Image: Octopi Media.

Double Australian MX2 champion Brodie Connolly will make his long-awaited return to racing this Saturday at the RedBud National, to be joined by Kayd Kingsford in an expanded Quad Lock Honda line-up.

Initially set to contest the 250SX East series in Monster Energy Supercross, 22-year-old Connolly sustained a broken L1 vertebra in the lead-up to the season opener, adding to an unfortunate run of injuries after breaking his scaphoid last October.

As a result, the New Zealand talent hasn’t lined up behind the gate since contesting last year’s Pro Motocross finale at Budds Creek, with RedBud to mark his fourth-career Pro Motocross appearance in 250MX.

“I haven’t raced for nearly a year with broken bones and setbacks along the way,” commented Connolly. “That’s part of the sport, but it certainly isn’t the fun part of it. I can’t wait to line-up race and see where we are as a team – it’s going to be a process and I’m excited to finally get started.”

Joining Connolly at RedBud will be highly-rated teenager Kayd Kingsford, who will take advantage of a gap in his rookie Australian MX2 schedule to contest the SMX Next Scouting Moto Combine this weekend.

A wrist injury sustained in practice at last year’s Ironman amateur event disrupted his progress, however, both Kingsford and the Quad Lock Honda organisation have since elevated their preparation.

“It’s tough because everything happens at one event and you only get one opportunity to make an impression,” commented Kingsford. “But I’m much better prepared this year – last year I arrived jet-lagged and had one day to get ready.

“This time I came over early and have spent a week and a half acclimatising, training and riding. I honestly don’t know where I stack up against the best amateurs in America, but I’ll give it everything I have. I really want to be here full-time next year.”

Connolly and Kingsford will join Christian Craig under the Quad Lock Honda awning at RedBud, with the 450MX rider currently 11th in the standings following a season-best 10th overall at Fox Raceway.