Image: Jeff Crow.

GYTR Yamaha rookie Jed Beaton put in a championship performance at Murray Bridge’s fourth round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, salvaging fourth in MXD despite undergoing appendix surgery this month.

The 16-year-old spent a week in hospital and has been bed-ridden since Wonthaggi, but 5-4 moto finishes have kept him within three points of the championship lead at its halfway point.

“My stomach didn’t give me too many problems today, but because I haven’t been able to do anything for three weeks and lost seven kilos since Wonthaggi,” he commented. “Physically I was not in good shape to race at this level.

“By the halfway mark of each moto, I was totally exhausted but I had to finish and just hung in there as best I could. Considering the condition I was in and no preparation leading into the race, finishing fourth is okay and staying close to the championship lead is even better.

“With MXD not doing Perth and the Swan Hill rounds we now have an eight-week break, which comes at the perfect time for me.”

Beaton is currently third in the standings, three points in arrears of Egan Mastin and two behind second-year class contender Jack Simpson – all three holding down the points lead at stages this season.