Image: Foremost media.

Serco Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti has expressed a sense of relief by earning a podium in Sunday’s edition of Murray Bridge’s Pirelli MX Nationals double-header, undergoing surgery on a finger injury just 10 days prior to the event.

The now Queensland-based talent endured a difficult round four on Saturday, however returned to the South Australian circuit on Sunday in strong form, lodging a consistent 4-4 scorecard for third overall.

“Two weeks I ago while riding I had a crash, and the clutch lever jammed up against my finger and the bars,” Tanti explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “I lacerated my finger pretty badly, and lacerated 70 percent of my tendons in there, so I had to get it operated on to clean it out and see if they could repair them, and they couldn’t because they were pretty damaged.

“I only got operated on 10 days ago, so I’ve been riding in a splint. It was tough riding with it, and having stitches in my finger was always in the back of my mind. I’m pretty happy with the outcome anyway.”

It’s understood Tanti will have to remain in a splint for eight weeks, which will bring him to the next round of the MX Nationals, scheduled for 23 June at Gympie in Queensland.