Dean Porter showed promise early in the piece but was sidelined with torn ankle ligaments early in moto two.

Dean Porter is hopeful of a return to racing for the second round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals in Murray Bridge after scans revealed he had suffered torn ankle ligaments in a second-moto crash last weekend.

The Full Force CarRus.com.au MX1 rider has been left to rue a rough start to his season after a frustrating day at Raymond Terrace.

Porter struggled to 16th in the opening 30-minute moto, battling a bout of arm pump for much of the race.

His charge in the second moto came undone when he crashed and injured his ankle, a disappointing finish to a weekend that had held such promise.

“It was one of those days that started off bad and got worse,” explained Porter. “I got the last gate pick due to a bike issue and in the first moto struggled with arm pump.

“Next moto I felt good and strong but crashed of a single and knew I had done something to my ankle straight away – I tried to keep going, but I couldn’t.

“I went to the doctors and got an x-ray, it’s not broken but I have torn some ligaments.”

Porter’s goal is to be back on track for the second MXN round in South Australia next weekend.

The team’s MX2 contender, esteemed Japanese rider Takeshi Katsuya, rode solidly in what was his first competitive outing in a number of years. Katsuya finished the day ninth overall with 12-six results aboard the Full Force CarRus.com.au CRF250R.

“The day was not too bad, I would have liked to get a decent start, I missed the start in both races,” Katsuya reflected. “I had no rear brake in the second moto for the last 10 minutes but I’m still quite happy with how I went.

“I’ll try to be in the top five at the next round. I’m not rushing. It is the first time I have raced in Australia since 2008 and my first race anywhere for two years – I had a few nerves.”