Kiwi Michael Phillips has been a revelation so far in 2011 as a rookie Open class contender. Image: Alex Gobert.

A return home to New Zealand has Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing’s Michael Phillips confident he can contend for podium positions in the final two rounds of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals.

Phillips has been a revelation this year as a stand-in rider on the factory Honda squad, finishing on the podium at Murray Bridge and determined to recapture that form before the season’s end.

“I’ve been working on a bit more intensity this time around,” Phillips explained. “We’ve had three weeks off to build up strength and I’ve spent a lot of the time riding and pitting myself against some of the other New Zealand-based guys to keep my eye in.

“Moree is a challenging track but I enjoy racing there and feel like I can be a factor even if it gets rutted towards the end of the day. I really want to be on the podium in these last two rounds and round out the MX Nationals season on a high note.”

Phillips currently sits sixth in the standings, just 21 points behind team regular Cheyne Boyd ahead of the Moree round in New South Wales this weekend.