Townley rode extremely well, even holding off 2010 AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey for second place in the first main event. He was the only rider to finish in front of one of the Ryans on the night. Unfortunately, Townley ran into bad luck at the next race, courtesy of a rock.
“The chain guide got bent,” he explains. “It was slowing the chain down as I was going through the air, in turn acting like a rear brake and bringing the front down and making the big shake in the air on those big jumps. I wasn't willing to risk it for a one of race when I didn't know what was wrong.”
Outside of that first race, Townley’s results don’t show how well he rode. But he’s still happy. “I really enjoyed the track,” he says. “There was nothing I wasn't jumping that anyone else was doing so right away that made it easier to battle with some of those top guys. I felt great on my bike, Mitch and all the guys there hooked me up big time and I had a great bike and got really good starts. The first main was awesome, I was so pumped up to finish second!”
Townley leading Dungey in a stadium? What is this, 2007?
Simon Cudby photo
Of course, now that Townley proved he could still handle the jumps and turns of an indoor track, does it tempt him to maybe mount a full-time supercross comeback? “I guess it does in one way, but I have to be realistic,” he says with a laugh. “I haven't raced AMA Supercross in three years now, the guys at the top of our sport are very, very fast and to race at that level again would be a big ask, in reality. The Monster Energy Cup was a perfect track for my level of SX these days and I really enjoyed it, but I'm going to stick to my plan of outdoors only.”
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Jeff Ward/L&M team I hope for Him.
That would be cool!!! i like seeing 101 mix it up
Been missin Townley in the states, I"m sure someone will pick him up for MX it be nice to see him run SX too.
Just like the old 4 horsemen Ric Flair "Dirtiest Player in the Game!"
Take your whining back to new zealand or whereever it is your from. Im sure alot of people like you but just as many cant stand your dirty racing.
Fly that kiwi Flag, gives me a reason to come watch AMA next season, Go The All Blacks!!!!!!!
Someone give the man a ride next year! That run saturday night was impressive by any standard. To the people that keep throwing fits about the MXoN last year--it was just a racing move that ended up knocking one of them down, get over it. And yes, I'm an American so no "screw you (insert foreign nationality here)" comments please.
I think it would be sweet to see Kawasaki do Weimer in SX and Townley in MX and see if we could have another BT101 and RV battle like on the 250s. Even though I don't see him running with RV it would be cool to see.
Townley has freakin awesome speed. Just hope his accident prone days are over!!
Man, he had it bad for 2 years!!! He could not throw his leg over his bike without something bad happening!!!
He is another class act guy in the pit area. Easy to talk to and appreciative of his fans. Good luck next year Ben. Hope to see you at Hangtown and Pala!!!
@jmantattoo...build a bridge and get over it..
haha has nothing to do with the mxon... well maybe a little but not totally... The guy is a whiner. Dirty just like Alessi. Dont worry though, someone out there keeps giving these guys rides. Just goes to show which manufacturers and products they endorse some choose not to support
Jmantattoo..you must be feeling rather full are you..? cos the only thing dirty around here is the shit common out ya mouth..
@jmantattoo
i bet you read this first, why did you bother if you think he is such a dirty rider? keep your comments to yourself, i bet you cant even ride a bike.....
Jmantattoo... if what happened at the Nations last year WAS 'dirty', even though it wasn't, what has BT ever done anywhere else that is considered 'dirty' ??? just wondering where your logic comes from.
Comparing Ben Townley to Mike Alessi is completely ridiculous. Townley is a genuine, humble person that will be a huge asset to any team lucky enough to land him. Not to mention his world class skills on a bike. I hope he will consider a SX & MX deal... As for Alessi; he showed his level of 'class' yet again this weekend while blocking Dungey and flipping him off! If Moto Concepts really did hire him... Good luck with that HUGE mistake.
Despite all of the injuries and bad luck, it would be great to see Ben racing the outdoors again.
jmantattoo, how can you call my best bud a whiner, you wiener. Hell, did he say one word about having his bike sabotaged? No sirree Bob. He told a little white lie and blamed a rock. A rock on a SX track? Yeah, right.
BT is the best, and such a good guy. I´ve offered to be his security guard next year just to make sure no jealous yankie doodle messes with his ride just because he´s handing the best in the west their asses every weekend.
Go BT101. Show those pussies who´s the boss.
Nothing dirty here IMO http://vimeo.com/15349049
@dieselboyrox.... awesome! Well said!
BT should at least do Daytona SX this year.
He lost me as a fan after the Short MXDN take-out.
@Euromike- Dude really, his bike wasnt sabotaged as you claimed he told you on the phone. Hes out of shape and couldnt run anymore so, your right, he told a little white lie and blamed it on a rock. Who would ever want to claim that guy as your best bud? This has nothing to do with where he is from as I dislike Alessi alot more than this guy, and Jason Lawrence more than both of them. Not much more than Alessi though. It is MY OPINION that he is a dirty rider and a complete whiner. Give me crap all you want about not expressing my opinion because that is what forums are for. You say he is your best bud, I say his is a whining chump. Yes I can ride a bike. No, not nearly as well as Ben. That doesnt mean that I dont know whining when I see it though. He whined about Villopoto the year they were neck and neck for the lites title, he whined the next year on Honda about his injuries, seems like every event he has something to complain about. He got beat. Man up and keep your mouth shut and everything would be fine. Send that message along to your best bud Euromike
P. S. Ben, it looks dumb when you tuck your ears into your hat! JK
I am confused at some of the comments, very rocky track and Townley is great for the sport he is a great rider and the more at the top caliber is good all the way around......Just be a fan of what these dudes do..!
jmantattoo..you need to get your facts right..even more so you sound like you should be out riding to improve your mx skill levels..im surprised that you aren't at BT riding level though !!! ,but hey you obviously have no understanding of what it takes..where he's come from and where he's going..as for dumb maybe you could post a vid of your riding skills because we have all seen your writing skills and they need flushing..hard
BT was fast last w/e! His speed and ability to run that pace for the whole race impressed me tremendously. I hope someone convinces him to race SX this year.
what do any of our riding skills have to do with our ability to call someone we watch a dirty rider? Sometimes you need to dissconnect your brain and call a spade a spade dieselboy. Im not saying I can ride better than he, never did. Thats inconsiquential. I do have good eyesight and common sense though. I didnt say he was a bad rider either. I just said in MY OPINION he was a DIRTY rider. Now lets all argue that fact and maybe it will change my opinion huh? Really, where has the worlds common sense gone. We arent allowed to have opinions now of Obama because we havent been president, or of Michael Vick because we arent all quarterbacks. Think about it.
OK, I don't think BT is a dirty rider at all, He raced bar to bar with RV in 07 or 08 and NEVER did i ever see him do anything dirty, Last year he came back and agian NEVER saw anything dirty. Give us some as you say "facts" of him being dirty. And don't say the MXD last year because i posted a linkl a few post's back of that and it is not dirty.
here it is again. http://vimeo.com/15349049
. Its clear to me that BT had cut and was coming out with his front wheel in front of Shorty when shorty squared up and they hit. Nothing more than racing. He did not go for Shorty in anyway. IMO if he went straight for Shorts front wheel yes but he did NOT.
@jmantattoo - absolutely, 100% spot on. I happen to agree with you and dislike BT101, but that's not even what I'm talking about. When someone answers with "when you can ride as good as BT101 can, then you can talk" it cracks me up. And that's usually when you know that person is irrational and incapable of having a debate without getting emotional or going for personal attacks. Whether you can ride better than someone has nothing to do with whether that person is a dirty rider or not.
BillC, still trying to push his little video of BT101 dumping Short.. There is only one problem Biully, the video doesnt show what BT is thinking at the moment.
As for dirty racing, many riders named Shorty as being one of the dirtiest riders out there!!! Everyone said do not let that smile in the pits fool you!!!
jmantattoo your a moron, how is townley dirty? If you really knew moto you would know that when bt101 was hurt with honda he quit his contract and didnt even take the money from redbull honda to return home to rebuild his strength/health. he is one of the most down to earth guys in the sport. but your probably just another fag that goes to one supercross a year and rocks metal mulisha clothing from head to toe.........
Sorry Trev im not a freestyle fan and I want nothing to do with the metal mulisha. Again, I didnt say he wasnt down to earth or anything, I just said he was DIRTY. Like MarineCorpsDuck said, you are all allowing your feelings to cloud your intellect here and assume something that I never even said. I said, I THOUGHT he was a dirty rider that complained to much for my preference. I think SHort is a dirty rider at times. He doesnt complain and make excuses though. When you can debate without getting all moist because you feel I insulted your boyfriend I will then entertain a conversation with you. Until then, form your own opinion about someone. Dont try to tell someone else how to feel. I know feel that not only is Ben Townley a dirty, whiny rider, but he has a legion of non-educated, over emotional fans that are on the rag as we speak.
jmantattoo... What events are you basing him on being dirty at? I dont live in the U.S so maybe Im missing something but Ive always seen him as a clean and respectful rider.
I hope he finds a ride for the 2012 MX season because he will bring some great racing with it..