Consiste
Counts
Townley and Chiodi stay steady
while their competition falters
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF MEYER
ast year's MX2 World Champion, Ben Townley, has arrived in
the MX I class with a consistent
2-3 result and the overall victory
n Bellpuig, Spain, at the Grand
Prix of Spain. In front of around 22,000
spectators, the New Zealander put together a magnificent performance on a race circuit that produced mixed results for many
of the title contenders. Martin Honda rider
Mickael Pichon showed his lightning speed
in the opening moto but then could only
muster a sixth in the second moto. It was
enough, however, to give Pichon second
overall, ahead of Suzuki factory rider Joel
L
36
Smets, who went 7- I. Pichon goes to the
front of the World Championship points
due to a bad day from defending Champion
Stefan Everts, who went 8-2.
Townley, who picked up KTM's firstever overall in the MX I class, had mentioned on Friday that he had something
special for the Spanish race and was prepared to show the world that his move to
the bigger class was a good one.
"You know, when I was younger I used
to looked at guys like Smets, Coppins and
Everts as my heros," Townley said. "To
think I have beaten them today is a great
feeling. I want to thank KTM. They
APRIL 27,2005 • CYCLE NEWS
With a consistent 2·3 moto tolly, Ben
Townley got his first overall win in the MX1
class. It was also KTM's first MX 1 victory.
worked hard for this, and I am happy to
give them their first win in the MX I class."
In the opening moto of the MX I, the
early going looked like Everts would have
an easy win. However, a big crash in the
whoops on lap two saw him go from first
to eighth, while Pichon took over the lead.
From there, Everts never really recovered. He finished in eighth, his worst finish
in more than two years. Pichon, however,
got stronger and stronger, eventually winning over Townley by 22 seconds and
Brian Jorgensen, who was another two
seconds back in third.
The second moto of the MX I was a
torrid affair as CAS Honda rider Josh
Coppins took the lead ahead of Joel Smets
and Steve Ramon. Coppins tried to make
a break on Smets, but a small mistake
entering the start straight on lap 14 gave
the lead to Smets. Coppins then fell over
and dropped back to fourth position.
When the checkered flag flew, Smets took
the victory, followed by Everts in second
and the consistent Townley in third.
In 1990, Alessio Chiodi won the 125cc
Grand Prix of Spain; it was the former
World Champion's third victory at the
Bellpuig circuit. This year, Chiodi rode with
magnificent determination, posting 2-3
