Kiwi motocross ace Mike Phillips is heading back to the UK to continue racing in the British Motocross championship.

The Rotorua man spent the past few weeks at home as he recuperated from a practice crash that resulted in hospitalisation to remove a ruptured spleen.

“It’s been five weeks since I got back to New Zealand, two months since the crash and a week and a half since I got back on the bike. I can’t wait for the next race,” Phillips said.

“Training off the bike has been going really well for the last month and I’m starting to feel like my old self again. On the bike has been positive too, but I’m still taking it easy and working back into things. Apart from the cold weather it was good to come back to New Zealand for a month to sort myself out. I had other things to take my mind off my injury and when I did start training I had everything there.”

He headed back to the UK this week to finish off the rest of the season that consists of three rounds of the British Championship, the rest of the Red Bull pro Nationals and possibly a few European races.

“Also, if I get back on the pace I might be able to represent New Zealand at this years Motocross of Nations at the end of the season in Italy. But first things first.

“Big thanks to my team in NZ, Team Honda Racing and to my team DB racing Honda in the UK for there support over the last few months. Injuries aren’t good but, unfortunately, they’re a big part of our sport. Also a big thanks to everyone that made this year in the UK possible. It’s only the beginning.”

Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com