KEY POINTS:
Ben Townley has had to rearrange his 2008 goals after another serious pre-season injury.
The New Zealand motocross star will now be targeting a full return to action in the United States premier outdoor Motocross (450cc) class in which he will be making his debut with his new
Honda team.
The former world MX2 champion's plan to defend his East Coast Supercross (indoor) Lites (250cc) title was ruined after injuring an ankle, which required surgery before Christmas.
He resumed cycling only last week and is undergoing therapy.
"There's not a chance I'll be ready for the East Coast SX Lites series," Townley told AMAmotocross.com.
"This was just a complicated, complicated deal with my heel bone.
"It just takes a long time to heal. I could not put any pressure at all on the actual joint ... but it's all feeling a lot better now. This is my first week of trying to walk again now."
Townley, whose base is in Florida, could not say if he could face a Supercross season.
"As it stands, we're just looking to get me back on a bike in March.
"Then we'll go from there and see how it all plays out.
"It's going to be a three-month period from one end to the other before I ride again, so I've got to see how things go once I get back on a bike.
Townley said his focus was now ensuring he was ready to go in his Motocross class debut.
"Obviously, it's a big change going up to a 450, but I feel that I've got everything going in the right direction to make that step now, and everything is looking on track so far."
He had learned a lot in 2005 when he finished runner-up in the world MX1 (450cc) championship and was now ready to do it again.
"Being there and battling a bit [in 2005], I'm ready to do it again. I think this time around, I will be a lot better prepared."
After spending two seasons with Kawasaki in the United States, Townley said he had made the switch to Honda because they had a great 450cc machine, one he felt comfortable on immediately.
"I wanted to be somewhere where I felt I was wanted, and it ended up that Honda wanted me over there.
"It's been great so far; I think all of the decisions that I made have been fully backed up, and it's going to be even more proof in the pudding once the summer rolls around.
"I'm going to give it my best shot. I know that I'm going to be prepared and be ready for this outdoor season - and it's going to be good.
"After having a year of nationals under my belt, knowing all the tracks now, knowing my competition that I'm going to be up against, I'm going to be ready to go for sure."
- NZPA