Image: Octopi Media.

250SX East contender RJ Hampshire underwent surgery on an existing knee injury this week, suffered in the pre-season and causing troubles through the opening rounds of 2020.

Currently third in the standings following two podiums in four races, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider will aim to return once racing resumes.

“I didn’t say much about it for many reasons, back in December I dabbed my knee coming into a corner and the handlebar came down right on top,” Hampshire explained. “I completely tore my ACL, multiple tears in my meniscus and a fractured tibia.

“For myself, missing Supercross was not an option after the work and changes we made. I didn’t miss a day of riding and did everything I could to get it where I was happy going into round one.

“The beating it took on race day was much worse than the practice days. I was set on getting it fixed at the end of outdoors, but now with the rest of Supercross getting moved till later in the year and the uncertainty of when motocross is starting, that wasn’t gonna happen.”

Monster Energy Supercross is currently on hold due to coronavirus, now set to be completed in the fall following Lucas Oil Pro Motocross which is pencilled in to begin mid-June through September.