Motocross: Tears flow as Townley takes world title

3.10pm - By PETER MARTINEZ

Tears and champagne flowed freely after Ben Townley took the chequered flag in the first race of the MX2 Irish Grand Prix at Ballykelly, near Derry, in Northern Ireland this morning (NZ time).

On a cold and rainy day, the victory brought Townley his first world championship and the 23rd International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) world crown for New Zealand, enhancing motorcycling's status as one of the most successful sports in the country.

Townley's title is the second world motocross crown for New Zealand following Shayne King's 500cc title, coincidentally, in an Olympics year also, in 1996.

It was his eighth grand prix win in 15 rounds and fifth through a double win.

Townley needed just four points from the first race to sew up the title.

He shot into the lead but was passed by KTM teammate Marc de Reuvers on the 10th lap and Townley was content to sit in second spot.

Two laps from the end, de Reuver's bike broke down and Townley was handed the lead.

He took the chequered flag and was showered with champagne and embraced by his team, family and supporters, his manager Glen Dempsey said.

"It is an amazing feeling to have won the world title," Townley told NZPA from the track shortly after the race.

"It was an awesome day. It was tough riding in the conditions as it had rained all day yesterday and today and the sand track was cutting up.

"I was really looking forward to getting the title -- I was really pumped and everything went perfect today.

"On the last lap of the first race, my mechanic, Craig Behl (of New Plymouth), showed me a pit board that said, 'Your dreams have come true', and I just went cold.

"I was thinking about all the hard work that has gone into winning the championship.

"It's been four hard years but it's all paid off," said Townley, who suffered life threatening injuries in a crash early last year.

"My family is here to celebrate with me and I've already had calls from New Zealand friends and family as well.

"I can't remember too much what I said to my family and team, but there was a lot of yelling and screaming."

And there was certainly a lot of tears too, his father Grant said.

"It's a great feeling watching him take the title -- I don't know how to explain it really -- it's been his dream since he started riding at eight," he told NZPA.

Mum Vicki, and sister Morgan, 16, were also trackside.

" Vicki was full of tears, everyone was full of tears when we got to him after the finish line," Grant Townley said.

A relaxed Townley proceeded to announce his arrival as a world champion by blitzing the field in the second race, setting the fastest lap of 2min 01.857secs in the second lap, a time that would have put him in the top five riders in the MX1 class on the day.

His blistering pace saw him lap every rider up to 15th position as he crossed the finish line.

"This was the best race of my life," Townley said as he paid tribute to his parents, manager Dempsey and mechanic Behl.

"I'm glad I could win the title for the team with a double win today," Townley said.

In the MX1 championship, Motueka's Josh Coppins, the reigning British champion, produced another solid performance with third and fourth placings to grab third on the podium and seal his overall third placing in the championship.

"I'm really happy for Ben in winning his first world title today. He works really hard and deserves everything he gets," said Coppins, who is Townley's best friend and training partner.

The final round is in South Africa on September 26.

World motocross championship standings after 15 rounds

MX2

Ben Townley (NZ, KTM) 572 points 1, Tyla Rattray (South Africa KTM), 464 2, Antonio Cairoli (Italy, Yamaha), 409 3.

MX1

Stefan Everts (Belgium, Yamaha,) 666 points 1, Mickael Pichon (France, Honda), 573 2, Josh Coppins (NZ, Honda), 519 3.

- NZPA