There’s something unforgettable about Ben Townley. Something that goes much deeper than the twinkle in his Kiwi eyes when he talks about the sport of motorcycling. Perhaps what best describes him is the eternal optimism of a true competitor who, quite simply, lives to ride.
Townley began racing before most kids could ride a bicycle. It wasn’t long before he’d conquered everything the country of New Zealand had to offer. At age 16, when he decided to broaden his horizons, he secured a spot on a European race team, landing championships on three continents along the way.
When Townley joined Honda Red Bull Racing in 2008, it seemed like a dream come true. Unfortunately, Lady Luck had other plans for the then 23-year-old.
“I had just started with Honda and I was doing some testing to get ready for the East Coast Supercross series,” said Townley. “I came up a little short on a jump, really hurting my leg. I had pretty extensive surgery on my heel, and the process just entailed a real long rehab. I probably had a good three months off.”
With his recovery complete, Townley expected to explode onto the scene as a serious contender in the outdoor Motocross season. Once again, Lady Luck would deal him a difficult hand.
“Right before the start of the Motocross season, and after working so hard to get ready to make a comeback, I had a crash in practice, really hurting my shoulder. I kept preparing and tried to be ready for the opening round, but when I took to the track at Glen Helen, I just felt I wasn’t strong enough. In the practice crash right before the opener, I did something to my wrist and I was totally weak on my right side. After the first two rounds we decided I needed some time off the bike to get healthy, and it had turned out that my shoulder injury was quite extensive. I had to have it operated on.”
Townley’s dogged determination never flagged, but he needed some time to recharge. So he took a vacation to New Zealand, marrying longtime girlfriend Lucy and spending some quality time with his family.
“We had all our friends and family there and had an awesome day, which was really cool. Going home is always just a great time to see everyone and get some good home cooking! I did a bit of fishing and enjoyed being at home with my family.”
While Ben Townley’s body may have been broken, his spirit never was. For 2009 he is back, more confident and stronger than ever before.
“With the surgery I’ve had, I’m like the bionic man now. I’ve taken this time to get healthy and really get strong again, and I am coming back ready to start winning again.”
And about that new Honda CRF®450R? “The bike is a totally new package, especially with the power delivery. This bike is going to be great for me.”