BT101 injury update

[Teava]

Team CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit - Ben Townley has been injured last Sunday, while practicing at a private training facility in his native New Zealand. The 2004 MX2 World Champion was unfortunate, as he broke his jaw in this crash and underwent surgery yesterday. His jaw has been successfully repaired and Ben will have to rest for a couple of weeks before coming back in Europe to enter his new challenge after racing successfully in the USA.

“I was completing my last 30 minutes moto for the day when I got cross rutted on one of the jumps and went down hard, hitting my jaw on the crossbar of the handlebars. On the positive side it was a clean break and doctors have gone in through the inside of my cheek and put a plate in. It’s going to be a bit awkward for the next few days but I’ve been through so much in the last few years I’m sure I’ll get over this one pretty quickly” said Townley who will be back in Europe a few weeks before the opening round of the FIM MX1 World championship in Sevlievo (Bulgaria) on April 10th.

[oldguy]

man he's having shit luck, get well soon, Go BT101

[morg_nz]

that boy has no luck ay! at least the jaw doesnt affect your riding!

[trailblazer]

if there is bad luck to be had you can almost guarantee ben has had it lately.

[denill]

So is BT riding this weekend?

[scott411]

no, he was never riding the NZ Champs, i think he was planning to be in Europe by now,

not sure if he will make the 1st Gp or not

[paturoa]

Whats the goss?

The first round is only two weeks away...

[scott411]

dont think hes going to make round 1,

good interview here about it,

http://www.vurbmoto.com/blogs/2101/c...g-ben-townley/

[paturoa]

There was no mention of the concussion in the earlier press, just the broken jaw and getting the plate put in to fix it quick.

So if the vets are still not letting him ride then must have been quite some brain bang cos that was weeks ago.

[denill]

Anyone know if BT will make Bulgaria this weekend?

[denill]

Googling came up with:

http://www.motorstv.com/bike/off-roa...ntry-announced

[scott411]

pretty sure he will not be racing this weekend

[takitimu]

pretty sure he will not be racing this weekend

At least he's over the jaw break, any ideas on how the training has been going ?.

[Teava]

Ben Townley will be making his racing return at round three of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship at Lyng.

Townley who missed the opening round of the World Championship in Bulgaria last weekend, due to not feeling ready to compete following a pre-season head injury will be looking for a strong result at the Norfolk Circuit.

The 2004 MX2 World Champion, aboard his CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 450 is making his return to racing in Europe after spending the last five years racing in the USA. After missing the opening round of the World Championship Townley will have a lot of work to do to mount a challenge on the 2011 MX1 World title.

This weekend's racing at the sandy Lyng circuit will be a strong challenge for the likeable Kiwi as he prepares for the second round of the World Championship at Valkenswaard. With current points leader Shaun Simpson not competing at round three, Townley will have the likes of Jason Dougan, 2009 MX1 British Champion Brad Anderson, Kristian Whatley, along with the Buildbase CCM duo of Tom Church and Stephen Sword and former GP winner of Lommel Gert Krestinov to battle with for the overall win.

[denill]

Townley all smiles as he gets back into race mode

Date: 18 April 2010

In a last minute decision and only two weeks after being back on the bike following a broken jaw and 3 month lay off, Ben Townley opted to race the British championship at Lyng over the weekend. The former MX2 World champ and Supercross Lites East coast champ was all smiles as the British public got to see BT101 for the first time since representing Team NZ at the MXON in Matterly Basin in 2006.

“I am so excited but at the same time a little nervous to be racing again.” admitted the CLS Pro Circuit Kawasaki racer. “I was all smiles underneath my helmet and so happy to be out there because it’s been such a long time and my return to Europe has been delayed so I was really excited to get things started.”

A 7th in moto 1 after a bad start was a reasonable start for the Kiwi but then in moto 2 he showed flashes of BT brilliance as he challenged Stephen Sword for the lead until a broken header pipe forced BT to come into the pits. “Every time I go out on the track I improve so I was fairly happy with my speed, especially in the second race I felt like my old self out there but I think that the biggest thing at the moment is still putting everything together – I’m still building up on my corner speed and attacking the track and that’s all coming back to me. I’ve only been on the bike a couple of weeks - I know it was only a British championship and I’ve got to get to the world championship now but the speed of the top guys in the UK has always been very high. I believe they go really well on British soil and they have a lot of intensity. The British championship is strong and it’s very professional over there.”

With his first race nerves out of the way, Townley is taking his comeback at his own pace and is more excited to be back in Europe and to be back behind the start gate than anything.

“At this stage I don’t think it’s worth putting in expectations on Valkenswaard next weekend. I want to keep improving on the bike, keep on improving on my riding and then take the race as it comes. I need to get through Saturday and then survive on Sunday. I can’t wait…..”