Despite everything, you’ve got to be
stoked with the career you had and
all you achieved.
Yeah, I’m very proud of what I achieved.
I just wanted to be a racer and was able
to compete at a world championship,
then win it, then contended for the
most prestigious championship, then
lived my dream of racing in America.
It was all pretty fractured from 2009 to
2016, both literally and metaphorically,
and that’s what guts me. I was in the
prime of my career and what I achieved
from 18 to 21 was good, and I was
in the box seat. Had it not been for
injuries and dumb decisions, I could’ve,
should’ve, would’ve achieved a lot
more.
Well now you’ve announced you have
a whole new focus with Ben Townley
Tours How did that come about?
For years, I always thought there
was a market for Europeans to come
to New Zealand to ride and train. It
developed from there to doing some
coaching with Australian riders, but I
then thought there must be a market for
people to just come and just go riding.
Initially I was heading down the path of
adventure riding - but then I decided I
knew motocross and trail-riding around
the central North Island really well and
went down that route.
After two years of mucking around with
the idea I got my arse into gear. I got
hold of KTM and sent them a proposal,
and honestly, within 24 hours it was
signed off and I had bikes on the way.
It’s an absolute turn-key operation: you
fly to Rotorua and I’ll pick you up and
drive you 10km down the road to our
accommodation, and we’ll stay there the
length of the trip. I provide everything:
bikes, tracks, trails, accommodation and
all the food. I want it to be a high-end
experience that people will remember for
a lifetime.
I’m flexible on when people want to come
here, the length of stay, the activities and
type of riding they want to do, everything
is negotiable and able to be customised
to what people want.
Sounds amazing, bro. Is this
something you think you’ll be able to
do for the rest of your riding days?
I feel like I never wanted to stop racing,
but every athlete has to hang up their
hat at some stage. I truly didn’t want to,
but this is a way to continue living like a
motocross racer without the commitment
of brutal training regimes and the risk that
come from riding on the ragged edge. I
just enjoy riding dirt bikes and I hope I’ll
never get sick of it. It’s in the blood and
I’m excited to have the opportunity to
share this incredible feeling with others.
t
/BT101
@BT1zero1
@BenTownleyMX
It boils down to this: I’m offering the
opportunity to come to New Zealand
- which is on so many people’s bucket
lists - and actually go riding with me on
some of the most amazing motocross
tracks and trails on earth, all within an
hour’s drive of your accommodation.
Crazy! What exactly are you offering?