Image: Jeff Crow.

NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Moss will miss the opening half of the 2015 MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, still recovering from a broken right leg sustained in training for the upcoming season.

Moss initially broke his leg in the lead-up to a guest appearance in Monster Energy AMA Supercross at the beginning of the year, with further injuries to the same leg now taking him out of at least the first four rounds of the MX Nationals.

It’s understood Kawasaki will instead draft in Kiwi John Phillips alongside Adam Monea, fresh from finishing a solid third in the New Zealand MX1 Motocross Championship behind Cody Cooper and Kirk Gibbs.

While not yet made official by Kawasaki, an announcement could come as soon as today confirming the news before next weekend’s season-opener at Horsham, Victoria, on 29 March.

Update: Kawasaki Motors Australia has now confirmed Phillips will replace Moss in the opening part of the season.