The week that was
Moto-Media just had one on it's Project Bike where they were paying the full asking price. If it's too good to be true it probably is so we were a little suspicious. We rang the 0800 named person at ANZ who happened to be in Wellington. After a couple of attempts we spoke to him. He said no, it was a scam and that it was about the 12th one. Question, "Have you told ANZ Security or the Police about it?” Answer, "No, but I should talk to my Manager” Doh! With vivid memories of Paul Williams (aka
Paul Bennett) we then referred it to the Police.  Racer X Online's scribes have been on the Ben Townley to TwoTwo Motorsports story. Last Friday's Racerhead #12 had this to say. Steve Matthes: "Big news for the Lucas Oil Motocross Championships this week when it was announced that Chad Reed had selected former world champ Ben Townley to fill in for him in the nationals. I’ve been getting some heat on Twitter (even by Two-Two team manager Dave Osterman) for what I wrote in Racer X’s Rapid Reaction about Townley’s odds to do some damage this summer. Even BT head cheerleader David Pingree got in on the action. Let’s clarify a few things. There’s no doubt that to me, Reed and his team scored a slam-dunk in getting Townley over to the USA. There’s no rider out there that could take that ride (at least someone not under contract or someone who could easily get out of their contract like BT did) and get the results that Ben is going to get. It’s a great coup for Reed and his team. But what I’m telling everyone is to pump their brakes on dreams of winning the title or getting a bunch of podiums. We’ve got Villopoto and Dungey, plus James Stewart told us after Daytona he was still in for the nationals. Those are three riders that, in my opinion, can beat Ben. Add in Andrew Short and Mike Alessi, Brett Metcalfe and Davi Millsaps and Justin Brayton and.... But of course we can subtract Reed from his list of competitors. So while I’m excited for another great rider to line up this summer, I’m going to hold off chiseling the plaque that says he’s going to win races. But that’s why they hold the races and keyboard warriors like me just sit here and type. At this point, with the supercross series a bit of a foregone conclusion (Villopoto and Barcia), let’s start bench-racing the outdoors!" Comment: I have emailed Steve Matthes that the bet is BT101 will podium at Hangtown. David Pingree: "The news about Ben Townley coming back to the U.S. should have people excited.... At least us actual Americans. I scratch my head when I see people post nonsense about his odds here this summer. If you can’t look back at his summer here in 2010, or even more recently his ride at the Monster Energy Cup, and see where he fits in, you aren’t paying attention. He will be on better  equipment than ever, with better support than ever, and I think
he will have a summer that will put him back on the motocross map if he
can stay healthy. Do you really think Chad Reed
would have put him on his bike if he didn’t believe in him? Trust me,
the last thing any Aussie wants to do is be replaced by a Kiwi. I’ll
leave all the lambswool glove jokes to the folks Down Under.
Anyway, I emailed BT to congratulate him earlier this week and he sounds very ready to go. He replied: "Thanks mate, bloody excited! I’m in better physical and mental shape than 2010, far better bike form so I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. We just had Bubba no.2 last week, little Jaggar! I’ll see you in a couple weeks!” BT. The Townleys got a new deal and a new baby! Comment: Good news on the baby #2 front. Congratulations Lucy, Ben and Levi. Race Truck For Sale
   Contact Graham Dennis on 021 409930. Ortema Neck Brace  This is Joel Doeksen training in Florida - image courtesy of Bill McClurg. Notice his neck brace? When we were at MXoN last September in France I noticed quite a few of the riders were wearing them and Joel had one.  The Ortema neck brace support in the back is horseshoe-shaped, so that the back of the neck brace is not centrally resting on the spine. "The transmission of power, means no selective force peak in the region of the vertebral bodies." In layman speak that is the spine and in France there was an 'anti' towards the other brands even though Ortema is German. Joel's is this carbon fibre model and super light. Cost is Euros 349.  I read in Australia in Transmoto's Throwdown: "As always, pre-season testing is taking its toll on riders' health in the weeks leading up to the national series opener. Word on the street this week is that reigning champ, Jay Marmont, looks to have tweaked his knee. Sadly Serco Yamaha's Kirk Gibbs has busted his wrist. Carlton Dry Honda's Brad Anderson had an impressive opening hit-out at the opening round of the Victorian State MX titles last weekend at Wonthaggi. Amid a stacked field, the Brit won all four motos in the 450cc class and looked very impressive - just as he did in 2010 when he came to Australia and towelled up the Open-class field at the Raymond Terrace round of the MX Nats." Zach Osborne in fight for fitness  This story snuck in under the radar! Monster Energy Yamaha’s Zach Osborne is hoping to be fit to enter the opening round of the FIM Motocross World Championship after suffering a crash while training in England last Thursday - Friday our time. The American hit the sand of the FatCat circuit near Doncaster and sustained a fracture to his left collarbone and possibly a new crack in his right wrist as well as a concussion. After spending the evening in a local hospital the 23 year old will be released today and will head near the team’s workshop in southern England to have an examination by a renowned hand specialist. "I’m pretty banged up but it could be worse,” said the MX2-GP star, who was remaining upbeat. "I think the collarbone could be more complicated because the x-ray showed a crack near where I have a plate. We should know some more information after another scan later.” An update on Osborne – who is expected to be a contender for the MX2-GP title in what will be his last campaign in the category – will be issued in the coming days. The first Grand Prix of the season takes place in Holland on Easter Monday 9th April, in just over two weeks time. |
Be very careful