BT Crowned!
Published: 14th May 2007
Author: Steve Cox
Kiwi ace takes title in the Motor City
Mathematically Ryan Morais, Ben Townley and Darcy Lange all have a shot at the Lites Eastern SX crown coming into the series finale in Detroit.
For Townley and Morais it's pretty simple - if Townley wins the race, he wins the championship but being three points back if he doesn't win the race then all Morais has to do is finish right behind him for the title. For Lange it's more complicated as he needs Dungey to finish fourth or worse and Morais to finish fifth or worse - and he needs to win the Main Event!
Ultimately, the math for Lange goes bad right away as he starts nearly dead last while Morais starts second to Ryan Dungey and Townley starts fourth behind Billy Laninovich.
Townley has his work cut out for him as in the early going it's clear that he will have to get around all three riders in front of him to secure the championship as finishing second to Dungey won't cut it if Morais stays close. However, only two laps in the drama seems over as Morais stalls his YZ250F in a turn and falls back to 10th. But Morais isn't done yet.
Showing the heart of a champion, Morais battles back, throwing down his fastest lap on lap 12 of 15. He catches up to fifth about the time that Townley passes Laninovich for second - a risky proposition in itself considering Townley was on the short end of the stick the last time the two occupied the same area of track at Orlando.
"It was a mellow race and I didn't want to make too many mistakes but I wanted to make sure I had enough to clinch that title," explains Ben. "I just tried to do what I needed to do. You can't win them all but I've got that championship and that's what's going to be remembered for me."
The Honda duo of Laninovich and Tommy Hahn begin to battle it out for the final podium spot. If the two tangle or cost each other too much time they will fall right into the grasp of Morais. Ultimately, though, Morais' valiant effort leaves him just short as he finishes right behind the Honda pair.
So Dungey takes the win followed by Townley, Hahn, Laninovich and Morais. It's Dungey's third win of the season in his rookie year. "It's a bummer that I didn't get the #1 plate but it's my first year," Dungey says. "I'm looking forward and I love what I do and I think it shows. I want to keep doing this for the rest of my career and make a good one out of it."
"This is what it's about," Townley grins. "This is a dream come true since '98 when I came to a race in America. I can't say enough for my family and everyone in my crew. I've got to say a shoutout to everyone in New Zealand - grandparents, friends, watching in. So many people all over the world that are rooting for me, I've got to say a big thanks for all their support. This is what it's all about."
The series then heads to Seattle where the Lites Western Regional riders hit the track one last time before the season finale East/West Shootout in Las Vegas a week later. The race has no championship significance although it is in the home state of both champion Ryan Villopoto and Yamaha's Josh Hill.
Villopoto's team-mate Chris Gosselaar grabs the holeshot followed by Hill, Josh Grant, Villopoto and Jason Lawrence. Hill quickly moves into the lead where he stays for the next five laps as Villopoto works his way toward him. When the two hometown boys begin to go at it the crowd goes nuts but Villopoto gets the upper hand and begins to pull away from Hill as Hill falls into the clutches of Grant and Lawrence.
They both dispatch him before Grant crashes out of second place. The race ends with Villopoto grabbing his seventh win in eight races followed by Lawrence and Hill.
"I won just about every one and got second at the one in Phoenix so it's been a great season for me and I can't thank the guys enough," Villopoto says. "Next weekend we get to race the East Coast guys for the first time and get to see what they bring to the table so it's going to be fun to go over there. Vegas is a pretty tough track and I think they're going to have their work cut out for them."
Final Series standings
Lites East
1 Ben Townley 133 points
2 Ryan Morais 130
3 Darcy Lange 117
4 Brandon Jesseman 103
5 Ryan Dungey 98
6 Billy Laninovich 85
7 Tommy Hahn 84
8 Mike Alessi 84
9 Matt Goerke 83
10 Justin Brayton 68
Final Series standings
Lites West
1 Ryan Villopoto 197
2 Jason Lawrence 157
3 Josh Hill 128
4 Jake Weimer 120
5 Chris Gosselaar 111
6 Josh Hansen 98
7 Josh Grant 91
8 Matt Lemoine 85
9 Troy Adams 84
10 Kyle Cunningham 77