Monster Energy Kawasaki's Billy Mackenzie greets the Phillip Island fans. Image: Alex Gobert.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Billy Mackenzie continues to learn the ropes of supercross in the Terex Australian Supercross Championships, finishing 10th in the main event at Phillip Island last Saturday.

In what is his third year contesting supercross in Australia, Mackenzie has made steady progress in his SX skills, but has been heavily linked to an outdoor-only deal with CDR Yamaha for 2013. Still, he’s relishing the challenge of the stadiums and remains focused on this season.

Mackenzie began the MotoGP weekend with form on his side and set the second quickest lap in practice, before racing to fourth in his first heat race. A heavy crash in heat two plagued his progress though, forcing him to the LCQ in which he won.

“It was a very up and down weekend for me,” Mackenzie said. “I felt really good, really confident early in the day. I made some gearing changes for second practice and that wasn’t the right decision and I wasted that practice session.

“I crashed hard in the second heat race, I went over the bars and landed on my arm and I was lucky not to do any damage. By the time I got to the main I wasn’t confident.

“I played it safe on a tight track that could easily catch you out and in hindsight I shouldn’t have played it so safe. The night started off well but didn’t end how I had planned.”

Mackenzie now sits ninth in the standings after two of four rounds run in 2012.