Michael Byrne took a season-best eighth place finish at Colorado. Image: Simon Cudby.

BTOSports.com/BBMX/Suzuki’s Michael Byrne has found form on return from injury, taking an impressive eighth overall finish in the 450 Class at round three of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in Colorado.

The Australian was forced to sit out the entire supercross season, after suffering a neck injury on Christmas Day last year while testing.

Byrne has been building on his results since he took a 22nd overall at the season opener in Hangtown, then an 11th overall at Freestone and has now earned his season-best finish in Colorado.

“First moto, I had a good start, but I lost like eight positions on the first lap, so that kind of put me in a hole,” said Byrne. “Then I got back up to 12th from 18th, I think.

“Definitely been riding better the last two weeks. Just feel more comfortable again and just getting stronger. A few races underneath my belt now and getting back in the swing of it.”

Byrne believes that having Chad Reed on hand to help out during the week definitely helped with his performance at Colorado.

“I had a groove both motos. Obviously, you’re at altitude, so the bike’s slower,” he added. “I was just trying to kind of flow and not bury the bike in the soft stuff and try and keep the momentum going. It’s actually something I worked on this week a lot with Chad and it just paid off.”

Byrne currently sits 12th overall in the 450 Class standings after three rounds of racing, round four of the series will take place at High Point Raceway in Pennsylvania on 9 June.