Image: Foremost Media.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy signing Aaron Tanti has been sidelined with a spinal injury sustained during pre-season training last week, in which he fractured his C1 vertebra.

The injury won’t require surgery, according to Tanti, but he has been fitted in a halo in order to stabilise the region while recovering over the next six weeks.

“Last week I had a small incident, clipping a rock at the practice track and crashing,” Tanti explained. “I landed on my head and compressed my neck, ultimately fracturing my C1 vertebra.

“Very lucky to have only damaged the bone with no further spinal complications. Luckily enough, no surgery was required. I’ll be swapping the Fox helmet for my new halo, which has been fitted so the bone can heal itself over the next six-plus weeks. Very thankful to everyone around me!”

Tanti raced internationally last year between the US and Canada, prior to returning home in the off-season with Honda to contest the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX). The 2022 national MX1 champion is returning to CDR Yamaha for 2025 alongside Jed Beaton.

With the Penrite ProMX Championship set to begin in eight weeks time in Wonthaggi, Victoria, between March 22-23, it’s unclear when Tanti will be fit to return to competition or if the official Yamaha MX1 team will seek a fill-in rider to commence the season.