Image: Jeff Crow.

KTM Factory Motocross Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs began his 2016 MX Nationals MX1 title defence preparations this week following a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to injury.

The Queensland-based rider suffered multiple fractures to both his hip and pelvis in a supercross practice crash, forcing him to spend three months off his motorcycle to recover from the substantial injury.

Gibbs admits his extended break from riding and training had rekindled the fire and he looks forward to the challenge of defending his first-ever premier class title.

“For us to even have four or five weeks off a bike it feels like a lifetime, so for me to have three months off, it just rekindled the fire and I just want to come back and do it again,” said Gibbs. “We’ve obviously got a stacked field with Todd [Waters], Dean [Ferris] and all of the other boys that were already here so there’s new challenges as well. It should be great, I’m looking forward to it.”

With one of the most competitive MX1 fields in a number of years and a target on his back, the South Australian is aware of the challenge awaiting him with minimal preparation time compared to his main rivals.

“I obviously have the number one plate and that’s what they want, so it’s going to be really tough,” he added. “There’s a lot of people that want that number one plate, I’m just going to do what I know best and hopefully have a good few months leading into this first round – I’ll be working my butt off to try and keep it.”

Gibbs and his team are yet to confirm if he and teammate Luke Styke will contest rounds of the 2016 New Zealand Motocross Championship. As of now his set date to return to racing will be Horsham’s season opening MX Nationals round on 3 April.