Ben Townley Update
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 | 9:00 AM
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Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Ben Townley is recovering at Brisbane Private Hospital following successful surgery on a femoral head-associated acetabular rim fracture, sustained during a fall at Round 2 of the Monster Energy MX Nationals at Coonabarabran on the weekend.
The 27 year old was air-lifted to Armadale on Saturday after crashing heavily in practice. A CT Scan revealed a dislocated hip and broken bone and the former World Motocross Champion was transferred to Brisbane Private under the care of Dr Lawrie Malisano.
Speaking after the operation, Dr Lawrie Malisano said Townley could be back on the bike within four months.
“The surgery was successful,” Dr Malisano explained. “Ben had a femoral head associated acetabular rim fracture, which required open reduction and internal fixation with lag screws and a bone anchor.
“Ben is likely to make a full recovery; his fitness and health will contribute to his recovery. The best case scenario will see him racing within four months.
“We will keep a close eye on his recovery and aide where we can,” Dr Malisano concluded.
As Townley recovers in hospital he is also coming to grips with the realities of what has just happened.
“I can’t believe I am laying here in hospital,” Townley said. “I am supposed to be packing for America.
“I am fit and was looking forward to racing in either America or Australia. It’s not fun lying here I had really given everything and felt that I was the best prepared I had ever been this year.
“It is so hard to believe, but I have to accept it and focus on my recovery,” Townley continued.
In acknowledging and extending his appreciation for the remarkable work of Racesafe director Simon Maas, Brendon Kiley of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Dr Lawrie Malisano, Townley said couldn’t thank them enough.
“I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary lengths of these men. I have been treated like an athlete and the respect they have shown me will never be forgotten. My family and I can’t thank them enough”.
Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing's team owner Yarrive Konsky understands all too well that injuries can rob champions of championships.
“It’s quite amazing that the American injury list right now reads a who’s who of the top twenty racers in America with upwards of 15 of them sidelined," said Konsky.
“We all accept that racing is dangerous and it hits hard when one of your riders is injured like this."
General Manager of Honda Motorcycles Tony Hinton is committed to Ben’s recovery and looks forward to his return.
“We see this happen in motorsport to often and we accept that it can happen to anyone,” Hinton said. “Right now our focus is to make sure Ben is comfortable and he has everything he needs to make a full recovery.”
Fans are encouraged to send support messages to [email protected] or to Brisbane Private Hospital Wickham Terrace where Townley is expected to remain for up to five days before returning home to New Zealand.
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Good for Reed to try and give him a ride, but really he should put Regal on the team. Show him what it takes to be a professional mx'er. Said it before - he has the willingness to hang it out, fitness seems to be there (2 late second moto charges in hot weather).
Maybe no one should mentioned they've signed Townley and just have him show up for the first race. Similar to Tortelli - can't stay healthy and eventually see its better to retire, but I can't even imagine what its like to be that good at something and have to give it up.
Unreal how these guys are so injury prone!!
2012 The year of the Injury!!
Devastating for a year that we were having record attendance and TV ratings!!
Very disappointed I was looking forward to watching him on the twotwo motorsports bike. Get healthy Ben!
si fudeu todo em ...
Sooooo bummed for BT....
Really - Why was Townley wasting his time with a meaningless series when he was slated to race the Outdoor MX Series for one of the best teams and bikes out there Two Two. This guy was on top of his game, the Ben BT101 of old...what a shame. After a devestating injury like this, and at his age, sorry to say it, but this could be it for him.
Black cloud over this guy for 5 years now
i agree with mxallthetime
This is beyond awful... One of the nicest guys in the sport.
Ben Townley's story is heart breaking. For those that think MX needs more regulated safety gear, what device would have prevented this???
First off- Get well soon Ben! Sounds like a horrific injury and so glad to hear he is recovering well.... basically it sounds like he had his skull cut open and re-bolted back together? Just crazy as I would have been great to see him race here this year but his long term health is far more importnat than racing and I fear this may be the end of the the championship run for BT.
@mxallthetime, Really? You think he should stop racing because he signed with twotwo? Should he have stopped riding until the outdoor season also? Cmon, he can't just stop riding because he has a big contract. Professional racers cannot ride to protect themselves, if they are serious they need to ride to win all the time. Ryan Villopoto and Barcia have thier championships locked, if they were to buy into your premise then they should quit racing until the outdoor season. Really??
mbmoto, really? skull cut open? did you read the article? He had a hip dislocation. The femoral head is attached to the femur. The acetabulum is where the femur attaches to the pelvis. The skull is not involved with these bones. Open reduction and internal fixation just means they had to cut open the skin near the hip to put in the hardware.
Yer skull bone's connected to your...thigh bone. Is this where the saying brains in yer ass comes from?
Then BT shouldn't be racing anywhere as preparation for the outdoors. I guess practice needs to stop too. Just show up at the races and race with no preparation, that will stop such unnecessary injuries. Alan Iverson likes the sound of this. Practice? We talkin' 'bout practice?
These posts are always good for a laugh or fifty.
Everybody is getting hurt. The Mayans were right, the world is ending
BT has no luck at all. Get well soon.
Saw this coming a mile away. I said in the TwoTwo Motorsports-Townley announcement that there was an 80% chance that he'd be out before we reached the half way point. I'm actually disappointed I was right, but you gotta question whether a guy that gets injured as often as Ben is really as talented as they look or if they are just riding over their head. Now I'm saying that there's a 50% chance he never gets a paying ride again.
^^^^^ pretty negative mate, the sad thing is he wasn't even getting paid to race...
I was at connondale for the first round of the mx nats and townley was sooo fast. really wish he sat out the 2nd round and went to america to get ready instead.he will get another oppertuninty i hope reed still gives him the chance. i think some of you underestimate BT the way he was riding he would have to have been close to villopoto speed again.
yzfsean - Really - I'm not stating he should have stopped riding, but racing a meaningless race over there where "yes he got hurt" wasn't necessary. He had a huge deal with Two Two and could have really contended here in the states. yzsean - need i say it...you're an idiot.
Bummer for BT! Was hoping for a big US return for BT!
As said before Reed should give Regal a chance!
Well, I said it before when 22 was NEGOTIATIONS. Sign BARCIA! If he costs too much money. SIGN REGAL! Both are podium contenders!!!!!!!!
@mxallthetime... what you said was stupid, what better way to prepare for racing than to race.
Sean collier wil be out at Glen Helen tomorrow laying down some laps. We are hoping he gets a little notice. A good fit at 22 motorsports...... He's got the speed and fitnes !!!!!!!!!
I think with Ben, he has been really unlucky in that he keeps re-injuring the same things, he used to have a lot of problems with his shoulder, pretty sure that is what stuffed his last contract with Honda in the AMA. This dislocated hip is the same one he did in Australian SX last year. I think if he hadn't of already damaged his hip he may have escaped injury this time round. Throw in some concussions and the freak accident with his abdominal tear before he joined troy lee designs and that has been his past 5 years.
I think his overall fragility comes from possibly over training and just his body not being able to fully recover from previous injuries. He is so fast, which is why its a shame, and that is exactly why he keeps pushing it to come back, he doesn't want to stop something he is so good at.
I think if he had a full season of racing while he was healthy he would be right there with Villi in terms of speed outdoors, and he could easily top 5 in SX all year if he tried. He just doesn't have the durability of guys like RC and Stewart who mostly just bounce up from crashes (for the amount Stew crashes he gets injured very little) and Reed and Dungey rarely crash, RV is causing them to push it and crash more now though. RV is on a roll and has so much time on the bike that his body is just in tune with it, so much control over his bike right now, but he has proven to be brittle in the past too, hope he keeps it on two wheels, I would hate for it to be an injury that ends his run, that's the way 2012 is going though.
Also, how good would it be if Stew and Reed team up, could be brilliant!!!! Stew just needs to overcome his ego and make the call.
BT NEVER catches a break, this guy gave Poto a run for his money for the championship. Would of been nice to see him riding a good bike and healthy.
As someone mentioned here before....what a blow to our sport. We are getting record attendance and coverage and the racers are all getting injured. Best of luck to BT and hopefully we will at least see a duel between RD and RV.
I agree man Regal or Tommy hahn would be best for 22.
alessi for 22
Im not sure the "right" explanation of being injury prone fits for some of these guys, all I mean is when they crash, usually they are going MACH 10, which is Mach 9.99 faster than most of us. Being that fast is awesome, until you make a mistake.
I know BT has had some injuries, more than some actually. On the flip side of that thought, how the hell is Stewart(7) still walking? Maybe Townley is just unlucky in his crashes.....
Either way, sucks for us fans....
At the rate these guys are dropping out Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward might need to start hitting the cardio machines. Heck Decoster might get a ride before the season is over.
should have signed Faith,