Monster Energy's Townley & Villopoto Go 1-2 at Southwick
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley blazes back from 2nd place first moto finish to win the second moto and o/a Southwick Lites crown
CORONA, Calif., (June 11, 2007) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley and Ryan Villopoto we the class of the AMA Lites division at Southwick’s Motocross 338 on Sunday, going 1-2 in the sands of the famous Outdoor National track, Round Three of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship.
The two Monster Energy athletes also stand atop the overall Lites class standings after three rounds with Villopoto holding onto an eight point lead over Townley, 138-130. Noteworthy is the fact that two Monster Energy athletes (Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart) also sit atop the AMA Motocross class’ overall standings.
In near carbon copy races, Townley & Villopoto got out to leads early in the a moto where they’d never relinquish that lead. In the first moto Villopoto led it wire-to-wire, while Townley had to get past Ryan Dungey (3rd o/a) on the second lap of moto No. 2 to take the lead – which he did for good to capture the overall.
“I knew that in the second moto I’d have to get up front early – and was able to do just that,” said Townley. “That’s where Ryan (Villopoto) had his success in the first moto.”
While Townley won the race, Villopoto laid down the fastest laps in each of the two motos. So Townley’s all-or-nothing plan early in the second moto paid off and the former GP champ from New Zealand was able to walk away with the win.
Next up for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is the June 17th Monster Energy Budds Creek National (Budds Creek, Md.), Round Four of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship.