Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Townley Captures Championship

April 23, 2007 10:48am

DETROIT (April 21, 2007) - Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Ben Townley clinched the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites title with a second-place finish at Ford Field. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider James Stewart took the win in the AMA Supercross class, while teammate Timmy Ferry put in an impressive ride rounding out the podium in third.

Townley came into the final round in Detroit with a three-point deficit. In order to capture the title, he needed to put in a strong performance that would enable him to finish at least three points ahead of the series points’ leader. He did just that, grasping the runner-up position and winning the championship by a six-point margin. The championship is his first AMA Supercross Title.

“It was always my dream to be able to race over here (in America),” said Townley. “To win a championship like this, it feels really amazing. And to be able to dream about something as a kid and now today realize that your dream has come true, it is unspeakable.

“I have to thank my team, because they have been a huge part of my success and have worked so hard. Mitch (Payton, team owner) had to take me through some baby steps with a lot of things in America and for that I have to give extra thanks.”

Teammate Darcy Lange, who came to Ford Field sitting third in points, put in a solid 10th-place finish and secured the third position in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites final standings.

In the AMA Supercross class, Stewart put in a dominating ride earning his 11th victory of the season, extending his points lead to 38 in AMA Supercross and 32 in the World GP standings.

“The track was pretty slippery and you had to be careful that you didn’t over ride the track,” said Stewart. “Fortunately, I got the holeshot and I knew that was the key to winning the race. And I knew that we are in a good position in the points and you definitely don’t want to get caught up in the back and have something happen.

“We have a really good lead in the points now and with two races left, I am looking forward to wrapping things up in Seattle. Hopefully, we can knock out both titles next weekend.”

Ferry continues to prove that he is a legitimate contender in the AMA Supercross division after winning his heat race and holding second nearly the entire 20-lap main event before taking home the third spot.

“I was happy with my speed tonight. It was really good,” said Ferry. “It felt awesome to keep James (Stewart) in site and Chad (Reed) behind me for so long. If you look back at Toronto or Vancouver, I wasn’t even nearly that close. Improvement wise, I think I have improved more than anybody.”

Cernic's Kawasaki rider Paul Carpenter put in a solid finish in the AMA Supercross class with a ninth place in the main event, while teammate Jeff Gibson finished 12th.

MotoSport Kawasaki's Matt Boni finished out his rookie season in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites series with a strong ninth-place finish. Teammate Bobby Kiniry was close behind taking home the 11th place position in AMA Supercross Lites.

RACE RESULTS

Amp’d Mobile Supercross
Ford Field – Detroit
April 21, 2007

AMA Supercross
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
6. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
7. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
9. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, NY., CERNIC’S KAWASAKI
10. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
3. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
5. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
6. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
7. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Suzuki
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
9. MATT BONI, GENEVA, FLA., MOTOSPORT KAWASAKI
10. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI

World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 354
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 322
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 262
4. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 208
5. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 185
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 180
7. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 175
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 174
9. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC’S KAWASAKI, 170
10. JEFF GIBSON, BLACKLICK, OHIO, CERNIC’S KAWASAKI, 150

AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 335
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 297
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 243
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 200
5. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 171
6. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 169
7. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 164
8. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 160
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 148
10. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC’S KAWASAKI, 125

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Final Season Standings
1. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 133
2. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 130
3. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 117
4. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 103
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 98
6. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 85
7. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 84
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 84
9. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 83
10. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 68