RK Excel America

Washougal Motocross Park in Washougal, Washington was the site of round eight of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team had a rough go at this event.

Ben Townley was running fourth in the first moto when he suffered a crash in the whoops before the end of the opening lap. Ben was very sore and did not race the second moto. Fortunately, nothing is broken. Ben suffered a bruised shoulder and is still quite sore from the crash, but says that he expects to be 100% for Unadilla.

“Yeah, Washougal wasn’t so good for me,” said Townley. “My shoulder is sore but I’ll rehabilitate it over the next two weeks and I will be ready for Unadilla.”

Cole Seely had a tough day as well. Cole rounded the first turn in moto 1 and took a rock directly in the nose. He broke his nose in three places and had to retire for the day. Cole is doing phenomenally well, and not only does he plan on being ready for Unadilla, he’s still planning on racing at the X-Games in the “speed and style” event this Saturday.

Also returning to the action at Unadilla will be the number 49 of Wil Hahn. After a great start to the season, Wil suffered a shoulder injury during practice before the Lakewood National.

The team is in Los Angeles right now getting ready for X Games 16. Tara Gieger will be racing Women’s SX, and Cole Seely will be racing Speed and Style.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

Ben Townley had another impressive weekend that put him on the podium at the end of the day. Tarah Gieger backed the teams premier class finish up with a podium of her own in the WMX class and Cole Seely had a tough day but salvaged some points in both of his Motos.

In the first 450 race Townley Started second but it wouldn’t take him long to move into the lead. After a brief battle with Andrew Short he moved into the point position and looked to have things under control. Late in the race Dungey closed in and the two riders began an epic back-and-forth that was easily the best racing of the summer so far. The two riders passed each other at least six times until a rare mistake from Dungey gave Ben some breathing room. On the last lap Ben made a small mistake entering a turn and went down, stalling the bike in the process. The fall cost Ben the moto win and dropped him to fourth. In moto two Townley started fourth but once again quickly sliced his way to second behind Dungey. Ben shadowed the points leader for several laps until he came under fire from Chad Reed. Reed eventually slipped by and Townley settled into a comfortable third. Bens third in the moto would give him third overall, his second podium finish in as many weekends.

“I am so gutted about that first moto,” said Townley about his last-lap crash. “I gave That one away. The good news is that we are making progress every weekend and I feel better and better with each week that goes by. The team has been working really hard and it’s good to start getting some results. I really want to win in Millville.”

Tarah Gieger added another podium finish to her credentials this weekend. Tarah put in solid, steady rides in both motos to get third and third overall.

“Im pumped to be on the podium,” said Gieger. “I need to find a little more speed to run with Ashley and Jess but I feel like Im getting closer. This track was fun and the fans here are unreal. I can’t wait until Millville.”

Cole Seely suffered bad starts and some bad luck and found himself working from the back of the pack in both motos. In moto one he worked into thirteenth and in the second he came up to fifteenth after a couple falls.

“This definitely wasn’t the result I was hoping for but I feel like I rode pretty well,” said Seely. “I have been making progress during the week and I know what I need to do to be ready for the next round. If i can get a start I want to get into the top five at the next race.”

The TLD Team will take a much deserved weekend off and then set their sights on the Spring Creek facility in Millville, Minnesota.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

The hot and humid weather at Budds Creek Raceway didn’t stop Ben Townley and Wil Hahn from having impressive rides at round four of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Even team rookie, Cole Seely, logged his best overall finish outdoors with an eleventh place.

Ben Townley opened the day with a solid ride in moto one of the 450 class. After working his way up to fourth position, Townley looked to have a firm grasp of the position. Then, with only a few laps to go, something went wrong. Townley began to slow and would lose time and positions due to a malfunctioning fuel pump. The fluke incident dropped Ben from fourth to fourteenth by the time the race was over. He came out firing in moto two and again charged towards the front, this time settling into the third spot. Josh Grant would challenge for the position late in the race but Ben held on to put his TLD/ Lucas Oil/ Honda ride up on the podium and earn the Muscle Milk Recovery Ride of the Day award.

“It feels good to end the day on the podium,” said Townley. “I’ve not been able to put two solid motos together yet, riding the way I know how to ride and that is frustrating. Today was just one of those things that happens sometimes in racing. I feel like I was in good position to be on the podium overall but it will have to wait. Colorado will be tough but if we can have a good week I think we can accomplish our goal there.”

Wil Hahn continues his hot streak off the gate by running near the front in the first 250 moto. He proved that he is fit enough and fast enough to run at the front by holding fifth position down in the first moto. The second moto was even more impressive as Wibur pulled a big holeshot and led the first several laps of the race. He would drop to fourth by hold off Christophe Pourcel for fourth in the moto, an impressive ride for the Texan. Wil’s 5-4 motos landed him fifth overall on the day.

Cole Seely struggled with his endurance in the heat but still went 13-11 for eleventh overall on the day. The talented rider is still learning what it takes to compete at the absolute highest level of motocross racing.

You can come meet the team at round five of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Denver, Colorado this weekend.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda rider Wil Hahn battled cold, rain, snow and an injured shoulder in Utah and still finished third when the checkers flew. That podium spot was good enough to put Wil second in the series championship, an impressive accomplishment for Hahn and his team. Cole Seely looked good put crashed on the opening lap and had to work his way up from the very back of the pack. He would end up eleventh on the night and seventh overall in the series.

Wil crashed on Thursday and was still nursing a badly separated left shoulder. Still, with a mathematical shot at the title, nothing was going to keep him from racing. The main event opened up with a holeshot by Wil Hahn. After struggling with his starts early in the year, Wil has snagged two of the last three main event holeshots in the series. He led the opening lap and then dropped into second where he spent most of the main event. He wasn’t sure how his shoulder would feel during the race and on lap eight he started to feel it.

“I wasn’t able to charge the way I wanted to out there but the first half of the race I could at least hit my lines and feel like I was riding okay,” said Hahn. “After eight laps it got really tired and I could barely hold my arm up. I had to lean my head to the side to pull a tear-off. It was bad.”

Despite the pain and fatigue, Wil hung on to the end and only lost one spot late in the race. It was probably one of the grittiest rides of the series for the young Mr. Hahn.

Cole Seely looked good in his heat race and was prepared to fight for a win in Utah. Unfortunately, Cole lost his front end while trying to make a pass on the opening lap. The fall would put him at the back of the pack and leave him with a lot of work to do.

“I actually felt good and I think I could have made it up a little further,” explained Seely after finishing eleventh. “A few laps in I missed a shift and hit the triple in first gear. It was so sketchy. I didn’t even come close to making it. Somehow I saved it but I smashed my face into the bars and I thought for sure I broke my nose. It took me a while to collect myself after that. Hopefully I can turn things back around in Vegas before we head outdoors.”

Wil Hahn is going to make a decision later in the week if he will race in Las Vegas or not. His shoulder is still very sore and if he feels it is in his best interest to sit out to be ready for Hangtown then he may be watching in Nevada. Cole, on the other hand, will come out swinging in Las Vegas looking to shoot down the very best from both coasts in the Dave Coombs Sr. east/west shootout.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

Saturday, in St. Louis, marked the final round of the East Coast Lites Supercross Series for the Honda of Troy Race Team. The weekend proved to be a great effort to round out the season as the team gears up for the opening round of the 2010 AMA Motocross Nationals next month. May 8th marks the East/West Shootout, the final round of the season, and will take place in Las Vegas, NV.

Heat1:

Saw all 3 Honda of Troy Racers in Heat 1, which meant it was going to be tough to transfer all the HOT guys without sending a rider to the LCQ. All 3 riders netted mid-pack starts with #505 Sean Lipanovich fairing the best sitting in 3rd and eventually securing an 8th place heat finish. The #92 Willard made a few savvy passes and gained several positions before securing a direct transfer with a 6th place heat finish. #412 of Kilbarger was pinched off on the start and had trouble pulling it together, finishing the heat in 11th, and was forced to transfer from the LCQ.

LCQ:

#412 put his abilities to work and grabbed the LCQ holeshot followed closely by the #32 of Cunningham. With Cunningham in check, Levi knew he was in for a battle. The two riders jockeyed for the lead position several times before the checkered flag which found Kilbarger in 2nd place and a transfer to the main event.

Main Event:

#92 Michael Willard rode strong for the entire 15-lap main event to net a seventh place on the night and his goal of 10th place overall in the East Series. Michael is looking forward to improving his performance at the Vegas East/West Shootout.

#505 Sean Lipanovich had a mishap in the first turn which sent him to the back of the pack on lap one. Sean put his head down and rode the entire 15 laps to earn an eventual 17th place main event finish.

#412 Levi Kilbarger rode a solid 9 laps under heavy fire before a miscue sent him off the track and down. Levi’s heart would not allow him to quit and he gutted out the final laps and finished 18th. Levi has struggled with staying healthy all season; however, he has missed only one main event and secured 19th overall for the season and a spot in the Las Vegas Shootout, as well.

During the second half of the East Series, you have not seen the likes of the team’s 4th rider- Darryn Durham- as he has decided to focus his efforts on getting healthy for a run in the Outdoor Nationals. Be on the look out for all 4 Honda of Troy riders to be running strong come Hangtown next month!

The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.

Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR – We All Ride, Fox Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, LeoVince Carbon, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rock’s Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan

Also check out this on Motonews

http://www.motonews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300&Itemid=6&limit=1&limitstart=0

H.O.T. Houston Race Report

There was a great turnout of fans at this weeks venue, Reliant Stadium, and the track conditions and layout would inevitably lead to some great racing.

Heat 1:

When the gate dropped for Heat #1, Honda of Troy was at the front of the pack racing for positions. Sean Lipanovich pulled one of his patented great starts (2nd) and settled into 4th at the end of lap one, while Levi Kilbarger followed suit and was battling for a top 6 position himself. On lap 2, Kilbarger had a miscue in the long table top rhythm section that sent the #412 tumbling. This put him out of the race and into the LCQ. #505 Lipanovich put together a great ride constantly under pressure which netted him some great television coverage and made his transfer directly into the main with a 7th.

Heat 2:

The Houston dirt provided great traction and this allowed the Eleven 10 Mods horsepower to shine. When Willard looked to his left he found Pourcel and when he looked to his right he found Sipes- two of the quickest qualifiers of the timed practice- and when the gate dropped the #92 rocketed out to the front of the pack. Willard nabbed the holeshot and established the lead. Willard put up a great fight with Poucel but gave up the lead on lap 2. Michael was under heavy fire for the entire heat but put in a valiant effort and qualified a solid 5th.

The LCQ start was no different – #412 Kilbarger took the lead from the pack and began to pull away just a bit. Levi held on to the #1 spot for 3 ¾ laps when a slight mistake and a wide line left the door open for Kyle Cunningham. On the next turn, 30 yards from the finish line, Tevin Tapia tried a kamikaze maneuver that would claim himself and Kilbarger, taking them both out of the race and allowing Troy Adams a spot in the Main.

Main Event:

The Guys starts in the main left a little to be desired and they were going to have their work cut out for them. Lipanovich was about midpack, 12th or so and Willard was bringing up the rear in 20th. The main wore on and the competition was fierce. Willard was able to work his way forward trying the entire moto to catch Troy Adams, who is a few points in front of him in the overall points. Lipanovich encountered a few minor issues that stifled his progress. Willard finished an eventual 12th and Lipanovich held on to the 18th spot in the main.

Overall for the season Willard sits 6 points outside of the top 10 in 11th. That is his goal in St Louis, to secure a top 10 overall for the season. Kilbarger has made every main event this season until this weekend and no doubt he will come to do battle in St Louis. He consistently learns from him track encounters and this one will be not different. Lipanovich brings more to the table each and every week and he picks up speed with every second on the race track. #36 of Durham is still on the mend with a slight shoulder injury and the team is unsure he will be racing the St. Louis or sitting it out to continue healing for the upcoming outdoors.

The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.

Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR – We All Ride, Fox Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, Light Speed, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rock’s Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan

H.O.T. Jacksonville Race Report

Honda of Troy once again raised the bar in Jacksonville, qualifying all 4 riders directly into the main from the heat races and The Troy Team owned 1/5 of the field in the lites main event. The Team invited veteran Kelly Smith to fill in for the injured Darryn Durham. Kelly was recovering from his own injury-a broken leg he obtained at the third round of the arenacross series nearly 9 weeks ago. So, with only 20 minutes of seat time, Kelly was willing to step-up and fill the shoes of Durham for the weekend. Also on the mend and not quite sure if he was going to be able to pull the trigger to race, was Levi Kilbarger. Last week he was on his way to securing the main event holeshot when he was devoured by the field in a first turn crash. Levi could barely complete the Jacksonville track walk due to a severe hematoma and deep thigh bruise but his “never say die” attitude led him to ride practice to see how he felt. With a lot of ice, massage, and heart he pushed on and would ride through the night and into the main.

Heat 1:

Fill-in rider Kelly Smith, Levi Kilbarger, and Sean Lipanovich all stormed out of the gate and put themselves in the top 4 spots at the end of lap one. #412 Kilbarger put together a solid ride to secure a 4th place finish and a 7th pick at the main event gate. #107 Kelly Smith shook off the rust and netted a 6th place heat finish . In one of the more exciting races of the night was Sean Lipanovich securing the final transfer spot.

Heat 2:

#92 Michael Willard was the lone HOT rider in heat 2. Michael had an inside gate pick and when they rounded the first corner he fought his way into 5th place. #92 battled his way to a 4th place heat finish and a 8th gate pick in the main. The team was on a high putting all 4 guys in the main, straight out of the heat races – thankfully no LCQ for the HOT Team.

Main:

The long 110 yard start allowed the Eleven 10 mods horsepower to shine. The team netted great starts all night long and the main was no different. Kelly Smith rocketed out of the gate from the outside and nabbed the $1000 holeshot prize. With Sean Lipanovich a very close second and Kilbarger and Willard back mid pack. The tight technical track took a toll on the team in the main claiming Willard first on lap 5. One of the long table top sections spit the #92 to the dirt and out of the race with a tender wrist and forearm. One straight away later the whoop section claimed Lipanovich-ejecting him off of his bike-but Sean regrouped and rejoined the race. That same whoop section would claim Kilbarger as well, he also was able to remount and continue the race. With his very limited time back on a bike Kelly Smith admitted that he paced himself a little too much because he was unsure how much he had in the tank. At the end of the night, the Troy Team finished with Kelly Smith 14th, Kilbarger 16th, Lipanovich 17th, and Willard 18th. Winning the Holeshot award allowed Kelly Smith an interview and chance to thank all of our Team Sponsors. As the weeks roll on each Honda of Troy rider brings a little more to the table. Everyone is looking forward to a weekend off to allow the guys to recover and gear up for Houston.

The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.

Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR – We All Ride, Fox Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, Light Speed, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rock’s Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan

With 49,082 fans packing the new Dallas Stadium, Honda of Troy Racing was set to do battle.

#36 Durham and the #505 Lipanovich lined up for the first heat of the night. Lipanovich was consumed by a first turn pile-up and would not have a chance to show his speed until the LCQ. Durham avoided the crash and netted a 6th place start. Our goal for Durham this week was to ride smart and put the #36 bike in the main event. Darryn rode a great qualifier and made a few passes qualifying a very solid 4th.

#412 Kilbarger and #92 Willard were in the second heat and started their night on the right foot with Kilbarger firing out of the gate nearly getting the holeshot. Settling into second place, on lap 2 Levi had a slight miscue and found himself on the ground. He got up and was able to secure a 9th place finish in the heat and a spot in the main event. Willard was not as lucky on the start but put his head down for a 7th place heat finish and his spot in the main.

In the LCQ Sean Lipanovich found a stacked field which included Baggett, Metcalfe, Cunningham, and Friese. With only 2 spots to advance to the main the #505 knew that a good start was crucial if he was going to advance. So when the gate dropped the #505 dropped the hammer and when the pack rounded the first turn he found himself in the lead. Sean put all of the last 2 weeks lessons to work for him and rode a smart race. He protected his lines and seemed to have found the race speed he was looking for, holding off Baggett and Cunningham for 2 ½ laps. At the 2 ½ lap mark Sean misjudged a rutted corner and found himself in the tuff blocks and off the track. When he re-entered the track he was out of qualifying position but relieved to see that the race had been red flagged and the race would be restarted. Now all he was going to have to do was pull another holeshot – LOL. That is exactly what he did, this time battling with Metcalfe for the start. Metcalfe took the lead and Lipanovich was under heavy pressure from Cunningham. After crossing the finish line for lap one, Sean took the left hand turn and set himself up for the technical rhythm section with Cunningham following closely. Sean moved left off of the jump face and came into contact with Cunningham-slamming Sean to the ground and dashing his hopes for a spot in the main event. Even though Sean was denied a chance in the main event this week Sean saw that his riding is progressing leaps and bounds and has found the speed on the track he has been looking for.

With 3 H.O.T. riders in the Main Event this week good things were expected from the crew. When the gate dropped it was Kilbarger again that emerged at the lead of the pack – way out from the outside. Now that is horsepower! As he began to round the first turn Austin Stroupe got hit from the inside, standing him upright and unable to make the turn. Stroupe hit Levi square in the side and sent the #412 spiraling off the track and down to the concrete (the attached pictures tell the story). In the fall Kilbarger tried to catch himself with his previously injured leg. This would put an end to his night. Claimed in the crash were approximately 12 of the 20 riders in the main including the #36 of Durham. The only Troy rider to escape the carnage was #92 Michael Willard who found himself in an amazing 5th place. The lead pack of 5 jumped out to a clean and clear track. Now it was up to Willard to ride his race and not think about the guys charging from behind him. Durham remounted near the back of the pack and never was able to get his wheels under him. On lap 2 he had a minor tip over in the sand section and then once again in one of the long rhythm sections which would end his night with a mild concussion. Now all the Teams hope lay on the shoulders of #92 Willard. As the laps wore on Willard held his own battling with Stroupe and Lemoine for the 5th place spot. On lap 12 of 15, Michael got pushed to the outside of the track and Stroupe and Lemoine raced by. With 2 laps to go he began to feel the pressure from the former champion Pourcel. The pressure from the good start was more than he could handle and he locked up early in the race. For the #92 this was a battle of attrition and by the races end it was all he could do to ride off the track. An 8th place finish is Michael Willard’s best Supercross finish to date but it was not a finish that he was proud of, feeling like he let this one slip through his fingers. He will be back next week looking to redeem himself and prove to himself that he belongs at the front of the pack.

With the injuries to Kilbarger and Durham it is unsure at this time when we will see them back in action. Levi Kilbarger is being evaluated by the specialist that previously treated his broken femur. Thankfully the x-rays show no breaks; however, his leg is tender sore and it is not certain whether he will be able to get back on the track in Jacksonville. The team has determined it may be in Darryn’s best interest to take a week off after suffering two minor concussions in consecutive race weekends. With a break after Jacksonville, the time off could do him some good.

The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.

Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR – We All Ride, Fox Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, Light Speed, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rocks Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan

Ben Townley Injured in Practice Mishap

Full recovery expected, will return to compete at Hangtown

Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda rider Ben Townley suffered a minor setback to his return to racing this week. While practicing at a local facility in New Zealand, Ben hit a false neutral going up a hill. The sudden drop in acceleration threw him forward and his abdomen slammed into the handlebars. He didn’t crash in the incident but he could feel that something wasn’t right. A trip to the hospital revealed a small perforation in his bowel. The injury was surgically repaired on Monday evening and given a four to six week timetable for healing.

“This is definitely a bummer for me,” said a disappointed Townley from his hospital bed. “I was really looking forward to racing in Europe in April. Obviously, that isn’t going to happen now. I have a lot of friends over there and I’ll definitely race some GP’s again someday.”

Fortunately, Ben will be completely ready to race on May 22nd at Hangtown. Townley will now forego his European trip and return straight to California next month to begin preparation for the opening round of the Lucas Oil/ AMA Motocross Championships that kick off in Sacramento.

“The good news is that Ben was finally back to where he needed to be,” explains TLD team manager David Pingree. “I spoke with him over the weekend and he was truly ready to race. He said he finally found the speed and level of riding that he had several years ago and he was excited about it. That is what he needed. This is a small, unfortunate hiccup but you have to look at this big-picture: he’s going to be ready to race at Hangtown.”

If you would like to send Ben a get-well message or just say hello visit www.bentownley.com and click on the extra tab at the top.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

H.O.T. Toronto Race Report

The weekend started off on the right foot with the Honda of Troy Squad being featured on Press Day. Michael Willard- and his Canadian racing history- made him a favorite with the news and television crews.

The additional track time proved to do our guys some good, making a transfer from the day practice into the night program a breeze. #92 Willard ran impressive laps inside the top 10 in timed qualifying. The gate lineup put Kilbarger and Willard in the First Heat and Durham and Lipanovich in the Second. Kilbarger and Willard rode a solid heat race and qualified directly into the main with a 12th & 18th gate pick for the main. Durham and Lipanovich didn’t fair as well as Lipanovich got one of his patented good starts but struggled through the first long timing section. Sean found himself just outside of qualifying in 12th place come race end. Durham was running a strong 6th on lap 2 of the second heat. He made a pass on Metcalf for 5th and gapped him about a second when a technical rhythm section claimed him, sending him over the handlebars, head first into the ground and right into Metcalf’s path. Darryn struggled to get to his feet and the medical staff did what they could to comfort him. It was off to the Asterisk Medical truck for him where an examination showed no breaks just a solid shot to the head that would keep him out of the last chance qualifier and there for main event.

The main event was on and it was some of the best racing we have seen yet this year. #412 Kilbarger shot out of the gate with a respectable 12th place start. #92 Willard got pushed to the outside of the track and into the tuff blocks. He was forced to stop and kick a tuff block cover off of his bike putting him about a full straightaway down on the last place guy – he had his work cut out for him. #412 was in an intense battle with multiple riders and this slowed his pace allowing Willard to catch their pack. Willard and Kilbarger put on one heck of a race with each other for about 5 laps before the sand section caused Kilbarger’s rear wheel to lock up and his bike to stall on lap 6. #92 Willard never looked back and charged forward. Michael rode with intensity that we have not see out of him to this point. Over each and every jump he had his head on a swivel looking to see who was in front of him and who he was going to claim next. Come lap 8, he saw #341 Izzy was about 5 seconds out and he put on an inspiring charge catching and passing Nicco on lap 12. At the end of his charge Michael was able to net himself 9th in the main-an impressive finish when taking into account he passed 10 competitors to earn his place. After refiring, the #412 Kilbarger was able to fight off multiple riders and still put in a solid 14th place finish. Levi shows the heart and desire of a true champion and deserves the opportunity to show what he can do when he is healthy. He continues to battle the pains of his leg injury and has been plagued with fatigue issues.

Everyone is looking forward to heading to Dallas this week and experiencing the new Dallas Stadium – The HoT crew and team continues to grow and improve with each and every passing week. Darryn Durham is fully ready to go this week with only a few bumps and bruises that he will not let stifle his quest towards the podium.

The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.

Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR – We All Ride, Fox Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, Light Speed, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rocks Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan