Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ferry Earns First Overall Win Since 2001
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Townley Takes Points Lead
WASHOUGAL, Wash. (July 29, 2007) – Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Timmy Ferry captured the overall victory in the AMA Motocross class at the eighth round of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley secured the win in the AMA Motocross Lites division.
Ferry, who collected moto wins at Unadilla and Colorado, put in yet another impressive performance aboard his Kawasaki KX™450F to earn his first AMA Motocross overall victory in six years with a 2-2 moto finish.
“When they told me I got the overall, it didn’t even register,” said Ferry. “I haven’t won an overall since 2001. This one was so much harder than anything else I have ever done. Back in the day there was only two or three fast guys, but now everyone is fast.”
“I have been through some really tough years. I probably physically shouldn’t have been able to come back. I have had the types of injuries that have ended peoples’ careers. I didn’t let all the critics and the doctors get to me they told me that I had a problem and my career was over. I focused on getting back to being healthy and able to ride a motorcycle. However, I never expected to be able to be back on a team like this and winning overalls. I can not possibly explain how it feels.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart, who won his first overall of the season last weekend in Colorado, began his weekend with a win in moto one. However, in moto two, after battling through the pack with his second overall victory in sight, he crashed with two laps remaining and injured his left knee. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but due to minimal swelling, the team is optimistic about the remainder of the season. He will visit his doctor this week for further evaluation.
Although Stewart was unable to complete the second moto, he still remains atop the AMA Motocross point standings. However, with Ferry’s performance this weekend, he has narrowed that lead to seven points.
In the AMA Motocross Lites, teammates Townley and Ryan Villopoto battled it out for the win. In moto one it was Villopoto who made quick passes to take the early lead and the moto win. But in moto two, a first turn crash forced Villopoto have to gut it out from the last position with Townley already in the lead.
Riding one of the most epic races of his young career, Villopoto caught up to the third position, and just before making the pass into second endured a high speed downhill crash. He quickly remounted his Kawasaki KX™250F and salvaged a third-place finish to place second overall (1-3).
Townley remained consistent out front and took the moto win and the overall win for the weekend with a 2-1 moto finish.
“It’s good to be ahead a little bit, but you can’t get ahead of yourself,” said Townley. “It’s still really, really close. Something could happen to me just like it did to Ryan and I would be in his shoes.”
After this weekend’s race, Townley has taken hold of the points’ lead by two over Villopoto, with just four races remaining in the season.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Brett Metcalfe put two strong motos earning fifth overall (5-5), while Chris Gosselaar (9-36) finished out the weekend in 16th place.
MotoSport Kawasaki's Kyle Chisholm put in a solid ride to finish 12th overall in the AMA Motocross Lites. Teammate Bobby Kiniry and Steve Boniface finished in the 17th and 19th positions, respectively.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki teams head to Millville, Minn., on August 11-12 for the eighth round of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Series.
For the most recent Kawasaki racing action, interviews and more visit www.kawasaki/racing.com
RACE RESULTS
AMA Motocross Championship Series
Washougal Motocross Park – Washougal, Wash.
July 22, 2007
AMA Motocross (Moto Finishes)
1. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 2-2
2. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 4-1
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 3-4
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 6-3
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 5-7
6. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 8-6
7. Ivan Tedesco, Montgomery, Texas, Suzuki, 10-5
8. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 1-35
9. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, Nev., Honda, 11-8
10. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 12-9
AMA Motocross Class Point Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 290
2. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 283
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 275
4. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 256
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 254
6. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 241
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 238
8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 192
9. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 186
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 148
AMA Motocross Lites (Moto Finishes)
1. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 2-1
2. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 1-3
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 3-2
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 6-4
5. BRETT METCALFE, MURRIETA, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 5-5
6. Martin Davalos, Cario, Ga., KTM, 7-6
7. Broc Tickle, Cary, N.C., Yamaha, 8-11
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 13-8
9. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 4-35
10. Joaquim Rodrigues, Temecula, Calif., KTM, 15-10
AMA Motocross Lites Point Standings
1. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 357
2. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 355
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 286
4. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 258
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 254
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 162
7. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 141
8. Andrew Mcfarlane, Newport Beach, Calif., 132
9. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 128
10. Broc Tickle, Cary, N.C., Yamaha, 127