Image: Supplied.

Edging his way closer to the front, Team HRC’s Mitch Evans made another step in his MXGP return to land eighth overall at the GP of Patagonia-Argentina.

Neuquen marked Evan’s third MXGP round in his comeback from a left wrist injury that sidelined him for the entire 2021 season, improving from 20th at Matterley Basin and 12th at Lombardia with a 10-8 scorecard at round three.

“I love riding this track and it feels good to make more positive progress throughout the weekend, Evans explained. “I am really pleased with my speed and it felt good to be up there inside the top 10, battling with the top guys.

“Now, I need to work on getting my race fitness up to the level where I can do that for the whole race, but this is really encouraging for me and it gives me more motivation for the next round in Portugal which is another track I like.”

While Evans faces constant scrutiny over his MXGP future with Team HRC, HRC General Manager of MXGP Marcus Pereira de Freitas acknowledged the positive steps forward the Australian has made, citing: “Mitch also made huge strides, running just outside the top five for the majority of the race, and his eighth overall shows his continued progression back from his long-term injury.”

Evans has just under two weeks to continue to build ahead of the next round of the MXGP of Portugal which takes place on April 2-3 at Agueda.