Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

A back injury hindered Luke Styke’s ability to display his full potential at Coolum’s 10th and final round of the Motul MX Nationals last weekend in Queensland, however he was still able to hang onto fifth in the overall standings after difficult year.

Styke, who missed the entire 2016 season with an achilles injury, is believed to have suffered a compressed disc in his back which flared up at Toowoomba’s penultimate round one week prior to Coolum.

The New South Welshman lodged 8-9 results for eighth overall, revealing the points situation to keep him fifth in championship was the reason he rolled out for the final outing of the series.

“Today the back was not up to it and I had no strength to fight,” Styked explained. “In the first one I was just rolling around, but we looked at the points situation between motos and I could have possibly lost my top five position so Jay [Marmont] told me to just go out there and do what I could.

“I spent the second race riding around looking for smoother lines – the back just got super tight, went into protective mode and tightened up around the area and I couldn’t ride efficiently. It was tough.

“The last few rounds have been tough though – it’s been a tough year for sure. I had 14 months off, so I always knew this year was going to be tough, and from that perspective fifth in the championship is not too bad.”

Styke is still slated to contest the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship, which is pencilled in to commence on 23 September, at Jimboomba in Queensland.