Injured New Zealand motocross champion Ben Townley has signalled a comeback to racing in October.
Townley, who is rehabilitating after surgery in April on his right shoulder, said his recovery was progressing well and he had begun working on his strength.
"Providing all goes to plan, I hope to compete in the first two rounds of the national motocross championship in Timaru and Rotorua and then the Taupo international meeting on Labour weekend."
Another tempting date for the 2004 world MX2 champion is November 21 when Hamilton hosts a round of the growing Australian Super X indoor championship - the first time the series, introduced last year, has crossed the Tasman.
Waikato Stadium will be transformed into a full-sized United States-style supercross track using 6000 tonnes of dirt.
The track will be custom-designed and built by internationally renowned American track designer Jason Barker.
"If I can get those events in and I'm feeling everything's progressing, I definitely want to race that Supercross meet," Townley said.
With Australia's dual world supercross champion, Chad Reed, set to appear in Hamilton in defence of his Super X title, Townley is relishing the prospect of a strong test of his recovery.
Reed is the most successful supercross rider to come out of Australasia and has not raced in New Zealand since becoming world champion for the first time in 2003.
"I was so pumped when I heard Super X was coming to New Zealand," Townley said.
"It is a world class event that has the supercross community around the world talking.
"The tracks are on par with those in the US and it's great local fans will get to experience the excitement and action that a huge supercross event can deliver.
"Having a massive home crowd behind me is going to be amazing and it is what I will need to take the fight to Reed.
"This will be a New Zealand versus Australia battle and I can't wait to go for it," said Townley who won the United States' 250cc class East Coast supercross championship and finished runner-up in the nationals in 2007.
Since then though, injuries and surgery have kept Townley from competing fully on the US circuit.
Townley said he will head to Belgium in a couple of weeks for a check-up with surgeon Toon Claes.
In the meantime, he is also helping coach the New Zealand squad for next month's world junior championships at Taupo.
"There are some riders in the team who I think are pretty fast and have quite a bit of potential. I enjoy giving the squad a hand," Townley said.
- NZPA
Motorsport: Injured Townley targets October return
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