Image: Foremost Media.

Lining up at the final round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship is still the plan for Regan Duffy despite an early exit from Queensland Moto Park following an ‘uncharacteristic crash’ in moto one.

As the ProMX Championship resumed after a seven-week break, Duffy commenced the day by posting the 14th fastest time in qualifying.

The GasGas Racing Team rider then made a solid start to the opening moto but was hit in the groin by rocks, and after vomiting inside his helmet he decided to peel off the track when another rider collided with the number 72.

Duffy later rejoined the race before another fall saw him come down hard and displace the ulnar nerve in his elbow, along with impacting his shoulder. Following that second incident, a collective decision was made for Duffy to sit out the remainder of round seven, as he looks to return to the gate for the series finals this weekend in Coolum.

“Obviously I had that crash in the first one and came together with someone, which I actually hit my head pretty hard in that crash, which I didn’t really think too much of but then I ended up having another uncharacteristic crash again and really hurt my elbow and smashed my shoulder,” Duffy explained to MotoOnline.

“I got checked out by Racesafe and then after doing all of that and sort of seeing how I pulled up, I sort of decided with my team manager Kyle Blunden that it would probably be in our best interest to not line up for the second moto and just try to rest up and get ready for the weekend of Coolum.

“In saying that I will be ready for Coolum, and it is unfortunate that I had to miss it but just yeah, probably wasn’t going to be a smart decision to go back out there with the way that I was feeling.”

2023 admittedly hasn’t been the dream comeback season so far for Duffy, however, the Western Australian has displayed no shortage of grit as he strives to rebuild following life-threatening injuries sustained in 2021. He relocated back to WA during the ProMX season break, and is determined to use the challenges he has faced throughout the 2023 season as fuel to keep on improving.

“You can’t really get away from that stuff and blank it out of your mind,” Duffy added. “I use it as fuel, I guess. It’s only going to make the story even better if I do get back to where I was.

“I just use it in a positive way, which I think is good, you’ve got to have that sort of mindset coming back from things like this. I’m just going to keep working, keep my head down and try my best, there is not much more that you can really ask for. I’m very lucky with a supportive team behind me and stuff like that.”