After making a long-awaited return from injury at Nowra two weeks ago, CDR Yamaha’s Dylan Long is eager to improve his results this weekend at Shepparton’s seventh stop of the Motul MX Nationals series.

Long was absent from much of the opening half of the championship due to complications with a pre-season wrist injury, lodging a 12-13 scorecard for 13th overall upon return at the New South Wales round.

This Sunday’s Victorian venue essentially serves as a home race for the youthful talent, who’s feeling confident in himself heading into the weekend, where he’ll race in front of family and friends.

“A good result is always important for me,” Long explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “I didn’t have the best of rides at Nowra, but I live close to Shepparton and have ridden it countless times over the years, so hopefully the rain stays away, and yeah, I’m pretty keen to have a good result.

“It was good to have a hit out at Nowra, the wrist had a real good bashing I guess. It started to loosen up a bit, and it was good to try the bike out – we know what we needed to work with on suspension and stuff, so we should be pretty sorted for this weekend.

“It’s always good having friends and family at the track, I know a few people that are coming to watch – it’s always good, it feels like your just at home.”

Shepparton’s round marks the seventh of the 10-round series, with the premier MX1 category currently being led by Long’s CDR Yamaha teammate Dean Ferris.