Dan Reardon proved his pace on Sunday, but he'll have to wait until he reaches full fitness to challenge for the overall. Image: Alex Gobert.

Sunday’s third round of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals saw former champion Dan Reardon break through for his first moto win of the 2011 season despite battling to reach full fitness.

KTM’s world champion 350 SX-F again took a race victory in the premier Pro Open category at Raymond Terrace, this time in the hands of 2007 champion Reardon.

The Queenslander scored pole position with the fastest qualifying lap this morning and then carried that form into moto one, winning in a wire-to-wire performance before taking 6-6-7 results to round out the day.

Reardon is gaining momentum in his first full season in Australia since he won the title, however a string of pre-season injuries still have him on the road to recovery in the early rounds.

“I qualified on pole and that was a positive start for me, I guess it was pretty good!” Reardon said, who was a season-best fourth overall for the round.

“I’ve been having problems with my wrist, but I was able to holeshot the first moto and just went for it.”

Despite proving he has the speed to win races, Reardon is battling a frustrating wrist injury that has been causing arm-pump of late.

“I did everything I could, but straight away my arm pumped up on the right-hand side,” he explained. “I could feel it coming and all day I couldn’t really get on top of that. It got better, but was never perfect.

“We were chasing our tail in that sense, but I’m happy to win a race for the boys and it gives me confidence. I know my speed’s good, I just have to be healthy.”

Reardon’s Open class teammate Ryan Marmont, 26, finished 10th overall today as he too suffered from food poisoning during the round, forced to undergo medical treatment following the day’s proceedings.

Wollongong rookie Marmont now sits seventh in the Pro Open title chase, with 25-year-old Reardon’s result today boosting him up to ninth after three of nine rounds.