Image: Andrew Conway (ConwayMX).

Caleb Ward today confirmed he will opt for multiple surgeries that will rule him out of any further racing domestically following his premature return to Australia from the 2017 MX2 World Championship.

Making his final appearance at the Valkenswaard round, the 20-year-old parted-ways with the 8Biano Racing Husqvarna team following a challenging rookie MX2 grand prix season.

“Obviously things didn’t go to plan over in Europe and there were a few different things that happened that I wasn’t super happy with,” Ward told MotoOnline.com.au. “I had to take the injuries into account and they were one of the factors in why I came home and I can’t really go into detail about the other stuff.

“My goal growing up and my dream was to race the GPs and obviously it sucks to go over there and have it not work out, but I think it’s for the best coming home. If it was possible to stay and if I felt like I could have continued on and got the results I felt I was capable of, I would done everything I could to do it.”

Preparing for a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation process, the Queenslander will go in for dual knee surgeries followed shortly after by a shoulder surgery to ensure he is at 100 percent health for the 2018 season domestically.

“I’m going to get ACL surgery on both of my knees, and then a month later I’ll get my shoulder done that I injured in Argentina,” Ward explained. “It’s going to be a long recovery process, but I haven’t had an ACL in either knee for a few years now and I’ve been putting that off until I had another injury or if I wasn’t going to be in a championship. I’m in that situation now, so I’m going to get everything fixed and try to come into next year as strong as possible.

“I think it will be a big benefit for me coming into a season strong and at 100 percent for the first time in a long time. I haven’t had all of my body parts working properly since I was about 15, so I think it will be really good and hopefully I’ll get a good ride.”

Ward also revealed that he has his sights set on a premier class seat for 2017, the former MX2 front-runner and title contender looking to progress in his career and rise through the Australian MX1 ranks in the near future.

“I would like to go to a 450 next year, my goal is to get a 450 ride,” he said. “But in saying that, I’m not going to rule out a 250 ride if the right deal came about, but I’d prefer to go to a 450 and continue to progress in my career. I’d prefer to go to the 450 and race guys like [Kirk] Gibbs and more experienced guys to continue to learn, for sure.”

The former KTM Motocross Racing Team rider believes his grand prix stint, although not a successful journey, allowed him to pick up valuable knowledge that he plans to transfer across to the Australian motocross circuit.

“Things didn’t work out in Europe, but I learnt so many things that will really benefit me over here,” he added. “Even when I wasn’t racing I was going to the races and watching to see what those guys do and why some of them are that bit faster and how they do it. So I learnt a heap over there and I think I will be able to put that to good use here and it will benefit me a lot.”

Ward’s best result during his brief stint in the 2017 MX2 World Championship came during the rain-soaked opening moto in Indonesia where he placed seventh.