BT101 Leaves the GPs

Crossup
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Crossup
Edited Date/Time 1/21/2012 6:32am
Townley just sent out a press release saying that he is dropping out of the GPs due to the fact that he is not prepared to race at the level needed to be competitive. He is heading back to NZ. (from the MXLife GP broadcast)
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rustytrombone 6/12/2011 5:19am
6/12/2011 5:19am
Crossup wrote:
Townley just sent out a press release saying that he is dropping out of the GPs due to the fact that he is not prepared to...
Townley just sent out a press release saying that he is dropping out of the GPs due to the fact that he is not prepared to race at the level needed to be competitive. He is heading back to NZ. (from the MXLife GP broadcast)
That sucks
jndmx
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jndmx 6/12/2011 5:25am
6/12/2011 5:25am Edited Date/Time 6/12/2011 5:25am
This is a tough decision to make but I've accepted that I'm not in a position to race at a competitive level, both physically and mentally. I'm so thankful to the team for understanding my situation and for supporting me in every way possible. Having been through the difficult times that I have been in over the last few months it is clear to me that I need to be 100% prepared both on the physical side and on the mental side. At this stage I am not, and I don't want to put myself at risk until I can race without having any doubts," commented BT.

Team manager Jean Jacques Luisetti is supportive of his MX1 representative: "I understand the position that Ben is in. We don't want him to take any risks whatsoever and we know that he has the capacity to be a top GP rider, and I think everyone has seen in St Jean what he is capable of. Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season."


"It is very sad and frustrating both for Ben and the team," admitted CLS Kawasaki technical chief Harry Nolte. "I was sure when he signed for the team that he had the potential to be champion, but Ben explained that he was having difficulties with concentration and felt that it was unfair to himself, the team and the other riders to continue racing this weekend. He will also miss the Spanish GP."
Alex
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Alex 6/12/2011 5:28am
6/12/2011 5:28am
All the best Ben!

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j100
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j100 6/12/2011 5:29am
6/12/2011 5:29am
perfect timing for CP 377.
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jamma10 6/12/2011 5:31am
6/12/2011 5:31am
They seemed to imply it would only be temporary break, I don't think he's quitting yet.
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Phillips467 6/12/2011 5:37am
6/12/2011 5:37am Edited Date/Time 6/12/2011 5:37am
jamma10 wrote:
They seemed to imply it would only be temporary break, I don't think he's quitting yet.
exactly, in the link I posted above it states he has pulled out of Portugal and Spain to reassess his health,and they stated in the broadcast he is back in Belgium.....not in New Zealand.
Crossup
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Crossup 6/12/2011 5:38am
6/12/2011 5:38am
Phillips467 wrote:
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health...
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health wise.

http://www.mx-pure.com/archive/news-20090318095900-20110612123721.htm
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain?

I wish BT the best!
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jndmx 6/12/2011 5:41am
6/12/2011 5:41am
Phillips467 wrote:
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health...
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health wise.

http://www.mx-pure.com/archive/news-20090318095900-20110612123721.htm
Crossup wrote:
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain? I wish...
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain?

I wish BT the best!
From the PR.....quoted in my first post.

"Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season."

"It is very sad and frustrating both for Ben and the team," admitted CLS Kawasaki technical chief Harry Nolte. "I was sure when he signed for the team that he had the potential to be champion, but Ben explained that he was having difficulties with concentration and felt that it was unfair to himself, the team and the other riders to continue racing this weekend. He will also miss the Spanish GP."

Doesn't say anything in there about him going home, says they are missing the current race and Spain.
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Phillips467 6/12/2011 5:46am
6/12/2011 5:46am
Phillips467 wrote:
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health...
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health wise.

http://www.mx-pure.com/archive/news-20090318095900-20110612123721.htm
Crossup wrote:
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain? I wish...
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain?

I wish BT the best!
jndmx wrote:
From the PR.....quoted in my first post. [i]"[b]Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season[/b]." "It is very sad...
From the PR.....quoted in my first post.

"Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season."

"It is very sad and frustrating both for Ben and the team," admitted CLS Kawasaki technical chief Harry Nolte. "I was sure when he signed for the team that he had the potential to be champion, but Ben explained that he was having difficulties with concentration and felt that it was unfair to himself, the team and the other riders to continue racing this weekend. He will also miss the Spanish GP."

Doesn't say anything in there about him going home, says they are missing the current race and Spain.
exactly, so that is where you were off, he will most likely return at some point this GP, when he feels healthy, whether it is in a few weeks or a few months....
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Crossup 6/12/2011 6:23am
6/12/2011 6:23am
Phillips467 wrote:
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health...
Your quite far off with that, he's dropped out of Spain and Portugal and back at his base in Belgium currently and reassessing his situation health wise.

http://www.mx-pure.com/archive/news-20090318095900-20110612123721.htm
Crossup wrote:
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain? I wish...
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain?

I wish BT the best!
jndmx wrote:
From the PR.....quoted in my first post. [i]"[b]Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season[/b]." "It is very sad...
From the PR.....quoted in my first post.

"Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season."

"It is very sad and frustrating both for Ben and the team," admitted CLS Kawasaki technical chief Harry Nolte. "I was sure when he signed for the team that he had the potential to be champion, but Ben explained that he was having difficulties with concentration and felt that it was unfair to himself, the team and the other riders to continue racing this weekend. He will also miss the Spanish GP."

Doesn't say anything in there about him going home, says they are missing the current race and Spain.
Can you read? That is the team manager speaking about the "team" and how "we will continue the rest of the racing season". He isn't speaking for BT. I hope Ben makes it back soon.
mom241
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mom241 6/12/2011 6:32am
6/12/2011 6:32am
Best of luck to one of the nicest couples out there.
steedmills 6/12/2011 6:40am
6/12/2011 6:40am
He has so much bad luck that it stops being fun
hope to see him back this season, but it will not be easy, good luck
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jndmx 6/12/2011 6:53am
6/12/2011 6:53am
Crossup wrote:
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain? I wish...
Where am I off...he is leaving racing the GPs. Where in the press release does he say that he is re-accessing racing after Spain?

I wish BT the best!
jndmx wrote:
From the PR.....quoted in my first post. [i]"[b]Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season[/b]." "It is very sad...
From the PR.....quoted in my first post.

"Next week we will discuss how we will continue the rest of the racing season."

"It is very sad and frustrating both for Ben and the team," admitted CLS Kawasaki technical chief Harry Nolte. "I was sure when he signed for the team that he had the potential to be champion, but Ben explained that he was having difficulties with concentration and felt that it was unfair to himself, the team and the other riders to continue racing this weekend. He will also miss the Spanish GP."

Doesn't say anything in there about him going home, says they are missing the current race and Spain.
Crossup wrote:
Can you read? That is the team manager speaking about the "team" and how "we will continue the rest of the racing season". He isn't speaking...
Can you read? That is the team manager speaking about the "team" and how "we will continue the rest of the racing season". He isn't speaking for BT. I hope Ben makes it back soon.
Yes I can read,,,,,,it says he is missing the current round and the Spanish GP nothing about returning to NZ.

I don't see anywhere in there that he is leaving for the season and since the team manager is speaking about Ben's not racing the "We" he is referring to would be Ben and the CLS Team.

I think you are reading what you want into it but whatever, we shall see.
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mccread 6/12/2011 8:56am
6/12/2011 8:56am Edited Date/Time 6/12/2011 8:57am
I wonder how much that crash in France hurt Ben's recovery.. he was running in 13th when he pulled out of the qualifying heat in Portugal after a bad start, but he was battling GP winners in that position. The starts are so crucial in GP ans he rode good in France until the crash, I think a mixture of the depth of the racing and him being not at 100% means Ben is further off than he thinks he should be - even though he is riding pretty well again. But the difference between 10th and 1st this year in GPs is very very small, he isn't far away pace wise, but is missing what he needs to be on Cairoli and Desalle's level.

For him to go for the title ( where he believes he should be) and be consistent in that class he needs to be 100% week in week out and come into the year injury free. Hopefully he can figure out the problem and fight through to the front in what is the most compeititive championship MX1 championship maybe ever, if he can win the World title again it will be an amazing achievement after this seasons trouble. Ben has the talent and determination to do it, hopefully he will be back after Spain ready to rock!

Maybe CP will fill in for Ben in Spain...
Motocross83 6/12/2011 9:06am
6/12/2011 9:06am Edited Date/Time 6/12/2011 9:08am
Obviously this is just me guessing...... but reading between the lines, although the track in France was very tricky, I don't think it was as physically demanding as Portugal. So even though Ben was physically exhausted in France - he was still able to go through the motions just enough (coupled with his talent and speed) to knock out a reasonable result (or what would've been had he not gone down on the last lap). But this weekend, with a track that demanded almost full commitment everywhere...... I think Ben probably saw the writing on the wall.

Better to pull out injury free, get himself to as near 100% (as is possible without racing) and live to fight another day.
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Phillips467 6/12/2011 9:13am
6/12/2011 9:13am
Motocross83 wrote:
Obviously this is just me guessing...... but reading between the lines, although the track in France was very tricky, I don't think it was as physically...
Obviously this is just me guessing...... but reading between the lines, although the track in France was very tricky, I don't think it was as physically demanding as Portugal. So even though Ben was physically exhausted in France - he was still able to go through the motions just enough (coupled with his talent and speed) to knock out a reasonable result (or what would've been had he not gone down on the last lap). But this weekend, with a track that demanded almost full commitment everywhere...... I think Ben probably saw the writing on the wall.

Better to pull out injury free, get himself to as near 100% (as is possible without racing) and live to fight another day.
Interesting I never thought about it like that, But after reading your post, it seems quite likely. Although both tracks were similar in the elevation changes, the difference in conditions were obvious. The Size of the braking bumps today were clearly huge, and every rider suggested that the track required you to be fully focused from the moment the gate dropped. This is obviously where Townley's feelings that he couldn't concentrate stemmed from, therefore forcing him to realise that maybe he's not ready to tackle the tougher tracks.
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Shenzi 6/12/2011 10:15am
6/12/2011 10:15am
good luck to Ben.

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Hanaa80 6/12/2011 11:38am
6/12/2011 11:38am
j100 wrote:
perfect timing for CP 377.
Quite a coincidence, huh?
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TeamGreen 6/12/2011 12:16pm
6/12/2011 12:16pm
If they put CP on that bike I'll jus' laff my ass off.

CP ridin' 40 minute motos on ANY 450 will be hilarious.
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CeeTee 6/12/2011 1:09pm
6/12/2011 1:09pm
Man i think its time for him to look at another career, with all these injuries and pulling out mid season stuff, i dont think many teams would want to touch him.
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themrtoad 6/12/2011 1:30pm
6/12/2011 1:30pm
CeeTee wrote:
Man i think its time for him to look at another career, with all these injuries and pulling out mid season stuff, i dont think many...
Man i think its time for him to look at another career, with all these injuries and pulling out mid season stuff, i dont think many teams would want to touch him.
I'm also starting to see the end of BT's fantastic but too short career. I know the word scared is a bit overkill but he seems to think very much about his health. When you start to worry too much it's hard to be competitive and BT isn't in this to finish 10-15th. I hope he succeeds regardless of what he will do in his future on or off the racetracks.
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mx836 6/12/2011 3:01pm
6/12/2011 3:01pm
TeamGreen wrote:
If they put CP on that bike I'll jus' laff my ass off.

CP ridin' 40 minute motos on ANY 450 will be hilarious.
Yep,CLS signs up CP and they will have two riders who bow out this season.
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MX281 6/12/2011 3:11pm
6/12/2011 3:11pm
I'm so gutted for Townley. He has so much promise but all his injuries are just holding him back. Best of luck to Ben to get back out there racing soon.
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DavidR 6/12/2011 3:18pm
6/12/2011 3:18pm
CeeTee wrote:
Man i think its time for him to look at another career, with all these injuries and pulling out mid season stuff, i dont think many...
Man i think its time for him to look at another career, with all these injuries and pulling out mid season stuff, i dont think many teams would want to touch him.
Pingree just took his shirt off.
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fcr 6/12/2011 7:56pm
6/12/2011 7:56pm
MX281 wrote:
I'm so gutted for Townley. He has so much promise but all his injuries are just holding him back. Best of luck to Ben to get...
I'm so gutted for Townley. He has so much promise but all his injuries are just holding him back. Best of luck to Ben to get back out there racing soon.
I like the term gutted, describes it perfectly.
I would really like to see him stay healthy, he seems like he works his ass off and keeps getting handed the shitty end of the stick.

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