Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda Team Returns to Unadilla
AMA Motocross - New Berlin, NY
After a few weeks off the entire team returned to New Berlin, New York healthy and ready to race. Ben Townley was coming off an injury he suffered at Washougal and Wil Hahn was back after shoulder surgery nearly two months ago. Cole Seely even spent some time on the sidelines with a broken nose and he was back at Unadilla as well.
The 450 motos did not go the way Ben Townley planned.
After climbing as high as third in the championship standings two rounds prior, Ben was looking to make up some ground on his competitors at a venue that he is quite fond of. BT fought with Andrew Short for the first part of moto one as he tried to make his way into the top five. By the mid-way point in the race Ben seemed to lose his drive and slipped several spots to seventh by the end of the moto. His second moto would prove to be more frustrating and Townley would cross the stripe in ninth position for sixth overall on the day.
"This definitely wasn't the result I was looking for today," said a disappointed Townley. "I put on a bit of a charge right at the beginning but then I just couldn't find a way around Short and it stalled me out a bit. The second moto wasn't much better. I was really hoping to do well here because I do like this track. All I can do is look forward and prepare for next weekend. I love that facility as well and I need to get back up to the front."
Wil Hahn and Cole Seely were both returning from injury as well. Seely posted one of his better motos all year in the first go-round with a ninth. Hahn could only get to fourteenth by the end of the race. The second moto Cole didn't get the start he needed to capitalize on his first moto finish and he would spend the entire race making passes towards the front. Wilbur would do likewise and get to eleventh at the checkers while Cole could only get to eighteenth at the finish. Wil Hahn just cracked the top ten with 14-11 motos for tenth. Cole Seely posted 9-18 moto scores to get a twelfth overall on the day.
As the series moves to New England and the infamous MX338 in Southwick there is much to be hopeful for. All of the TLD riders, including Florida resident Tarah Gieger, love the sandy conditions. Look for great things out of the team next weekend.
Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com
