Kiwi Michael Phillips will be using three days of testing to his advantage at Coonabarabran on Sunday. Image: Alex Gobert.

Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Kiwi import Michael Phillips has acknowledged that recent testing at Goanna Tracks will prove vital when the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals reaches Coonabarabran this weekend.

Phillips joined teammate Cheyne Boyd in a three-day test at the longest circuit on the schedule, with lap times spanning over three minutes at Coonabarabran.

“We spent some time at Coonabarabran testing before the Toowoomba round,” Phillips explained. “We camped out for three days of riding. We got to learn the track and it was also a pretty good team building exercise.

Phillips, who currently sits in sixth position overall, believes the new track will provide an even playing field for riders.

“A lot of riders have a home track favourite and tend to do really well at certain tracks but this will be new to everyone,” Phillips continued.

“It’s a brand new facility which is fantastic. Its good to see motocross developing in Australia.”

Phillips’ lone podium of the season came at Murray Bridge’s fourth round in South Australia.