KTM celebrated a double podium today at Matchams Park as Ben Townley took third place in the MX1 class and David Philippaerts was second in the MX2 British Grand Prix, the seventh round of the FIM 2005 World Championship.In front of 27,000 rain-soaked spectators the new Matchams layout provided a rough, technical, enjoyable but demanding test for the riders.
The MX2 contest almost saw a dream result for the Austrian team as Carl Nunn had the air-horns and cheers of the strong partisan crowd echoing around the woodland as he led from the second corner until the chequered flag for his first GP moto win in five years. It was an emotional moment for the 25 year old at his home event and he rode well to resist the close company of Andrew McFarlane. Philippaerts was third and gave the team two riders in the top three for the first time this season. Nunn led the world again in moto2 and was chased by Philippaerts in an orange 'one-two'. The Italian took the lead after two laps and the chance of a dream double from Nunn evaporated when he made a mistake and slipped off shortly after. The British Championship leader came back to fourteenth and missed out on an overall podium by one point. Philippaerts fronted the pack for ten laps until he was passed by McFarlane and Christophe Pourcel but was second overall for his debut top three.
In MX1 Ben Townley entered the gate in pole position but dove into the first corner too fast and crashed. The reigning MX2 World Champion showed some amazing ability to return to sixth from last place in four circulations and eventually overtook Josh Coppins for an excellent third behind team-mate Steve Ramon, who had ridden in a lonely second spot trailing runaway leader Stefan Everts for the entire race.
Townley was holding second (again behind Everts) in moto2 and participating in a tasty duel with Coppins until a small error saw the Kiwi fall and drop down the order to sixth. Although he was granted some extra points two laps later when Ramon experienced a technical problem while third and ended up crossing the finish line in ninth.
Spaniard Jonathan Barragan equalled his best ever race result with fourth place in the second MX1 moto.
Townley and Ramon hold fifth and sixth in the MX1 World Championship standings respectively. The team head this week to Castigilione del Lago for round eight and the Grand Prix of Italy.
Ben Townley:
"The track was very demanding especially on the 450 when it is so rough. The layout, with all those up-and-down hills and the soft terrain and the holes, was very tough. I made a good recovery in the first race but I used a lot of energy also and was feeling tired towards the end. Third position was good though, even if I knew the second moto would be difficult physically. I was consistent, even with the pressure from Josh, and I made just one mistake and lost second place. I thought the Isle of Wight last year was good but this GP was even better. The fans were really into it and the crowd was big. Racing in Britain is important for the GPs."
David Philippaerts:
"The season didn't start that well for me but now I am achieving things that I dreamed of as a boy; I hope that I can continue this form. I feel much better with the four-stroke and I must work harder but today I was able to show what I could do. I still need to get used to the 250 to take better starts and this will come. I was really fast at the beginning of the second moto and maybe too fast because I the bike has a lot of speed and need to learn how to use the power better. McFarlane and Pourcel were better than me and I could only make the podium today because I really wanted it. I give my thanks KTM for the faith they have put into me."
Carl Nunn:
"The fans helped out so much in that first race because Andrew stayed with me the whole way and didn't give me any room to breathe. I just tried to defend the lead as much as I could. It was a difficult race but I was so happy to win with my family, daughter, fiancée and all the English fans; they pushed me beyond what I thought I could do. I owe it to the team to win as they have worked so hard and built an awesome bike. We have been changing things week-in week-out but now what we have is 100% because it was so strong off the start. I knew from the moment the gate dropped in the first race that I would be up there for the holeshot. David passed me in the second moto and because I had won the first I just wanted to push and maybe it was too hard. I made a stupid mistake and it took me a while to restart the bike. The race was then hard but I was really pleased with my lap-times all the way through; it was good to salvage some points and I owed it to the fans for supporting me today."
Steve Ramon:
"I had a great start in the first race and was holding second. Stefan was riding well and was too fast so I was satisfied with the position because we had one more race and the track was getting rougher. A podium was set up and I did not need to push. I then took it a bit easy at the start of the second moto because it was a long race and the track was difficult. I made some passes and came up to Coppins in third. My plan was not to rush and throw away second on the podium but I came up to a corner and the bike stopped. I had to bump-start it down the hill and luckily it fired. I didn't take a podium today but the Grand Prix was good and the track was fun."
Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG
Photo: R. Archer