Image: Jeff Crow.

Raceline Pirelli Suzuki’s Geran Stapleton has been ruled out of this weekend’s Monster Energy MX Nationals round at Appin due to injuries sustained at Broadford’s opener.

A first turn crash in moto three at Broadford saw the luckless Victorian suffer a broken sternum and fractured T4/T5 vertebrae, sidelining him for the Appin round at least.

“I have spoken to the doctors and I’m unfortunately going to miss Appin this weekend,” he said. “I broke my sternum in the crash I had at Broadford, and I have just found out I’ve broken the T4 and T5 in my back too.

“I feel pretty good, there’s obviously a little bit of pain in my chest, but I just need to wait and let it heal I guess. The back injury is really only minor fractures.

“It’s the first crash I’ve had since I came back from my last injury, and now I’m hurt again, so I’m a bit disappointed, but I will come back and hopefully get some good results after Wonthaggi.”

Raceline Pirelli Suzuki will field experienced former champion Ryan Marmont at Appin; the event ranking as his home round of the season.

“I was expecting a little bit more out of myself at Broadford, but I’ve gone away and worked a lot on that,” Marmont said. “Judging by last year, I’m in a much better position just getting out of round one without an injury.

“I’m obviously quite familiar with the track at Appin, being quite close to where I live, and we do quite a bit of training out there so I’m really excited.”

Marmont currently sits seventh overall in the standings after Broadford’s first of 10 rounds.