Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

MX2 title contender Jackson Richardson believes his recent training stint in the US will be beneficial in his bid for a maiden crown in the Pirelli MX Nationals this season.

The two-time Australian SX2 champion made the most of his international trip, utilising the three-week stay to further develop his fitness, while also making positive gains with his Penrite CRF Honda Racing CRF250R.

“It’s definitely a big benefit,” Richardson explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “This time of year, everyone is trying to get ready for outdoors, so there are a lot of pros out there – it’s just good to go over, ride with them, pick up on a few things and try to learn some more stuff.

“I went back over there to ride some tracks – they have awesome tracks over there – but to also do some off the bike training with my trainer and some testing too. We’re getting our engines done over there, so I was able to do some testing with the engines. Overall, it was a successful trip, but I’m stoked to be back now.”

After his title campaign in 2017 came to a crashing halt, the popular Queenslander enters this year’s championship as one of the favourites to take out the highly-competitive MX2 crown. While a win at the season-opener next weekend in Victoria would be the perfect way to commence the season, Richardson is focusing on the greater goal of being in contention at the series’ end.

“I’m definitely going to try and go out to win for sure, but it’s the first round, so I need to take it as it comes,” he continued. “I’ve been putting in some serious work, so hopefully I can get a win, but if not, I’m just going to try and be there in title contention, be consistent and yeah, bring it home in the end.”