Source: Supplied.

Australian rookie Caleb Ward will miss this weekend’s fourth round of the 2017 MX2 World Championship in Mexico, still recovering from wrist and shoulder injuries sustained in Argentina during qualifying.

8Biano Racing Husqvarna’s Ward, who recently turned 20, sat out the motos at Neuquen and had hopes to line-up at Leon this weekend, but has made the decision to remain in Italy and recuperate further before returning.

“Unfortunately I won’t be racing Mexico this weekend,” Ward confirmed when contacted by MotoOnline.com.au. “I’m still recovering from my crash at Argentina and it wouldn’t be smart to go potentially hurt myself more. It sucks because the more races I do, the more I’ll improve I think, but it’s just not worth the risk. I’m hoping to be back on the bike soon and the plan is to be fit and healthy for the next round here in Italy.”

The high point of Ward’s first full season in the world championship has so far come in Indonesia’s mud-soaked second round, where he overcame an existing knee injury to finish seventh in moto one and 12th overall.