Image: Jeff Crow.

Penrite Oils Honda Racing’s Ben Townley has confirmed he’ll be a definite starter for the final two rounds of the MX Nationals at Toowoomba and Coolum despite an injury scare at Nowra last weekend.

The former MX2 World Champion and Eastern Regional AMA 250SX champion crashed during qualifying at the eighth round of the MX Nationals and sat out the rest of the event with a suspected shoulder injury.

“I caught my ‘bars on an embankment and it tore my hand back and threw me off,” Townley told MotoOnline last night. “The movement pinched a nerve and it made my whole arm go numb and I couldn’t feel the ‘bars any more. It’s all good now though and back to 100 percent. I’m ready for the final two rounds of the championship.”

Toowoomba marks the start of a busy six weeks for the 30-year-old. After the MX Nationals he’s locked in to race the final round of the MXGP at Glen Helen, California, then will represent New Zealand at Ernee, France, for the Motocross of Nations.

“Getting selected to race for your country is always an honour, but by no means am I a professional racer now,” he added. “In saying that I’m really happy with the balance I’ve found in my life between racing, training, my family and my diet. Right now it’s all about working and training smarter, not harder, and the difference that’s made has been fantastic.”

The New Zealand MXoN team comprises of Townley, Cody Cooper and Kayne Lamont, who’s currently racing the British Motocross Championship.