Episode Eight : Ben Townley - Taupo Tornado
Reel Tails with Sweens - Podcast By Dwayne Sweeney
Episode Eight :
Ben shares what it's like to leave home at the age of 16 to race motocross professionally in Europe, how good his Championship winning bikes really were, training with the GOAT Ricky Carmichael, his passion for coaching his two boys, winning the MX2 World Title, being part of the greatest battle for the AMA Motocross title of all time and so much more.
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Show Notes:
2:30 - I share who Ben is and also share some insight from our close friends.
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6:46 - Interlude: I speak to Ben’s two boys about their world famous Dad.
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9:07 - Insight continued.. And some background from Ben’s wife Lucy.
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22:18 - From me being a big fan of the sport of motocross and Ben to how we first met.
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28:47 - Ben’s journey from first riding a motorbike at 6 years old to becoming professional racer at the age of 16.
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41:10 - The diversity of New Zealand motocross and how it set Ben up to succeed internationally.
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47:53 - The importance of the mental side of sport if you wish to compete at the highest level.
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1:00:23 - How hard a professional motocross rider trains and the toll it takes on the body.
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1:17:21 - 2004 MX2 World Title and how good his bike really was.
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1:30:15 - 2005 and his move into MX1.
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1:36:07 - Ben dominating MX1 on a standard production bike.
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1:42:54 - Ben and Josh Coppins dominate MX1 which was New Zealand’s most successful month of motocross.
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1:48:09 - The dream of American motocross becoming a reality, Training with Aldon Baker and the GOAT Ricky Carmichael, winning the 2007 AMA Supercross East Title.
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1:55:07 - 2007 AMA Motocross Title battle with teammate Ryan Villopoto and how their bikes were something truly special.
Watch Ben take out round 1 of the 2007 AMA Motocross season.
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2:03:30 - How much trust Ben had in his mechanic Craig Behl.
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2:07:13 - The Motocross des Nations, how special it is for Ben to represent New Zealand and Ben’s phenomenal performance in 2015 .
Check out this cool video of Ben Townley and Cody Cooper as they train for the 2015 Motocross Des Nations.
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2:20:31 - Ben being the figure of New Zealand motocross on the world stage and why staying task focused is so important.
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2:24:18 - The balancing act of having two boys competing in the sport he became famous and the importance of having passions in life.
Ben with his two boys Levi (left) and Jag (right)
