The Dutch MXGP at Valkenswaard, the third round of the 2016 Motocross World Championships, proved to be a difficult weekend for New Zealand’s Ben Townley.

The former MX2 World Champion made the short trip across the border from the team’s Belgian workshop in Lommel suffering the after-effects of a virus that left him drained and lethargic.

The man from the Bay of Plenty could barely throw a leg over his bike on Sunday and persevered to a creditable 14th in the first moto. After consulting the team during the short break, ‘BT’ attempted the second race but pulled off the track at mid-distance without the strength to continue.

The team’s general manager, 10-time former world champion Stefan Everts, was just happy that Townley was not hurt physically at the weekend.

“For Ben I am happy that he got out of here in one piece. He was so sick all week and I didn’t think he could race. What he did in that first moto with 14th place, I’m really happy, and also pleased that he was smart and pulled-out of that second moto if he didn’t have the feeling.

“His health is more important and it was just bad luck to be so sick. Everyone worked so hard so I want to thank them for that.”

Townley is now 12th in the championship standings.

“Just to give my best today was the plan,” said Townley.

“The illness side had gone but energy side from being in bed for four days was on the empty mark. The little I had in the tank I used up today.

“It was a shame but I have never experienced anything like it. I couldn’t feel my muscles and was just absolutely ruined; I feel like I have run two marathons today.

“Overall it was bad timing; this thing struck me on Tuesday and I was still in bed on Saturday morning. I know I will get over this in the next few days and will have to think about Argentina.”

RESULTS & STANDINGS:

MXGP Moto 1:

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:41.033; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:05.431; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:33.443; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:46.976; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.297; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), +0:52.205; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:52.378; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:00.386; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:10.664; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:14.769; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, KTM), +1:18.409; 12. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +1:20.067; 13. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:26.354; 14. Ben Townley (NZL, SUZ), +2:26.311.

MXGP Moto 2:

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 34:55.696; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:05.156; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:12.437; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:14.500; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), +0:17.253; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.165; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:27.558; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:39.187; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:53.250; 10. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:10.348. 31. Ben Townley (NZL, SUZ), -11 lap(s).

MXGP Overall result:

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 45 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 40 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 38 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 36 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 33 p.; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 31 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, KTM), 19 p.; 11. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 16 p.; 12. Harri Kullas (EST, KTM), 14 p.; 13. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 14 p.; 14. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 14 p.; 15. Christophe Charlier (FRA, HUS), 11 p.; 16. Gert Krestinov (EST, HON), 8 p.; 17. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 7 p.; 18. Ben Townley (NZL, SUZ), 7 p.

MXGP World Championship Standings (after 3 of 18 rounds):

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 137 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 124 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 107 p.; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 104 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 100 p.; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 84 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 80 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 79 p.; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 63 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 55 p.; 11. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 51 p.; 12. Ben Townley (NZL, SUZ), 49.

© Photo by Ray Archer

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