USGP: Townley & CRF450 Lead Honda Team

Motocross Results

A hot, breezy, fast and intense MX Grand Prix of USA at the challenging Glen Helen circuit in eastern California was the scene of the sixth round of fifteen in the 2010 FIM World Championship.

At the hand of former MX2 world champ, current AMA title contender and GP wild-card, Ben Townley, a CRF 450R was able to cross the finish line in first position for the second meeting in succession.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda man claimed the second moto at the first USGP since 1999 and first since 1992 at Glen Helen on Memorial Day weekend and in front of 16,000 spectators who braved unrelenting sunshine and temperatures in the low ‘30s.

The New Zealander – returning from several seasons plagued with injury – was in fine form as he escaped to victory.

His overall ranking of 8th for the GP however was caused by a first race retirement as a consequence of bike damage sustained in a tussle with Mike Alessi while pushing for second spot.

While new father Townley was experiencing a small slice of a career re-birth there was not a whole set of positive news for the Honda Motor Europe corps.

LS Motors Honda David Guarneri was the most productive ‘red’ racer on the day across a track that was longer, faster and a great deal more ‘vertical’ than a typical Grand Prix course.

The Italian scored two top ten finishes for 7th overall and can take encouragement from his showing, particularly in the second moto where his pace for virtually the entire 35 minute and 2 lap distance was on a par with the fight for 3rd spot just ahead of him on the track.

Teammate Tanel Leok, triumphant at Bellpuig for the Catalan GP two weeks ago, was less fortunate.

A crash and twisted knee in the first moto prompted a DNF and a brave attempt at the second race was halted by a mechanical glitch.

CAS Honda’s Evgeny Bobryshev and Gareth Swanepoel both hobbled away from Glen Helen.

The powerful Russian rookie was 12th in the first moto, two places ahead of the South African, but two crashes left number ‘777′ with a sore neck and thumb and signified a trip to the pits later on.

Swanepoel twisted his right ankle and although a medical check confirmed no long-term damage to the joint he was also another casualty of the Californian ripples in the second outing.

Martin Honda’s Jimmy Albertson was able to participate on Saturday despite dislocating his shoulder only two weeks beforehand.

Sadly the American lost control on the first of the steep downhill descents and needed a hospital visit for a sore back.

Having lost blood on visits to the toilet, the 21 year old will have further tests before hopefully boarding a plane on Wednesday to head over to Europe.

Leok, Bobryshev and Guarneri hold 8th, 9th and 10th positions in the world championship standings with 24 points dividing the trio. Round seven will take place this weekend, meaning a hectic few days travelling and recuperation before the Grand Prix of France at St Jean D’Angely.

Ben Townley (Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oils Honda) says:"It was awesome and a great feeling to win. It doesn’t matter what race it was but to beat the best people in the world – whether in America or Europe – is the goal I was aiming for. I am not anywhere near how could I can be and when that point arrives then it will be pretty cool. I felt like I had some of the old magic back a little bit after the qualification race yesterday and it come together today. Following Mike and Tony was not hard for me, so speed-wise I don’t have a problem.

Tanel Leok (LS Motors Honda) says: "A hard Grand Prix and disappointing after winning in Spain. In the first moto I twisted my knee and I had a lot of pain. I tried to ride for a little bit but I soon had to stop. We put some ice on the leg between the motos and I wanted to attempt the second race. It was not going too badly but then we had a mechanical problem that finished the day."

Davide Guarneri (LS Motors Honda) says: "It was a pretty good GP. I have had some problems in the past with the really hot weather but today was not bad, I lost two positions on the last lap because I was completely finished. In the second moto I was keeping pace with Alessi and Cairoli; I did not start that strongly but was building my speed. I rode better in the first moto and had more energy but my start was terrible and I was outside the top twenty!"

Roger Harvey (Off-road Manager, Honda Motor Europe) says: "On one hand it was great to see Ben Townley running at the speed we know he is capable of and it shows the good work the guys are doing in the US to have him competitive in the AMA one weekend and then winning here and beating the best the next. We cannot walk away too happy from Glen Helen as there were simply too many injuries and we again had poor luck. Everyone will be heading back to France now and we have a busy few weeks ahead."

Fastest lap : Ben Townley (Honda) 2:19.799