Source: Penrite Honda.

Penrite Honda will assess the fitness of regular riders Josh Cachia and Cody Cooper in the lead-up to Wonthaggi’s third round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals later this month.

MX2 rider Cachia will test with the team on Wednesday in a bid to make his first national appearance of the season at Wonthaggi, following ongoing wrist problems from a series of operations that have sidelined him for the past nine months.

“We are now preparing to test with Josh on Wednesday and hope to be able to confirm he will be competing at Wonthaggi,” team manager Mike Landman commented.

The team has also hinted that Cooper could make a return in time for round three, after he sustained facial injuries at Broadford and underwent surgery upon return home to New Zealand. His return will depend on medical clearance.

Standing in for Cooper last weekend at Appin was Kiwi number three Brad Groombridge, who finished 16th overall after carding 12th in moto two in his first event aboard the CRF450R.

“Brad struggled with the bike set-up to start with,” Landman added. “He has a totally different riding style to Cody so we were making a lot of changes on the run.

“He was a lot happier with the bike in the final moto, but a bad start cost him dearly. Wonthaggi is a softer loamier track, which is more in line with the tracks in NZ so it should suit him a lot better than Appin.”

The Penrite Honda Racing team transporter will head to the Broadford Motorcycle Sport Complex for this weekends Penrite Oil Broadford Easter Bike Bonanaza.