Image: Fourohfour.

KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Toby Price is expecting to recover in time for the third and fourth rounds of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) next month after a mixed return from injury at Bulahdelah on the weekend.

Price made his anticipated AORC comeback from a career-threatening neck injury sustained in the US last year, winning Saturday in fine style, but ultimately exiting Sunday’s proceedings after making contact with a tree in a heavy collision.

It was a bitter end to Price’s weekend despite trying to bravely continue after the incident, sustaining a suspected dislocated hip along with severe bruising. He’s confident he will be back for the next event.

“I’m bummed I didn’t get the win on day two, but at least I know my speed is good,” Price reflected. “The annoying thing was, I wasn’t going overboard, just doing a comfortable pace that was getting me the good times, and just made one little mistake.

“I hit a rock that I couldn’t see, got deflected, and got out sideways. That’s the frustrating part, if the tree had not have been there I would have corrected it and ridden away. It was hurting pretty damn bad that’s for sure, but at least I can say I tried to finish but if definitely wasn’t possible.

“Apparently I dislocated my hip, so it and my elbow are badly bruised, and my toenail will have to be removed. But it’s all good, I’ll just put my head down and keep charging forward. I’ll be fine in four weeks and I’ll be at the next round no dramas.”

Boyland will host the next two rounds on 19-20 April in Queensland.