KIWI RIDER APRIL 2018 VOL.2 | Page 51

doing and nothing more, not try and tell the technician that it needs to be softer here or harder there, or this, or that. The rider needs to focus on the riding and let the specialist technician help him through the feedback that he provides. Ben Townley’s favourite bike: 2012 CRF450R What is the bike you most enjoyed racing? My 2012 CRF450, it was the best 450 I ever rode. Jimmy McCartney did the set up from front to back, and inside and out. It was a third generation chassis, so we/he knew quite a lot about the general traits of the bike. He listened to me well and I gave him good feedback on the direction of what was happening during our testing phase in the pre-season. He also did the engine and it was a torque monster, which suited me down to the ground, and the suspension and engine really matched, along with the chassis. I loved riding that bike, every time I climbed on it I was completely at home, it was the fastest I ever rode a dirt bike in my career. KIWI RIDER 51