Aussie Tye Simmonds scored a career-best 15th in Atlanta's AMA Supercross. Image: Hoppenworld.com.

Australia’s AMA Supercross rising star Tye Simmonds returned from a bout of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia to claim his best ever finish in Atlanta, and now he says he’s aiming for the top 10.

Simmonds, 18, finished a satisfying 15th at the Georgia Dome despite still not being recovered to full fitness at this point, and he was stoked with the end result.

“I would say I’m about 85 percent better and I was actually able to ride this past week for the first time in two weeks,” the JDR/J-Star/KTM rider explained.

Simmonds qualified for his third Supercross in eight rounds via seventh in his heat aboard the 350 SX-F, eventually rounding out the 20-lap main event in 15th following an entertaining race.

“I started mid-pack but tightened up right away and dropped back,” reported Simmonds. “I would like to get closer to the top ten.

“I feel that’s where my speed is and where I should be competing, but I am still happy to have been in the main event tonight after battling with bronchitis the past two weeks.”

Teammate PJ Larsen, the current Australian Pro Lites Motocross and Supercross Champion, finished seventh in the second round of the East Coast Lites title chase.

Simmonds will contest his first Daytona Supercross when the series visits Florida as part of the Daytona Bike Week festivities.