Yamaha Motor Europe signed with 2024 World 85cc Motocross Champion, Levi Townley, to ride for its MJC Yamaha EMX125 Team for the next two seasons. Townley is part of a four-rider team to contest the championship that also includes Dutch sensation Dani Heitink, French rising star Mano Faure, and Belgian standout Jarne Bervoets.
The Townley family will relocate to France early in 2025 to begin the next chapter of the family’s famous motocross history. Ben Townley, father of Levi and the former 2004 MX2 World Champion, will call on his experience to guide Levi through the highs and lows of racing in Europe, and this is something the family is looking forward to.
2024 has been a wild ride for the polite and quietly spoken Kiwi who not only won a world 85cc championship, but also claimed the Australian 13-14 years 125cc championship in his first major race on the bigger bike, and then went on to finish an incredible second place at the Yamaha bLU cRU YZ Superfinale at the Motocross of Nations.
Levi will have some familiar faces around him as his younger brother Jaggar will also receive support via Yamaha Motor Europe, as will Nixon Coppins, son of former GP racer Josh Coppins. Both will race their YZ85 machines as their path to the MXGP circuit begins.
The rider – Levi Townley
“Yamaha in Europe supported me at the world junior championships back in August and when I won the 85cc class, we started talking about racing in Europe for 2025. They were happy with my results and asked if I was interested in contesting the EMX125 championship.
“We came home from the event and I rode a YZ125 for the first time, and I loved it. So, once we were able to get a plan together and we felt I could ride the 125 at a good level, we decided to do it and it was finalised at the Motocross of Nations.”
“It has been an awesome year and at the start of the season I was just hoping to get some experience racing in Australia as well as try and win the New Zealand Championships. It’s all happened pretty fast, and I can’t believe that I’m going to be racing the EMX125 championship next year.
“Everyone at Yamaha in Europe has been so good and at the Motocross of Nations; I got a chance to meet and work with the MJC Yamaha team and that went really well, so I can’t wait to get over there early next year and start racing.”
Yamaha NZ Motorsport Manager – Josh Coppins
“It’s a very exciting time for the Townley family and an opportunity Levi and the family deserve.
“Levi is an incredibility talented and determined racer while Ben and wife Lucy have done a great job in keeping him grounded. I’m sure the continued guidance from Ben and the support of the MJC Yamaha team will take Levi’s riding to another level.
“We are extremely proud of his achievements so far and also the pathways Yamaha have created via their bLU cRU support that shows no matter where a rider lives, they will be noticed and rewarded if they have what it takes.”
5 THINGS WE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT LEVI
- The first bLU cRU YZ Cup rider to win a Junior Motocross World Title.
- He is the first New Zealander to claim a Junior Motocross World Title
- Levi prefers tight and technical tracks
- He was recognised at the 2024 MXGP Awards for his 85cc world title.
- His father Ben Townley had four MXGP wins before going to the US.
