BT101 injury update

**Ktmboy** · 13th June 2011, 21:05

Well we don't seem to have much luck with the MX boys as its bloody hard just to secure a ride for them overseas, probably due to the expense.
If Bens days were over in MX (which I don't think are) then he would do bloody well as a Cross Country racer.
BT is probably fairly well set up for life and maybe could consider something like the GNCC circuit, not the same $$ but still highly competitive with a lesser chance of injury.

**Rupe** · 13th June 2011, 22:01

Originally Posted by Ktmboy

Well we don't seem to have much luck with the MX boys as its bloody hard just to secure a ride for them overseas, probably due to the expense.
If Bens days were over in MX (which I don't think are) then he would do bloody well as a Cross Country racer.
BT is probably fairly well set up for life and maybe could consider something like the GNCC circuit, not the same $$ but still highly competitive with a lesser chance of injury.

Think thats just negative old danger!

He definatly looked like he was gaining speed in the states, had a great show of speed at the mxon. Look at reed at the moment, he nearly quit racing last year. Plenty of time for BT to put a good couple of seasons together.

**takitimu** · 13th June 2011, 22:49

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

He will be back

I also don't believe Ben will give up & his speed last year I thought was amazing, he's got a few good years left in him I reckon.

To have achieved what he has in the last 6 weeks blows me away to be honest, total respect to Ben eh, he's one tough sob.

**denill** · 14th June 2011, 08:00

Originally Posted by takitimu

I also don't believe Ben will give up & his speed last year I thought was amazing, he's got a few good years left in him I reckon.

To have achieved what he has in the last 6 weeks blows me away to be honest, total respect to Ben eh, he's one tough sob.

Agree with all of the above. Fate (sometimes called luck) is a big factor in this sport. and for BT to get back up there he needs to find his rhythm and be quick enough without crashing. Not easy.....................

**takitimu** · 14th June 2011, 08:57

Originally Posted by denill

Agree with all of the above. Fate (sometimes called luck) is a big factor in this sport. and for BT to get back up there he needs to find his rhythm and be quick enough without crashing. Not easy.....................

Unfortunately ( maybe fortunately ) it's a little more than luck, bt didn't need to try for the jump at the sx, it looked to me he just got mad with alessi and was hunting him down, he was catching dungey at southwick, but had to push just that tiny bit to hard ( he was just the same at steel city vs rv ).

My take is he wants to win so bad he makes mistakes, but his desire to win is what makes him so fast, nasty catch 22, but I think if he can sort his head out he'll make his mark again, he's just not that old yet, but he is definitely that good.

**denill** · 14th June 2011, 10:02

How old is he? (Too lazy to search, lol.)

**Crasherfromwayback** · 14th June 2011, 11:05

Originally Posted by Danger

Looks like Ben's best days are well behind him. Wonder if he has made any plans for beyond racing? Could be something to think about.

Don't think so. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

**denill** · 14th June 2011, 11:20

Originally Posted by denill

How old is he? (Too lazy to search, lol.)

Born: 9 December 1984.

**telliman** · 14th June 2011, 15:54

its all over,whilst he may race again he;ll never challenge for a title again, it seems everytime he crashes it causes a major injury, his body must be wrecked or well on the way,think over the years i reckon youd be hardpressed to find a rider who has spent as much time on the sideline! the young guys are getting faster also,
in saying that maybe he should do a reed or a bubba and just race sx, the outdoors seam to bite him in the arse every year.

**Jay GTI** · 14th June 2011, 16:17

Originally Posted by telliman

its all over,whilst he may race again he;ll never challenge for a title again, it seems everytime he crashes it causes a major injury, his body must be wrecked or well on the way,think over the years i reckon youd be hardpressed to find a rider who has spent as much time on the sideline! the young guys are getting faster also,
in saying that maybe he should do a reed or a bubba and just race sx, the outdoors seam to bite him in the arse every year.

I don't know if he'll never challenge for a title again, human resolve can be an incredible thing and sheer determination may give him one more chance. However at his age and with his injuries, it will be a huge battle to get back the level of physical endurance required to be a podium placer enough times to win a championship. I've seen what happens to athletes in physical, high impact sports when they start getting old, they are often wreaked beyond repair (shot joints, muscle, ligament and cartlege damage) and no amount of training brings back the form they once had. Sadly in MX, old can be 26.

Technically he definitely has the speed, physically probably not.

**takitimu** · 15th June 2011, 07:45

interview with mxlarge

http://www.mxlarge.com/interview/519...nt-and-despair

**denill** · 15th June 2011, 08:06

Originally Posted by takitimu

interview with mxlarge

http://www.mxlarge.com/interview/519...nt-and-despair

Mmmm. Good read. Maybe we'd best not write the guy off yet!

**takitimu** · 15th June 2011, 08:25

Originally Posted by denill

Mmmm. Good read. Maybe we'd best not write the guy off yet!

If he could adapt his race strategy to more Chad Reed & less Bubba Stewart absolutely I think he can.

**denill** · 16th June 2011, 08:23

Date: 15 June 2011

Townley temporarily stops MX GP racing to rebuild confidence.

Following his decision to not compete in the Portuguese GP last weekend, CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, Ben Townley has taken a further decision to return to his home in New Zealand to work on his physical and mental fitness to ultimately return to GP racing.

“I want to let everyone know what is happening right now and the situation that I am facing. This past winter while preparing for this season I had two crashes that resulted in serious injuries. I was able to recover from them and return to my training and riding after a long recovery from the second one in late January. I was excited to start racing again. Let me be clear to everyone that I was realistic after so many weeks on the couch that my results would be average at best, but I was willing to accept that to start building myself up to the rider I believe I am. Since I started racing, I have had some struggles mentally. The crashes have affected me to a point where I cannot safely race at this level yet. I have made a decision that I need more time to build my confidence back up and work on rebuilding my racing. I have had amazing support from my team, Jean Jacques and Gael Luisetti, the team owners have been extremely understanding of the situation I am in and I am very grateful for that. Harry Nolte has been a huge part of my career and has believed in me a lot and I want to thank him for his support about this also. The whole team have been very understanding and helpful. For right now I am putting plans in place to get myself back into a position where I can race to my potential again, I'm not sure of a timeline or return right now. I want to thank my sponsors and supporters for their outstanding support since I returned to Europe.” explained the Kiwi.

Team principals Jean Jacques Luisetti and his brother Gael, although disappointed with this decision, have much understanding for the position that Townley is in. “We are very upset for Ben, because he is a great man and this decision is probably one of the hardest in his life. But it was too much of a risk for him to ride in those conditions and we support Ben in his decision. For us it was an awesome experience to work with him, even if the result this year is not the expected one. But we trust Ben, and we know that he will do his best to be back, and we are ready to welcome him again as soon as he will be ready. We put so much time and energy in the Team CLS every day for this kind of experience, with this kind of person, putting the human experience before everything else!”

The CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit team have made it clear that when Townley is ready to return they will be waiting to support him once again in his MX GP campaign.