There will be one less Kiwi at Raymond Terrace in New South Wales next weekend when the riders line up there to race the eighth round of 10 in the Australian Motocross Championships.

Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter crashed and broke his wrist while racing at Taupo at the weekend and will now not be able to complete his Australian campaign.

“I broke my wrist pretty bad. I am just in talks with the surgeon about when they will operate on it and get my recovery started.

“This is a heart-breaking accident as I was having such a awesome rookie year (in the MX1 class) with my team in Australia and felt I still had better results to come.

“I just want to thank my family, my girlfriend and all my sponsors for their support this year. It has been amazing. I look at this injury as a little speed bump and will come back stronger next year and hope to be back in Australia with all the people that have backed me in my first year on the 450.

“I will keep everyone updated on how my surgery goes and an estimated date of when I’ll be back doing what I love.”

The 24-year-old Team Motul Suzuki rider – who raced earlier this season in the MX2 (250cc) class for the Bay of Plenty-based Bel Ray Pro Rider Suzuki team in New Zealand – is currently ninth overall in the MX1 class.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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