Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Defending Australian SX2 champion Jackson Richardson has commenced riding after being sidelined with a shoulder injury since Shepparton’s seventh round of the Motul MX Nationals in July.

Richardson revealed he returned to riding this week, however is yet throw himself into the full swing of supercross preparations, despite the season-opener looming at the end of this month.

“I’ve been on the bike for three days now,” Richardson confirmed with MotoOnline.com.au. “It hasn’t been too bad, I haven’t done any real supercross stuff yet, I’ve just been doing little stuff to ease back into it.

“I’m doing just two weeks of small stuff like on the turn track to ease back into it, probably two weeks out [from Jimboomba] I’ll start doing my testing and get all of that stuff done before the season starts.”

The popular Queenslander believes consistency will be key in retaining the number one plate, although first he must focus on successfully completing the first round in his home state.

“Really I just need to get through the first round,” he continued. “It’s going to be a little tough, but I feel my preparation will be pretty good for that. I can’t put everything into the first round, there’s a few races this year and a lot of fast, consistent guys – consistency will be key in trying the keep the number one plate.”

The 2017 Australian Supercross Championship is scheduled to begin on 23 September, at Jimboomba in Queensland.