Source: Supplied.

MPE Husqvarna’s Jesse Dobson confirmed his recovery from injury is on track following a strong performance at the recent 2016 KTM Conondale Cup.

The 18-year-old MX1 contender opened the event with a third place qualifying time behind defending MX Nationals champion, Kirk Gibbs, and former MXGP contender Dean Ferris.

In order to return to race speed and fitness, Dobson made his Caleb Ward’s property in northen Queensland with the sole purpose of riding and training in preparation for the 2016 season.

“We’re four weeks back on the bike now, I went away to Caleb Ward’s and stayed with him for three weeks and got some really good ride time in,” said Dobson. “All we did was rode and trained and the fitness came back pretty quick.

“My knee’s really strong now after the ACL and getting my meniscus repaired, it’s really good. We are only a few weeks out from round one now and I think after the weekend we are right there in the mix. I’m really happy with that.”

Although Dobson is happy with his current form following serious knee surgery, he admits sixth place is not where he wants to be, it’s the podium spots he is shooting for aboard his relatively standard Husqvarna FC 450.

“I wasn’t happy with 5-5 for sixth overall, I don’t want that, I want to be at the front pushing for podiums,” he added. “We’re racing the stock 2016 FC450 and we’re ripping awesome starts and it’s right in the mix with some of the fastest bikes on the track that have had thousands poured into their engines. And mine you can buy off the shelf – I’m pretty pumped with that.”

Dobson is currently the sole Husqvarna factory-backed contender in the MX1 category with the recent departure of Jacob Wright from the SD3 Husqvarna team.