Steven Clarke was fourth upon return with Motul Pirelli Suzuki at Dubbo. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

British standout Steven Clarke made a successful return from injury at Dubbo’s opening round of the Terex Australian Supercross Championships last weekend at Dubbo, scoring fourth in the SX-Lites main.

Clarke was Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s top performer in the main events on the evening, claiming an inspired fourth in the SX-Lites final aboard the 2013 model fuel injected RM-Z250 despite a lengthy layoff through injury.

Clarke was in form throughout the evening in Dubbo, winning the opening heat race of the season before battling his way to a fighting fourth in the main.

“Coming into Dubbo it had been 11 months since I did a race, so it had been a long time and I had butterflies on the gate for the heat race,” Clarke reflected.

“It turned out good though, I won the heat race and then going into the main I felt good and my wrist was nice and strong.

“I was second off the start in the main, but I went down on lap three and dropped back to 10th or so before charging back up to fourth by the end.

“I felt good, got the fastest lap of the main, and fourth’s not too bad to start the season with solid points for the championship.”

Clarke had signed for a fulltime ride with Suzuki in Australia during 2012, however an arm injury suffered during supercross last year forced him out of the MX Nationals season.