Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda's Cody Mackie scored vital points despite a heavy moto two crash at Murray Bridge. Image: Alex Gobert.

Team 07 Axis Motorsports Honda’s Cody Mackie admits the final motos at Murray Bridge’s fourth round of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals were two of the hardest of his life following a first turn crash in moto two on Sunday.

Involved in a first turn pile-up, Mackie damaged his upper cheekbone and took a lot of skin off his back from the incident which forced him out of the round’s second moto.

Mackie soldiered on in a brave performance for 12th and eighth place in the final two back-to-back motos, crediting him 12th overall for the round overall after also claiming eighth in moto one.

“[That was a] tough day at the office – it was probably the toughest racing I had to do rocking up to the gate for motos three and four,” Mackie commented. “I almost called it quits after my first turn crash in the previous race as I took a pretty hard hit to the head.

“My left eye started to close up but I just kept pushing my mind towards the big picture. In the end I am glad was able to salvage some points that would never have been.”

Mackie now sits fifth in the championship after four of nine rounds contested to date.