After 11 months recovering from a busted wrist, English Motul Pirelli Suzuki racer Steven ‘Scuba’ Clarke returned for the Terex Australian Supercross Championships and raced to an impressive fourth overall in the Pro Lites class.

But Scuba’s lengthy injury, compounded by the fact most manufacturers are cutting back on the Lites class next year, currently sees him in limbo for 2013. We caught up with the 22-year-old to see how his infectious sense of humour is holding up and to get his thoughts on a range of topics.

Steven Clarke in action during Australian Supercross for Motul Pirelli Suzuki. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

The new Australian Supercross series…
Yarrive Konsky has done a great job of revamping it after stepping in the deep end with the series. It was run professionally and the tracks were big compared to what we’ve seen in the past. Personally I think I rode well – I had the fastest time at Dubbo and Newcastle but didn’t put myself in the right position to capitalise on them. I was super-consistent with three fourths and a sixth, but in a short series like that I needed to be on the box. To come back so strong after an 11-month layoff was a big accomplishment for me.

Broken wrist dramas…
I broke the lunate bone in my wrist at Maitland supercross last year. It was supposed to have healed by January, but when I started riding in February I was still in a lot of pain. It turns out I’d torn the blood flow from the bone and the bone had died. It’s a one-in-a-million thing, but it was heartbreaking after signing a factory deal with Suzuki for 2012. I went in for surgery the same weekend as Round 1 of the MX Nationals at Conondale and the surgeons replaced three bones with medal. It was touch-and-go as to whether I’d ever be able to ride again and I was sidelined for another four months. It was one of the most frustrating times in my life.

The pressure of running #4 on a Suzuki, ala Ricky Carmichael…
I know Ricky from my time living at the Millsaps Training Facility at Georgia. Ricky’s track was just down the road and I spent about six or seven years there watching him ride. I got fourth in the Super X last year and Suzuki wanted me to change my number from number 511 to number four. There’s no pressure running the number, but I do cop a bit of shit from the boys about it. A racing number is just that. I’m not trying to compete against him or steal his thunder [laughs].

UK life vs USA life vs Aussie life…
A lot of people ask me where I like living the most, but I can’t really pick one as each place has its positives and negatives. Australian prices are ridiculous – I swear you guys add an extra zero to everything, but I think Australia has a cool mix of both the USA and England. The roads and infrastructure here are like the US, but the people and the food are like England, which I guess comes from your history. Australia is a bit far away from everything, but I love it here.

Being the funny guy…
I always try to have a good time and have bit of a joke, no matter where I am. As long as I’m racing dirt bikes I’ve got no reason to be mad. That photo you guys posted of me pulling the funny face at Phillip Island shows my personality through and through. I get a lot of feedback on my Instagram photos – I’ve got a few websites I pinch photos and memes from and they always get a good laugh.

Plans for 2013…
I head off to California on December 5 for a week, then go to Georgia to set myself up at MTF again. I’ll fly home for Christmas, then what happens next depends on if I get offered a racing deal. I’ll go to MTF and train hard for three months, then I want to come back to Australian and win some championships. I’d love to return to Australia and I’ve talked to a few teams, but a lot of people have completed their teams or are cutting back. I feel I missed a great opportunity this year and it’d be nice to stay and do a full year to redeem myself. I’m not fussy as to whether I get offered a Lites or Opens deal, I can ride both just as easily – they’ve both got two wheels, a seat and bars, and you twist the right hand to go fast.