Image: Foremost Media.

A target has been set for the return of WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha team regulars Bailey Malkiewicz and Ryder Kingsford, and Yamalube Yamaha Racing’s Jayce Cosford, naming round seven at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) as the goal.

Malkiewicz was set to make his MX1 debut at the opening round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship at Wonthaggi with WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha but was ruled out of the opener with no exact timeline set for his return.

“The original WBR Yamaha team of Ryder Kingsford and Bailey Malkiewicz are both a long way down their road to recovery,” said Yamaha Motor Australia’s Scott Bishop. “Bailey had surgery at the beginning of the year, but has improved range of motion and can begin to start light training loads and possibly be back on a bike within weeks.

“Ryder will have some hardware taken from his foot and ankle and then once that is settled, he can begin riding. Both riders are looking forward to being back at the ProMX for the final two rounds.”

Malkiewicz broke his talus, tibia and wrist at the opening round of the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) in Melbourne last year and was unable to fully recover from the injuries before the beginning of the 2023 season, while MX2 teammate Kingsford was sidelined for multiple rounds of the ProMX championship after he broke multiple metatarsals in his foot at a practice track in Victoria prior to round three in Wodonga.

Yamalube Yamaha Racing newcomer Cosford got his 2023 ProMX campaign off to a solid start, showing flashes of great speed, including finishing second in the opening moto at Albury. Unfortunately, an incident during moto one at Maitland ended his weekend early with scares of a serious knee injury. But, scans since the Maitland round have confirmed that the injury is not as bad as what they first thought.

“Jayce Cosford will miss the next two rounds of the ProMX as he recovers from a knee injury,” said Bishop. “It wasn’t as bad as we first thought. The MCL itself is still intact, but the impact to his knee actually caused his MCL to tear bone from the top of his Tibia. The injury will still require some time off and rehab before he hits the track again, but the time frame is much smaller than a torn ligament in his knee.”

Assuming everything goes to plan, the Yamaha trio will look to return to the track at round seven of the 2023 Penrite ProMX at QMP on 13 August, giving them roughly three months to recover.