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Former 250MX champion Dean Wilson believes his chances of making Hangtown’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship opener are slim as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.

Wilson was fighting for position when a rare mechanical malfunction struck his FC 450 at Denver’s supercross while negotiating a rhythm section, prompting him to crash heavily and sustaining shoulder damage in the process.

Confirming he’ll remain with the factory Husqvarna squad for the outdoor series, Wilson has declared he’s doing everything possible to make round one, although he acknowledges it will be unlikely.

“I have been doing all I can to get back to 100 percent doing my therapy/training and all sorts of remedies, but sometimes the body just needs to do its thing and heal,” Wilson explained. “The goal was to be at the first round of outdoors but chances of that may be slim.

“I will be on the factory Rockstar Husky team all summer for those asking. Taking this day by day as it’s very frustrating – I want to be out there so bad. I will come back when I can!”

Wilson started the year out as a privateer aboard Husqvarna machinery, however was drafted back into the factory team after Jason Anderson was ruled out with injury. The team has since signed him for the entire Pro Motocross championship.

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Australian FMX and stunt icon Robbie Maddison has revealed he’ll perform a trifecta of land, sea and air stunts at Wollongong’s third round of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship and the Australian Motorcycle Festival on 9 November.

Maddision is anticipated to put on freestyle display inside WIN Stadium on Saturday night, while he’ll attempt a water and high-air stunt at Lang Park during the newly-branded motorcycle festival.

“I can’t wait to come home to the Illawarra,” said Maddison. “The supercross is going to be incredible in WIN Stadium and to perform in front of a packed stadium will be something very special.

“Make sure you get to the ‘Gong early on Saturday, 9 November for the Australian Motorcycle Festival and enjoy two more stunts that I will attempt. I am not announcing just yet what stunts fans will see but let me say, I am going for the trifecta – land, sea and water of stunts!”

Maddison has performed incredible stunts including multiple world long distance motorcycle jumps, jumping the Corinth Canal, jumping from the ground up to the top of Las Vegas replica Arc De Triomphe and then back down, and surfing waves in Tahiti his custom waterbike.

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Former champion Romain Febvre has confirmed he’ll sit out this weekend’s fifth round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship at Mantova in Italy, as he targets a return from injury at the MXGP of Portugal on 19 May.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing underwent surgery following Argentina’s season-opener in March, where he severely damaged his ankle in a moto two crash.

The Frenchman has since returned to riding, taking advantage of the recent five-week break in the series, however doesn’t feel up to standard to challenge this weekend’s round.

“It has been good to be back on the bike,” said Febvre. “At the moment my ankle is not perfect but it’s good enough to ride and to put some hours on the bike. It gets better every day, but it needs more mobility, so I am able to put my foot where I want, especially on hard-pack corners, but it has been good to start training.

“Right now, I am trying to catch the time back on the bike and it is cool that I can train with Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2’s Ben Watson, which helps me get back into the rhythm because we can push each other and it’s really good for me. Much better than riding alone. I am hoping to be back for Portugal, but if I’m not ready, I think France.”

The MXGP World Championship is currently led by nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

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Yamalube Yamaha Racing rookie Richie Evans emerged with a career-best result in the MX1 category at last weekend’s Pirelli MX Nationals double-header in Murray Bridge, the Queenslander winding up sixth overall on both days of racing.

The first three rounds have proven to be a challenge for the factory Yamaha pilot as he transitions to the premier class, with South Australia’s fourth and fifth rounds marking a timely breakout performance for the number 86.

“The first three rounds have been terrible for me for a bunch of reasons and I just wanted a clear run to see what I was capable of and where I sit,” Evans explained. “I was able to get that this weekend at Murray Bridge and I’m pretty happy with the outcome. I had a goal to finish in the top eight every time I hit the track this weekend and apart from qualifying, I finished every race in seventh or better.

“And the last race was the best I felt all year at the MX Nationals. It feels good to leave here with a result that I can be proud of and it also gives me motivation to keep working harder. The more I race with the riders at the front, the more I learn and the more comfortable I get with the pace.

“Thanks to the team for a huge weekend as my mechanic Jed busted his butt all weekend as well as Mike back in the work shop. I glad I could reward them with some decent results and now I want to keep it rolling through to Coolum.”

Evans has advanced to ninth in the MX1 championship rankings, as the MX Nationals returns to action 23 June at Gympie in Queensland.

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MX2 red-plate holder Wilson Todd is thankful to have escaped wheel damage in race one of Sunday’s Pirelli MX Nationals in Murray Bridge without suffering a serious dent to his championship lead.

The DPH Motorsport Husqvarna rider was locked in a duel with Kyle Webster (Penrite CRF Honda Racing) in the opening encounter of round five, leading the outing before writing off a rear wheel, forcing him to relinquish the lead and stop into the mechanics’ area.

After switching out the wheel – which was fitted with an alternate tyre option – Todd put on a charge to salvage 14th, and paired with a stunning race victory in moto two, he was granted fifth overall.

“It was a tough weekend for me,” Todd commented. “I don’t like the Murray Bridge track all that much and I haven’t had the best results here. The first moto on Sunday saw me destroy a rear wheel while leading, and have to pull in for Pynee to swap it over, getting back on track in 18th.

“I managed to stay on the lead lap, put in the fastest lap of the race and finish 14th. Lining up for the last race I was motivated, got the start and led start to finish. It wasn’t an ideal weekend, but I salvaged points in bad races and I head into the break with a 23-point lead and a lot of confidence for the second half of the year.”

Boasting a 23-point lead, Todd will return to action following a lengthy break in the MX Nationals, with the next round scheduled for 23 June at Gympie in Queensland.

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Serco Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti has expressed a sense of relief by earning a podium in Sunday’s edition of Murray Bridge’s Pirelli MX Nationals double-header, undergoing surgery on a finger injury just 10 days prior to the event.

The now Queensland-based talent endured a difficult round four on Saturday, however returned to the South Australian circuit on Sunday in strong form, lodging a consistent 4-4 scorecard for third overall.

“Two weeks I ago while riding I had a crash, and the clutch lever jammed up against my finger and the bars,” Tanti explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “I lacerated my finger pretty badly, and lacerated 70 percent of my tendons in there, so I had to get it operated on to clean it out and see if they could repair them, and they couldn’t because they were pretty damaged.

“I only got operated on 10 days ago, so I’ve been riding in a splint. It was tough riding with it, and having stitches in my finger was always in the back of my mind. I’m pretty happy with the outcome anyway.”

It’s understood Tanti will have to remain in a splint for eight weeks, which will bring him to the next round of the MX Nationals, scheduled for 23 June at Gympie in Queensland.